“The ruler behaved unjustly toward the state and without compassion toward the people, and thus resentment arose among the people and the kingdom collapsed under the weight of its own failures.” (translated into vernacular Korean by Lee Gangrae, Samguk sagi (三國史記 History of the Three Kingdoms) vol. 1, Hangilsa, 1998)

Kim Busik was a Goryeo politician, writer, Confucian scholar, and historian, known for writing the Samguk sagi.

1. Life

Kim Busik (1075-1151) was a scholar official of the mid-Goryeo dynasty. He was one of Goryeo’s leading politicians and literary figures, a Confucian scholar and a historian as well. Descended from the royal house of Silla’s King Muyeol, he became part of Goryeo society after his great-grandfather pledged allegiance to the new dynasty.

In 1135 (13th year in the reign of King Injong), Kim suppressed the rebellion led by Myocheong in Seogyeong (present-day Pyongyang) and was appointed to the position of Munhasijung (prime minister), the highest civil office in the Goryeo government. After retiring from public office, he began to compile Samguk sagi by order of the king and completed the 50-volume work in 1145, shortly before the king’s death. Kim also compiled Injong sillok (仁宗實錄 Veritable Records of King Injong). In his later years, he erected Gwallansa, a Buddhist temple near Kaesong dedicated to prayers for the deceased, and devoted himself to practicing Buddhism.

2. Writing

Kim Busik is best known as the author of Samguk sagi (三國史記 History of the Three Kingdoms). He wrote the work from a thoroughly rational and Confucian perspective, setting it in sharp contrast to Ilyeon’s Samguk yusa (三國遺事 Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms), which is fantastical and reflects a Buddhist worldview. In 1145, shortly before the death of King Injong, Kim completed all 50 volumes of Samguk sagi. As a historian, Kim viewed Korean history through a Shilla-centered perspective. This is evident in the very structure of the Samguk sagi, which begins with the story of Shilla. The “Yeoljeon” (열전 Biographies), the section devoted to exemplary historical figures, begins with the life of the Silla general Kim Yusin, whose military leadership was instrumental in the unification of the Three Kingdoms. Moreover, Kim Yusin’s biography alone accounts for three out of the total ten volumes of “Yeoljeon.”

At the same time, Kim sought to uphold moral judgment over social status when compiling the Samguk sagi, criticizing rulers who were not virtuous and praising even the commoners whose conduct deserved to serve as a moral example. This kind of Confucian commitment to ethical evaluation also shows in his poetry. Although his collected writings were said to have been over 20 volumes, none have survived to date. His works that remain today are ones included in Dongmunsu (東文粹 Essential Works of the East) and Dongmunseon (東文選 Collected Literary Works of the East). In his best-known poem “Gyeolgigung” (結綺宮 Jieqi Palace), he contrasts a ruler who serves the people (Emperor Yao) and one who doesn’t (Qin Shi Huang), writing: “The staircase up to Emperor Yao’s palace was only three feet high / yet his virtue endured for a thousand years / Qin Shi Huang built the Great Wall stretching ten thousand li / yet his empire was lost by the reign of his son.” Through this poem, he conveys a central principle of Confucian humanism that a ruler’s legitimacy ultimately rests on the people.

Reference

Lim Hyung Taek, “The Literary Character of the Biographies in Samguk sagi" in Hanguk munhaksaui nolliwa chegye (The Logic and System of Korean Literary History), Changbi, 2002.

Cho Dong-il, "Samguk sagi," in Je 4 pan Hanguk munhak tongsa 1 (A Comprehensive History of Korean Literature, 4th ed., vol. 1), Jisik-sanup Publishing, 2005.

Institute of Korean Literary History, ed., Hanguk gojeon munhaksa jakpumron 5: Hanmun gojeon (Studies on Works in the History of Korean Classical Literature, vol. 5: Classical Chinese Literature), Humanist, 2017.

