Gyebaek

Gyebaek
Hangul	계백
Hanja	階伯
Revised Romanization	Gyebaek
McCune–Reischauer	Kyebaek

Gyebaek, or Kyebaek (died 20 August 660^[1]), was a general in the ancient Korean kingdom of Baekje during the early to mid-7th century. Little else is known of his personal life—including the year and location of his birth.

The Last Battle

In 660, Baekje was invaded by a force of 50,000 from Silla, supported by 144,000 Tang soldiers. Gyebaek, with only 5,000 troops under his command, met them in the battlefield of Hwangsanbeol. Before entering the battlefield, Gyebaek reportedly killed his wife and children to prevent them from being enslaved if he lost.

His forces won four initial battles, causing severe casualties to Silla forces. General Gyebaek fought very courageously and killed many Silla soldiers. However, in the end, exhausted and surrounded, Gyebaek's army was outnumbered and overwhelmed. Baekje's forces were annihilated in battle along with their leader Gyebaek.

Aftermath

Baekje was destroyed, shortly after Gyebaek's defeat and death at Hwangsanbeol.

As Neo-Confucian philosophy became more influential in the later Korean Dynasties, Gyebaek was recognized by historians and scholars as exemplifying the Confucian ideals of patriotism and devotion to his king, Uija, and praised as such. Although not much else is known about Gyebaek's life, his actions leading up to his last battle are well known to many Koreans.

In Taekwon-Do

Gye Baek (also written Gae Baek or Ge Baek in various Taekwondo manuals) is the 12th pattern or hyeong in the International Taekwon-Do Federation form of the Korean martial art taekwondo. It is practised by the 1st Dan black belt. The pattern has 44 moves, and the diagram (I) represents his severe and strict military discipline.

In popular culture

Portrayed by Park Joong-hoon in the 2003 film Once Upon a Time in a Battlefield
Portrayed by Jung Heung-chae in 2006–2007 SBS TV series Yeon Gaesomun
Portrayed by Choi Won-young in the 2009 MBC TV series Queen Seondeok
Portrayed by Lee Seo-jin and Lee Hyun-woo in the 2011 MBC TV series Gyebaek
Portrayed by Choi Jae-sung in the 2012–2013 KBS1 TV series Dream of the Emperor
Featured in Age of Empires II HD Edition

References

^ In the Korean calendar (lunar), he died on 9 July 660.

External links

[1] Nonsan govt text about the battle
Gyebaek statue^{[permanent dead link‍]}
Another Gyebaek statue^{[permanent dead link‍]}
Gyebaek on the Encyclopedia of Korean Culture (in Korean).

[1] In the Korean calendar (lunar), he died on 9 July 660.

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