--- title: Samguk Sagi author: Mark Cartwright source: https://www.worldhistory.org/Samguk_Sagi/ format: machine-readable-alternate license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/) updated: 1970-01-01 --- # Samguk Sagi _Authored by [Mark Cartwright](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/markzcartwright/)_ The *Samguk sagi ('History of the Three Kingdoms' or 'Historical Records of the Three States') is a 12th-century CE text written by Gim Busik which is considered the first history of [Korea](https://www.worldhistory.org/Korea/). The text covers the history of [Silla](https://www.worldhistory.org/Silla/), [Baekje](https://www.worldhistory.org/Baekje/) ([Paekche](https://www.worldhistory.org/Baekje/)), and [Goguryeo](https://www.worldhistory.org/Goguryeo/) ([Koguryo](https://www.worldhistory.org/Goguryeo/)), the Three Kingdoms which dominated the Korean peninsula between the 1st century BCE and 7th century CE. Although the work is a history book, the primary motivation for its compilation was the long-held East Asian view that history can help guide the present and offer valuable practical lessons on good government and moral conduct. ### Authorship The *Samguk sagi* is thought to have been commissioned by King Injong of [Goryeo](https://www.worldhistory.org/Goryeo/) (1122-1146 CE), the kingdom which ruled Korea from 918 to 1392 CE. The man given the task of compiling Korea's first official history was Gim Busik (1075-1151 CE), a Confucian scholar and court official of Silla descent – all points which are evident in Kim's selection of material and commentaries. Gim had already gained fame when he successfully led a Goryeo army to quash the Myocheong rebellion of 1135-36 CE. Gim and his ten assistants set about gathering older sources and although specific citations are rare, the bibliography of the *Samguk sagi lists 69 Korean and 123 Chinese works consulted. The most important of these was the now lost *Ku samguk sa ('Old Three Kingdoms History'). Gim modelled his presentation on what became the classic history textbook of the time, the *Shiji* by [Sima Qian](https://www.worldhistory.org/Sima_Qian/) (c. 145-86 BCE), [China](https://www.worldhistory.org/china/)'s first historian. Gim's final version was completed and presented to the Goryeo court in 1145 CE. ### Subject Matter Imitating the jizhuan* (Korean: *kijon*) approach of Sima Qian, the *Samguk sagi begins with a chronological year-by-year presentation of each of the three kingdoms – Silla, Goguryeo, and Baekje – from their founding to their collapse and the beginning of the Goryeo state. Silla has twelve chapters devoted to its history, Goguryeo ten, and Baekje six. The state of Barhae ([Parhae](https://www.worldhistory.org/Balhae/)), which governed a part of northern Korea and Manchuria from the 7th to 10th century CE, is not covered. These history sections are known as *benji in Chinese and *pongi in Korean. Next, there are three chapters of chronological reference tables (*yonpyo*) and then a number of essays (*zhi* in Chinese, *chi* in Korean) spread over nine chapters and dealing with different aspects of Korean [culture](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/culture/) such as religious ceremonies, local geography, [law](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/law/), economics, astronomy, traditional clothing, and [music](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Music/). The book concludes with ten chapters containing 52 main and 34 secondary biographies of people instrumental in the history of Korea (*liezhuan* in Chinese or *yolchon* in Korean). The figures covered include artists, scholars, political rebels, virtuous [women](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/women/), generals, and statesmen. The biography of the general [Kim Yu-sin](https://www.worldhistory.org/Kim_Yu-sin/) is typical and weaves a historical narrative of his great deeds with myths and hearsay of his birth and miraculous explanations of his victories on the battlefield. Whilst some attempt was made to present the facts only, the *Samguk sagi does reflect the Confucian view of the world which was prevalent at that time in the Goryeo kingdom, both in presentation and in the choice of texts and topics included. It also contains many points of commentary by Kim, as was traditional, to highlight what he perceived as praiseworthy actions and those he considered as failings. [ ![Three Kingdoms of Korea Map](https://www.worldhistory.org/img/r/p/500x600/5790.jpg?v=1727814367) Three Kingdoms of Korea Map Ashraf Kamel (CC BY-NC-SA) ](https://www.worldhistory.org/image/5790/three-kingdoms-of-korea-map/ "Three Kingdoms of Korea Map")Besides history, the *Samguk sagi* contains many myths and legends. One of the most famous is the story of Prince Hodong. The handsome