《삼국사기 상》, 신서원, 1958 / Samguk sagi sang (History of the Three Kingdoms, vol. 1), Sinseowon, 1958
《삼국사기 하》, 신서원, 1959 / Samguk sagi ha (History of the Three Kingdoms, vol. 2), Sinseowon, 1959
강무학, 《고조선 열국사 : 3 삼국의 태동》, 서문당, 1983 / Kang Mu-hak, Gojoseon yeolguksa: 3 samgugui taedong (History of the States of Gojoseon, vol. 3: The Birth of the Three Kingdoms), Seomundang, 1983
강무학, 《고조선 열국사 : 3 삼국의 정립》, 서문당, 1983 / Kang Mu-hak, Gojoseon yeolguksa: 3 samgugui jeongnip (History of the States of Gojoseon, vol. 3: The Establishment of the Three Kingdoms), Seomundang, 1983
《어린이 삼국사기 : 고구려》, 명문당, 1988 / Eorini Samguk sagi: Goguryeo (Samguk sagi for Children: Goguryeo), Myeongmundang, 1988
《어린이 삼국사기 : 백제》, 명문당, 1988 / Eorini Samguk sagi: Baekje (Samguk sagi for Children: Baekje), Myeongmundang, 1988
《어린이 삼국사기 : 신라》, 명문당, 1988 / Eorini Samguk sagi: Silla (Samguk sagi for Children: Silla), Myeongmundang, 1988
《삼국사기 상》, 명문당, 1988 / Samguk sagi sang (History of the Three Kingdoms, vol. 1), Myeongmundang, 1988
《삼국사기 하》, 명문당, 1988 / Samguk sagi ha (History of the Three Kingdoms, vol. 2), Myeongmundang, 1988
《재미있는 삼국사기》, 민서출판사, 1989 / Jaemiinneun Samguk sagi (An Entertaining Samguk sagi), Minseo Chulpansa, 1989
《삼국사기》, 경인문화사, 1994 / Samguk sagi (History of the Three Kingdoms), Kyungin Publishing, 1994
《삼국사기 1-2》, 홍신문화사, 1994 / Samguk sagi 1-2 (History of the Three Kingdoms, vols. 1–2), Hongshin Munhwasa, 1994
《삼국사기 1-3》, 중앙출판사(중앙미디어), 1995 / Samguk sagi 1-3 (History of the Three Kingdoms, vols. 1–3), Jungang Chulpansa (Jungang Media), 1995
《삼국사기》, 계림닷컴, 1995 / Samguk sagi (History of the Three Kingdoms), Kyellim Dotcom, 1995
《이름을 얻지 못한 그리움》, 은의나라금의나라, 1996 / Ireumeul eotji mothan geurieum (A Longing That Has Not Found Its Name), Eunui Nara Geumui Nara, 1996
《삼국사기 상-하》, 을유문화사, 1996 / Samguk sagi sang-ha (History of the Three Kingdoms, vols. 1–2), Eulyoo, 1996
《삼국사기》, 대일출판사, 1997 / Samguk sagi (History of the Three Kingdoms), Daeil Chulpansa, 1997
《한국의 인물전》, 솔출판사, 1997 / Hangugui inmulljeon (Korean Biographical Records), Sol, 1997
《삼국사기 1-3》, 솔출판사, 1997 / Samguk sagi 1-3 (History of the Three Kingdoms, vols. 1–3), Sol, 1997
《삼국사기》, 녹두, 1997 / Samguk sagi (History of the Three Kingdoms), Nokdu, 1997
《삼국사기 1-2》, 한길사, 1998 / Samguk sagi 1-2 (History of the Three Kingdoms, vols. 1–2), Hangilsa, 1998
《원본 삼국사기》, 한길사, 1998 / Wonbon Samguk sagi (The Original History of the Three Kingdoms), Hangilsa, 1998
《알기쉬운 삼국사기》, 바른사, 1999 / Algi swiun Samguk sagi (An Easy-to-Understand Samguk sagi), Bareunsa, 1999
《삼국사기》, 예림당, 1999 / Samguk sagi (History of the Three Kingdoms), Yearimdang, 1999
《삼국사기》, 장락, 1999 / Samguk sagi (History of the Three Kingdoms), Jangnak, 1999
《이야기 삼국사기》, 민서출판사, 1999 / Iyagi Samguk sagi (Samguk sagi in Stories), Minseo Chulpansa, 1999
《신편 삼국사기 하》, 신서원, 2000 / Sinpyeon Samguk sagi ha (History of the Three Kingdoms, New Edition, vol. 2), Sinseowon, 2000
《신편 고려사》, 신서원, 2001 / Sinpyeon Goryeosa (高麗史 New Edition History of Goryeo), Sinseowon, 2001
권근 외, 《아름다운 우리 고전 수필》, 을유문화사, 2003 / Kwon Kun et al., Areumdaun uri gojeon supil (Beautiful Korean Classical Essays), Eulyoo, 2003
《삼국사기》, 청솔, 2003 / Samguk sagi (History of the Three Kingdoms), Cheongsol, 2003
《삼국사기 열전》, 신원문화사, 2003 / Samguk sagi yeolljeon (Samguk sagi Biographies), Sinwon Munhwasa, 2003
《신편 삼국사기》, 신서원, 2004 / Sinpyeon Samguk sagi (History of the Three Kingdoms, New Edition), Sinseowon, 2004
《사진과 그림으로 보는 삼국사기》, 바른사, 2005 / Sajingwa geurimeuro boneun Samguk sagi (Samguk sagi Illustrated with Photographs and Drawings), Bareunsa, 2005
