About the Book

"Korea's Three Kingdoms period is a genuine 'lost civilization', during which ancient realms vied for supremacy during the first millennium CE. Nobles from this period's feuding states adopted and adapted Buddhism and Confucianism through interactions with early medieval Chinese dynasties. In the mid-seventh century, with the assistance of the mighty Chinese Tang empire, the aristocratic Silla state ultimately unified the Three Kingdoms by conquering the militaristic northern kingdom of Koguryæo and the culturally sophisticated state of Paekche. Weaving together legends of founding kings, tales of wars and political intrigue and narratives of fascinating individuals--including flower boys, wise monks, loyal scholars and virtuous women--this exploration sheds new light on a foundational period that continues to shape Korean identity today."--Jacket.

Book Synopsis

An expansive and accessible introduction to the history of Korea during the first millennium CE.

Korea's Three Kingdoms period is a genuine "lost civilization," during which ancient realms vied for supremacy during the first millennium CE. Nobles from this period's feuding states adopted and adapted Buddhism and Confucianism through interactions with early medieval Chinese dynasties. It was not until the mid-seventh century that the aristocratic Silla state, with the assistance of the mighty Chinese Tang empire, unified the Three Kingdoms of Korea by conquering the kingdoms of Koguryo and Paekche. Weaving together legends of ancient kings with the true histories of monks, scholars, and laypeople, this book sheds new light on a foundational period that continues to shape Korean identity today.

Review Quotes

"Reliable books about premodern Korean history are uncommon, and the time period most opaque is the oldest era, the so-called Three Kingdoms period (57 BCE-935 CE). . . . McBride (Brigham Young Univ.) is eminently qualified to take up this challenge in this concise, well-written, and generously illustrated book. . . . This volume is, and will continue to be, the best available survey of the time period. . . . Essential."-- "Choice"

"Covering mythic foundations as well as current understandings of the origins of the earliest states in Korean history, this narrative concisely and clearly describes the rise and decline of polities, their societies and cultures, and their relations with neighboring polities . . . should be required reading for anyone interested in Korea's early history and cultures."--Mark Byington, The Korea Institute, Harvard University

"McBride guides readers on an entertaining romp through the histories and cultures of the various countries on the Korean Peninsula from earliest times up to the tenth century."--Donald Baker, University of British Columbia

About the Author

Richard D. McBride II is professor of Asian and near eastern languages at Brigham Young University. His many publications include Aspiring to Enlightenment: Pure Land Buddhism in Silla Korea.