prince of Goguryeo was one day offered the daughter of the Chinese governor of Nangnang but he declined unless she proved herself worthy. The governor had a mysterious drum and horn instrument which sounded whenever an enemy approached and Prince Hodong insisted the girl first destroy this, which she did. The wily prince then attacked Nangnang unannounced. The capital fell and the governor killed his daughter in revenge before surrendering himself to the prince. Hodong did later get his comeuppance, though, when he was falsely accused by his jealous step-mother of making improper advances. Rather than displease his father with an embarrassing episode, Hodong nobly committed suicide. The story and many other such tales were designed to illustrate proper and improper behaviour and chivalry. ### Legacy The *Samguk sagi* had a sequel of sorts, the *Samguk yusa* ('Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms') which was completed in 1285 CE by the [Buddhist](https://www.worldhistory.org/buddhism/) scholar-monk Iryeon. The text covers the history and legends of Korea's founding right up to the 10th century CE and offers more on [mythology](https://www.worldhistory.org/mythology/) and Buddhist culture than its predecessor. In addition, as the *Samguk sagi draws on hundreds of earlier sources it has become an invaluable reference work since many of these ancient texts have since been lost, including all 69 Korean texts referred to in the bibliography. Further, the book is itself a useful source for linguists studying the history of transliterated Chinese words, especially place names. Perhaps its greatest contribution, though, is the effect the *Samguk sagi* has had on the very idea of what was ancient Korea and sowing the first seeds of Korean nationalism. By emphasising the role of the southern kingdom of Silla, representing Goryeo as its natural cultural successor, minimising the role of the northern Goguryeo kingdom, and ignoring the (also northern) contemporary state of [Balhae](https://www.worldhistory.org/Balhae/), the picture given is of a Korean state politically and culturally unique and fully independent from its powerful northern neighbour China. This content was made possible with generous support from the [British Korean Society](http://www.britishkoreansociety.org.uk/?utm_source=ancient.eu&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=ancient.eu). #### Editorial Review This human-authored definition has been reviewed by our editorial team before publication to ensure accuracy, reliability and adherence to academic standards in accordance with our [editorial policy](https://www.worldhistory.org/static/editorial-policy/). ## Bibliography - [Jinwung Kim. *A History of Korea"Land of the Morning Calm" to States in Conflict.* Indiana University Press, 2012.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0253000246/) - [Ki-Baik Lee. *A New History of Korea.* Harvard University Press, 1985.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0674615751/) - [Lee, P.H. *A History of Korean Literature.* Cambridge University Press, 2009.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0521100658/) - [Pratt, K. *Korea.* Routledge, 1999.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0700704639/) - [Seth, M.J. *A History of Korea.* Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2010.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/074256715X/) ## About the Author Mark is WHE’s Publishing Director and has an MA in Political Philosophy (University of York). He is a full-time researcher, writer, historian and editor. Special interests include art, architecture and discovering the ideas that all civilizations share. ## Timeline - **1145 CE**: The '[Samguk sagi](https://www.worldhistory.org/Samguk_Sagi/)' ('History of the Three Kingdoms') is written by Gim Busik in [Goryeo](https://www.worldhistory.org/Goryeo/). ## Cite This Work ### APA Cartwright, M. (2016, November 04). Samguk Sagi. *World History Encyclopedia*. [https://www.worldhistory.org/Samguk\_Sagi/](https://www.worldhistory.org/Samguk_Sagi/) ### Chicago Cartwright, Mark. "Samguk Sagi." *World History Encyclopedia*, November 04, 2016. [https://www.worldhistory.org/Samguk\_Sagi/](https://www.worldhistory.org/Samguk_Sagi/). ### MLA Cartwright, Mark. "Samguk Sagi." *World History Encyclopedia*, 04 Nov 2016, [https://www.worldhistory.org/Samguk\_Sagi/](https://www.worldhistory.org/Samguk_Sagi/). ## License & Copyright Submitted by [Mark Cartwright](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/markzcartwright/ "User Page: Mark Cartwright"), published on 04 November 2016. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/deed.en). This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon this content non-commercially, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.