Geungusu of Baekje

Infobox Korean name
hangul=근구수왕
hanja=近仇首王
rr=Geun-gu-su-wang
mr=Kǔn-gu-su-wang
hangulborn=수
hanjaborn=須
rrborn=Su
mrborn=Su

Geungusu of Baekje (r. 375-384) was the 14th king of Baekje, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. Geungusu was the eldest son of the 13th king Geunchogo, and father to the 15th king Chimnyu and the 16th king Jinsa.

Background and rise to the throne

In 369, as crown prince, Geungusu led the Baekje armies against invading troops of the northern Korean kingdom Goguryeo, capturing 5,000 prisoners. He pushed on to Pyongyang and Sugok-seong in 371, killing Goguryeo's king Gogugwon in battle.

He continued his father's policies, and his father's alliance with the Jin clan. His chief minister, Jin Godo, was the father of his queen, Lady Ai.

Reign

During Geungusu's reign, Baekje was in hostile relations with its northern neighbor, Goguryeo, because of Baekje's attacks on Pyongyang, and the murder of a Goguryeo king during one of the battles. He continued these hostilities as king, retaking Pyongyang in 377 with 30,000 men.

Baekje continued as the military and economic power it was during his father's reign. Geungusu maintained friendly relations with China and Yamato period Japan. He is recorded in the "Nihonshoki" as having sent the noted Baekje scholar Wangin to Japan with copies of the Analects of Confucius and one copy of the Thousand Character Classic. However, on the basis of Korean accounts some believe that this took place decades later, in the reign of King Asin.

There were several astonishing weather-related events during his reign, such as the raining dirt incident in 379. A severe drought in 382 also showed the king's love for his people, as he opened up the kingdom's food storages and fed the people.

Death and succession

Geungusu died in 384, after 10 years of reign. He was succeeded by his eldest son, Chimnyu of Baekje, who was Crown Prince of Baekje at the time.

ee also

*History of Korea
*List of Korea-related topics