Budoji


Budoji is a book on East-Asian, Korean culture written by Bak Geum in 1953, after recollecting the contents of the original Budoji, one of 15 books in a collection called JingShimRok , leading down from the period of Silla dynasty. Bak Geum states he left the JingShimRok in the North on his escape to South Korea during the North-South Korean war, rewriting the current Budoji from memory after his escape.
The Budoji is claimed to have been the first of the 15 books of the JingShimRok with its focus on ancient history. The original JingShimRok is told to have been written by Bak Jae Sang during the Silla dynasty and passed down the Bak family, finally to Bak Geum before its loss during his escape to South Korea.

Outline of Budoji

The Era of Mago

The first era of Korean history is called Mago. Budoji states that there were four Heavenly people, who were Hwanggung, Baekso, Cheonggung and Heukso. The mother of Hwanggung and Cheonggung was Gungheui, and the mother of Baekso and Heukso was Soheui. The mother of Gungheui and Soheui was Mago. It is said that Mago, Soheui and Gungheui, bore children without a father.

The Era of Budo

This chapter describes the historical story about the four Heavenly people of Hwanggung, Baekso, Cheonggung and Heukso. The first son of Hwanggung, Yuin, received Cheonbusamin, and then he bequeathed the Cheonbusamin to Hwanin.

The Era of Hwanung

The son of Hwanin, Hwanung, received the Cheonbusamin from his father, and established the Budō. Budoji describes the achievement of Hwanung during the era in this chapter.

The Era of Gojoseon

It is described that Imgeom or Dangun is the son of Hwanung. Imgeom also received Cheonbusamin from his father, and then established the state called Gojoseon.

From Samhan to Three kingdoms of Korea

This chapter describes Samhan after the destruction of Gojoseon. Mahan was located in the north, Byeonhan was located in the south and Jinhan was located in the east. Then, Baekje succeeded Byeonhan and Goguryeo succeeded Mahan and Silla succeeded Jinhan.