The Roles and Significance of Byeokrando in the Early Goryeo Dynasty

Author: ​Ryu, Donghwa

Page: 67-131

This study aims to examine the roles and historical significance of Byeokrando during the early Goryeo Dynasty. Gaegyeong, the capital of Goryeo, was bordered by the Imjin, Yeseong, and Hangang Rivers to the east, west, and south, and by the Masikryeong Mountains to the north. This unique geographical setting rendered Gaegyeong an "island-like" landform, making Byeokrando an indispensable foundation for the city’s function as a capital. As a hub where domestic and foreign goods, people, and information converged, Byeokrando served as a central point for both international trade and the national tax transport system (Joun). Despite its importance, academic focus on Byeokrando has been relatively limited, as previous scholarship has predominantly addressed it only indirectly within the broader contexts of Goryeo’s trade or maritime administration. To investigate the multi-faceted roles of Byeokrando, this paper analyzes primary sources such as Goryeosa (History of Goryeo) and Goryeosa-jeolyo (Essentials of Goryeo History), alongside various literary works and collections from the late Goryeo period that depict the Yeseonggang River. The study is structured as follows: Chapter 2 explores the connection between the rise of local maritime forces and the development of Byeokrando during the transitional period from Late Silla to Early Goryeo. Chapter 3 examines the role of Byeokrando in the context of the 11th-century internationa​l climate, identifying its transition from a simple trading port to an unofficial diplomatic channel and a gateway for human resources. Chapter 4 investigates the specific types of goods gathered at Byeokrando and the timing of their influx. Through this, the study re-evaluates Byeokrando as the essential infrastructure that sustained the operation of the Goryeo state by supplying resources and information to the topographically isolated capital. Ultimately, this paper traces how a minor port in the late Silla period evolved into a strategic international hub in early Goryeo, emphasizing its significance as the lifeblood of the capital’s administration. It is hoped that this study will prompt a scholarly reconsideration of Byeokrando’s historical status.​