《중학생이 보는 삼국사기 열전》, 신원문화사, 2005 / Junghaksaengi boneun Samguk sagi yeolljeon (Samguk sagi Biographies for Middle School Students), Sinwon Munhwasa, 2005
《삼국사기》, 타임기획, 2005 / Samguk sagi (History of the Three Kingdoms), Time Gihoek, 2005
《삼국사기》, (주)하서, 2006 / Samguk sagi (History of the Three Kingdoms), Haseo, 2006
김부식·일연, 《거북아 거북아 수로를 내놓아라》, 보리, 2006 / Kim Busik and Iryeon, Geobuga geobuga suroreul naenoa-ra (Tortoise, Tortoise, Reveal Queen Suro), Bori, 2006
《만화 삼국사기》, 두산동아, 2006 / Manhwa Samguk sagi (Samguk sagi in Comics), Doosan Dong-a, 2006
《만화 삼국사기 1-3》, 녹색지팡이, 2006 / Manhwa Samguk sagi 1-3 (Samguk sagi in Comics, vols. 1–3), Noksaek Jipangi, 2006
《부모와 함께 읽는 삼국사기》, 마야, 2007 / Bumowa hamkke ingneun Samguk sagi (Samguk sagi to Read with Parents), Maya, 2007
《삼국사기》, 동서문화동판(동서문화사), 2007 / Samguk sagi (History of the Three Kingdoms), Dongseo Munhwasa, 2007
《삼국사기》, 지만지고전천줄, 2009 / Samguk sagi (History of the Three Kingdoms), ZmanZ Gojeon Cheonjul, 2009
《청소년 삼국사기》, 매월당, 2011 / Cheongsonyeon Samguk sagi (Samguk sagi for Youth), Maewoldang, 2011
《삼국사기》, 매월당, 2011 / Samguk sagi (History of the Three Kingdoms), Maewoldang, 2011
《삼국사기 이야기》, 청년사, 2011 / Samguk sagi iyagi (Samguk sagi Stories), Cheongnyeonsa, 2011
글공작소 엮음, 《공부가 되는 삼국사기》, 아름다운 사람들, 2012 / Geulgongjakso, compiled, Gongbuga doeneun Samguk sagi (Samguk sagi That Helps You Study), Areumdaun Saramdeul, 2012
《삼국사기》, 일문서적, 2012 / Samguk sagi (History of the Three Kingdoms), Ilmun Seojeok, 2012
《원문과 함께 읽는 삼국사기 1-3》, 한국인문고전연구소, 2012 / Wonmungwa hamkke ingneun Samguk sagi 1-3 (Samguk sagi Read with the Original Text, vols. 1–3), Hanguk Inmun Gojeon Yeonguso, 2012
《삼국사기》, 돌베개, 2012 / Samguk sagi (History of the Three Kingdoms), Dolbegae, 2012
《그림으로 보는 삼국사기 세트 전5권》, 계림북스, 2012 / Geurimeuro boneun Samguk sagi seteu jeon 5-gwon (Samguk sagi Illustrated in Pictures: Complete 5-Volume Set), Kyelim Books, 2012
고진하, 《한국 고전문학 읽기 32: 삼국사기》, 주니어김영사, 2014 / Ko Jinha, Hanguk gojeon munhak ilgi 32: Samguk sagi (Reading Korean Classical Literature 32: Samguk sagi), Junior Gimm-Young, 2014
《(천줄읽기, 큰글씨책) 삼국사기》, 지만지, 2014 / (Cheonjul ilgi, keungeulssichaek) Samguk sagi (Samguk sagi: Thousand-Line Reading, Large Print Edition), ZmanZ, 2014
《낙랑 공주와 호동 왕자》, 통큰세상, 2016 / Nangnanggongjuwa Hodonwangja (Princess Nakrang and Prince Hodong), Tongkeun Sesang, 2016
《처음 만나는 삼국사기》, 미래주니어, 2016 / Cheoeum mannaneun Samguk sagi (First Encounter with Samguk sagi), Mirae Junior, 2016
《삼국사기 (신라본기)》, 명진출판사(진영사), 2017 / Samguk sagi (Silla bongi) (三國史記 Historical Records of the Three Kingdoms: Silla Annals), Myeongjin Chulpansa (Jinyeongsa), 2017
《총서 삼국사기》, 법문북스, 2020 / Chongseo Samguk sagi (History of the Three Kingdoms: Series Edition), Bummun Books, 2020
《삼국사기 1-4》, 명문당, 2020 / Samguk sagi 1-4 (History of the Three Kingdoms, vols. 1–4), Myeongmundang, 2020
《(큰글자책) 삼국사기 1-4》, 명문당, 2021 / (Keungeulljachaek) Samguk sagi 1-4 (History of the Three Kingdoms, Large Print, vols. 1–4), Myeongmundang, 2021
《그림으로 보는 삼국유사·삼국사기 세트》, 법문북스, 2021 / Geurimeuro boneun Samguk yusa·Samguk sagi seteu (History of the Three Kingdoms and Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms Illustrated in Pictures), Bummun Books, 2021
김부식·일연, 《삼국사기와 삼국유사》, 보리, 2024 / Kim Busik and Iryeon, Samguk sagiwa Samguk yusa (History of the Three Kingdoms and Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms), Bori, 2024
《표점 번역 삼국사기》, 경진출판, 2024 / Pyojeom beonyeok Samguk sagi (History of the Three Kingdoms: Punctuated Translation), Gyeongjin Chulpan, 2024