This paper examines Sillaji, a geographic guidebook in Samguksagi, particularly focused on its basic original text, the editing process, and its value and character as historical documents. There are discrepancies between the records of Sillabongi or ...
This paper examines Sillaji, a geographic guidebook in Samguksagi, particularly focused on its basic original text, the editing process, and its value and character as historical documents. There are discrepancies between the records of Sillabongi or Yeoljeon and those of Sillaji. This is because reference texts that were used in the editing process of Sillabongi and Yeoljeon were different from those that were referred to by the editors of Sillaji. It is presumed that the Basic original texts of Sillaji were composed in the same form as Eupji or Jiriji. It is also assumed that its compilation took place in the late 9th century, in the region of King Kyeongmoon or Heongang. In Sillaji, the compilers began by describing the Title Town-name, Original Town-name, and related information to provide the basic framework of the book. Then they added new information or made detailed comments about the nicknames or different name transcriptions of several places by referring to various materials. Then the editors stated the fact that renaming of locations happened in the region of King Kyeongdeog or Heondeog, and they finally completed the book by recording the place names as they were called in King Injong era of Koryeo Dynasty. Sillaji is a valuable resource for exploring changes in place names from the early days of Three-Kingdoms to King Injong’s region in Goryeo Dynasty. It is also tremendously valuable in that it indicates the existence of Silla’s local ruling system which was based on Ju-system, its changes, the history of Gaya, and the perception towards Gaya in Unified Silla and early Koryeo period. However, in Sillaji, not only can we detect several errors that originated from its basic original text, but also we can observe several instances that the editors presented wrong historical facts. Therefore, there is a need for caution in using Sillaji as historical resources.