뉴스레터

We can learn about Isabu's life from historical sources such as Samsuk Sagi, Samguk Yusa, and the Stele by King Jinheung of Silla Period in Danyang County ("Stele" hereafter). Isabu was a general and politician during the reign of King Jinheung of the Silla dynasty. His family name was Kim, and he was the fourth-generation descendent of King Nameul. Isabu is listed as "Isabu [伊史夫]" on the stele, as "Ijong [伊宗]" in Samguk Yusa, and as "Ijilbu [伊叱夫]" in Nihon Shoki.

In 505 (5th year of King Jijeung's reign), Isabu was appointed the governor of the newly established Siljik-ju (present-day Samcheok-si, Gangwon-do). In 512 (13th year of King Jijeung's reign), he became the governor of Haseulla-ju (present-day Gangneung-si) and subjugated the island nation of Usan-guk (present-day Ulleungdo and Dokdo, Gyeongsangbuk-do) under Silla.

In 550 (11th year of King Jinheung's reign), Baekje captured Goguryeo's Dosal-seong (speculated to be present-day Doan-myeon, Goesan-gun, Chungcheongbuk-do), and Goguryeo captured Baekje's Geumhyeon-seong (speculated to be present-day Jincheon-eup, Jincheon-gun, Chungcheongbuk-do). The soldiers of the two kingdoms were exhausted from the fighting. Using this as an opportunity, King Jinheung ordered Isabu to attack the two fortresses. Isabu captured and held onto them by stationing armed soldiers. Gorguyeo tried to recapture Geumhyeon-seong but was forced to retreat. Isabu and his men chased after the Goguryeo troops and scored a major victory.

During the reign of King Jijeung, Isabu also served as an official in a coastal border region. During his post there, he used his cunning to subjugate Gaya-guk. When Gaya staged a revolt in 565 (23rd year of King Jingheung's reign), he led 50,000 men with Sadaham and quelled the uprising.

In short, Isabu was an influential government and military figure from 505 (5th year of King Jijeung's reign) to 565 (23rd year of King Jinheung's reign). He made significant contributions to Silla's multidirectional territorial expansion.

Silla's subjugation of Usan-guk and the sovereignty over Dokdo

According to oral tradition, Usan-guk was a small kingdom whose sphere of influence extended from present-day Ulleungdo to the smaller islands nearby. Before the Three Kingdoms Period, it was an independent ancient tribal state comprised of smaller administrative units—i.e., eup and ri. The people of Usan-guk engaged in both farming and fishing.

When Isabu was the governor of Siljik-ju, Ulleungdo was being ruled by a king named Uhye. King Uhye brought a beautiful woman by the name of Pung from Daemado and made her his queen. Thereafter, he became preoccupied doting on the queen that he neglected the affairs of the state. Moreover, to indulge the queen's penchant for extravagance, King Uhye pillaged not only the coastal villages of Samcheok but also villages farther inland near Gyeongju. Complaints from the people of Silla mounted, and the king of Silla ordered Isabu to subjugate Usan-guk.

Isabu set out immediately in 511. Usan-guk, however, proved difficult to conquer given that its geography provided natural fortification. Isabu returned to Siljik-ju and subjected his men to intensive training. In 512, he set out from Jeongna Port in Samcheok for his second attempt at conquering Usan-guk. When he arrived in Usan-guk, he sent an envoy to King Uhye advising him to surrender. King Uhye, underestimating Silla soldiers for their previous retreat, beheaded the envoy and went to war. Isabu determined that the people of Usan-guk would not surrender easily given their loyalty and courage. Thus, he decided to use a ruse. He made wooden lion figures and put them on his fleet of ships. He then threatened that he would let the beasts loose if Usan-guk refused to surrender. Believing the wooden figures to be real lions, the people of Usan-guk got terrified and immediately surrendered.

According to Samguk Sagi, Usan-guk paid an annual tribute to Silla after its surrender. It is also recorded that in 930 (13th year of King Taejo), the Goryeo court bestowed government titles to Baekgil [白吉] and Todu [土豆], two envoys who had come to pay Usan-guk's annual tribute. This indicates that Usan-guk also submitted to Goryeo, Silla's successor on the Korean peninsula.

According to Mangi Yoram (around 1806), Usan-guk included not only Ulleungdo but also Dokdo and other smaller islands around Ulleungdo. That is, as a part of Usan-guk, Dokdo became Silla territory with Usan-guk's submission to Silla in 512. Hence, Dokdo was reincorporated into the history and cultural sphere of Korea's Han people.