The purpose of this paper is to analyze the founding myth of Baekje in the 4th century and examine the situation of the time to reveal that the founding myth of Baekje and the establishment of Buyeo clan, royal family name, are an extension.
Commonly,...
The purpose of this paper is to analyze the founding myth of Baekje in the 4th century and examine the situation of the time to reveal that the founding myth of Baekje and the establishment of Buyeo clan, royal family name, are an extension.
Commonly, the founding myth is associated with the identity of the state. Buyeo and Goguryeo are mentioned as origin of Baekje’s founding myth. As a result of analyzing the historical records, the perception that Onjo was the son of Dongmyeong seems to be a perception of the Goryeo Dynasty. In addition, the difference between Bu(夫) and Bu(扶) shows that Baekje and Goguryeo independently accepted the myth of Dongmyeong in Buyeo.
In Baekje, the myth of Haeburu and the myth of Dongmyung are handed down as founding myths, and Hae(解) clan and [Bu(扶]Yeo(餘) clan are mentioned as the royal family name of Baekje. In the case of Hae clan, it is likely to be a surname derived from Haeburu of the myth of Haeburu. Dongmyung’s surname is not Buyeo, but the relationship between the royal family name and the founding myth can be confirmed in that the myth of Dongmyung is one of Buyeo.
It is agreed by most researchers that the myth of Haeburu precedes the myth of Dongmyung. Baekje first accepted the myth of Haeburu as its founding myth, and took Hae clan as the royal family name. Later, for some reason, it was changed to Buyeo and accepted the myth of Dongmyung. That was because of the advantages in international relations.
On the other hand, since the group did not change, the myth of Haeburu did not disappear and remained in the form that is now passed down.
At that time, Buyeo and Dongmyeong(called Tümen) had a widespread status in northeastern China. When Former Yan(前燕) took the king of Buyeo as his son-in-law and Buyeo clan rose to high-ranking government posts in Later Yan(後燕) and Southern Yan(南燕), it can be seen that Buyeo’s status was high in the northeastern region of China at that time.
Also, around the 3rd and 4th centuries, nomadic groups, including Former Yan, began to create family name by converting their origins into Chinese characters for the purpose of negotiating with Jin(晉). The family name ‘Buyeo’ also appeared at this time, and it is in line with the one of the nomadic group. From this point of view, Baekje adopted Buyeo as a royal family name and accepted the myth of the Dongmyeong in its relationship with northeastern China in the 4th century.