Dongbuyeo

Dongbuyeo (86 BCE - 22 CE or 410 CE) was an ancient Korean kingdom that developed from Bukbuyeo, until conquered by the early Goguryeo, which then grew into one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. According to the Samguk Sagi, it was established when Buyeo's king Hae Buru moved the capital eastward by the sea, in order to avoid conflicts with Go Dumak of Bukbuyeo.

Founding

Dongbuyeo was founded by Hae Buru, a former prince and Dangun of Bukbuyeo. He was the son of Go Haesa Dangun, the third ruler of Buyeo. Hae Buru's brother, Go Uru, became the 4th Dangun of Bukbuyeo in 121 BCE and died in 86 BCE with no heir. Hae Buru took his brother's place on the throne and became Dangun of Bukbuyeo, but was chased out of Bukbuyeo by rebels led by Go Dumak, a direct descendant of Gojoseon's last ruler, Goyeolga Dangun. Hae Buru led his faction and some of the people to the east, where he established Dongbuyeo during 86 BCE. The first capital of Dongbuyeo was established at Gaseopwon, which was a fortress by the modern-day Sea of Japan (East Sea). After establishing Dongbuyeo, Hae Buru submitted himself to Go Dumak, who had become Dangun of Bukbuyeo, and declared himself "King" instead of Dangun. According to the Samguk Sagi, Hae Buru was old and without an heir, when he found a gold-colored frog-like child under a large rock near Lake Gonyeon. Hae Buru named the child Geumwa, meaning golden frog, and later made him crown prince. King Hae Buru ruled over the new kingdom until his death in 48 BCE, leaving the kingdom to his son King Geumwa.

Geumwa and Jumong

Geumwa became king after Hae Buru's death. Not long after, King Geumwa reversed his father's submittence to Bukbuyeo and declared himself "Supreme king" and gave the title posthumously to his father, Hae Buru. At Ubalsu, south of Mount Taebaek, Geumwa met Yuhwa, the disowned daughter of Habaek, and brought her back to his palace. She was impregnated by sunlight and laid an egg, from which hatched Jumong.

Geumwa's seven sons resented Jumong, and although Geumwa tried to protect him, Jumong ran away to Jolbon Buyeo, where he later established Goguryeo.

Fall

Geumwa's eldest son Daeso became the next King. King Daeso attacked Goguryeo during the reign of its second ruler, King Yuri. Goguryeo's third ruler King Daemusin attacked Dongbuyeo and killed King Daeso. After internal strife, Dongbuyeo fell, and its territory was absorbed into Goguryeo.

Other Records

According to other records, Jumong was from Bukbuyeo, not Dongbuyeo. According to the Gwanggaeto stele, Dongbuyeo was a tributary of Goguryeo.

Dongbuyeo was briefly revived by a small state established around 285 by refugees of Buyeo. This state was conquered by King Gwanggaeto of Goguryeo.

Although the chronology is inconsistent with the Samguksagi, one legend says Wutae, the father of the Baekje's founder and 1st ruler, Onjo, was a son of Hae Buru.

See also

• Bukbuyeo
• Goguryeo
• Rulers of Korea#Dongbuyeo