Draft Tang and Silla: Imitation and Unique Characteristics

Title	Originality of Silla Culture and the Influence of Tang China
Author	조윤정

1차 원고

Silla culture was directly and indirectly influenced by China. While Silla waged war with Tang on and off for many years, it took due note of Tang's political systems. Tang had a strong centralized government centered around the emperor, and Silla, aspiring to build a unified nation with strong royal authority, adopted Tang political systems. It also stressed Confucian political ideologies, establishing a Confucian education institute named Gukhak and a civil service exam system based on the reading of Confucian texts. Many Silla scholars went to study in China and the best of them were selected through exams to serve as government officials, most notably Choe Chi-won. Silla Buddhist monks also went to study in China, the most famous being Uisang, who established the Hwaeom School of Buddhism in Korea.

Active exchange between Silla and Tang is evidenced by the residential areas and Buddhist temples for the Silla people that existed in the Tang capital of Changan (today's Xian). In the 9th century, a trading port named Cheonghaejin was established in the southern part of the Korean Peninsula for maritime trade between Silla and Tang.

But Silla culture should not be seen as a copy of Chinese culture. While Silla actively adopted the advanced civilization of Tang, strong resistance also existed as many intellectuals stressed the importance of their native culture. For example, the Tang civil service exam system was not properly implemented because of Silla's unique social class system, the "bone rank system," which regulated political and social activities according to birth and blood ties.

The monk Wonhyo, who also studied in Tang, was of the "head-rank six" (yukdupum) class, consisting of scholars, people in the arts, and religious leaders. One of the most influential Buddhist figures of his time, he wrote many books, including Awakening of Mahayana Faith. His son, Seol Chong, a Confucian scholar, was credited with systemizing Idu, a method of writing the Korean language using Chinese characters.

The achievements of Wonhyo and Seol Chong attest to the way Silla's culture was influenced by Tang but developed into a rich culture with its own unique identity.

감수본

The culture of the Silla Kingdom was both directly and indirectly influenced by China. While Silla waged war with the Tang Dynasty on and off for many years, it took due note of Tang's political systems. Silla, aspiring to build a unified nation with strong royal authority, adopted the Tang’s political systems centering on the emperor. It also stressed Confucian political ideologies, establishing a Confucian education institute named Gukhak and a civil service exam system based on Confucian texts.

Many Silla scholars went to study in China and the best of them were selected through exams to serve as government officials, most notably Choe Chiwon. Silla Buddhist monks also went to study in China, the most famous being Uisang, who established the Hwaeom School of Buddhism in Korea when he returned.

Active exchanges between Silla and Tang is evidenced by the residential areas and Buddhist temples for the Silla people that existed in the Tang capital of Changan (today's Xian). In the 9th century, a trading port named Cheonghaejin was established on the central west coast of the Korean Peninsula for maritime trade between Silla and Tang; that area is now called Dangjin.

But Silla culture should not be seen as a copy of Chinese culture. While Silla actively adopted the advanced civilization of Tang, many intellectuals stressed the importance of their native culture. For example, the Tang civil service exam system was not fully implemented because of Silla's unique social class system, the "bone rank system," which regulated political and social activities according to birth and blood ties.

The great Buddhist master Wonhyo, who attained enlightenment at Dangjin and declined to go study in Tang along with his friend Uisang, belonged to the class of scholars, artists, and religious leaders. One of the most influential Buddhist figures of his time, he wrote many books, including an important Commentary on the Awakening of Mahayana Faith scripture. The intellectual accomplishments of Wonhyo and Uisang influenced the further development of Buddhism in China and Asia for the next millennium. His son, Seol Chong, a Confucian scholar, was credited with systemizing Idu, a method of writing the Korean language using Chinese characters.

The achievements of figures like these attest to the way Silla's culture shared mutual influences with Tang as it developed into a rich culture with its own unique identity.