​A study on the characters and roles of members of the Nine-Seodang(九誓幢) of Silla(新羅) : Focusing on the origins of the officers to whom they belong and some branches of the military service

Author : Choi, Sang-ki

Page : 67-105

Abstract

  This article attempted to clarify the characteristics and roles of members of the Nine-Seodang(九誓幢) by analyzing the origins of the officers to whom they belong and characteristics of some branches of the military service. Of the Nine-Seodang, six were organized as people fromgroups conquered to Silla(新羅). It is noteworthy that the time when official ranks were opened to people from Baekje(百濟) and Goguryeo(高句麗) and the time when Seodang was organized by them almost coincide. As the Silla government prepared the institutional basis for utilizing the upper echelons of each group, it would have been possible for people from the conquered group to be appointed as military officers of the Nine-Seodang.

  In 『SamgukSagi(三國史記)』, it is said that the Daedaegam(隊大監) who is the highest rank among the cavalry officers of the Nine-Seodang will lead the Mabyeong(馬兵). Mabyeong is a branch of the military service that can shoot while moving on horseback. One of the military characteristics of the Nine-Seodang is that their proportion is large. It is estimated that horse breeding and riding customs have been established in Silla since the middle of the 6th century. Based on this, those who belonged to a class that produced bureaucrats and could afford high-level training would have served as horsemen in the Nine-Seodang.

  Among the Nine-Seodang, the relatively early ones actually waged war. They were organized as Silla people. It is also believed that the Beakgeumseodang(白衿誓幢) composed of people from Baekje was formed in response to the clash with the Baekje refugees mobilized from the Tang(唐) Dynasty. The ‘Seo(誓)’ used in the name of Seodang was an absolute pledge to receive rewards or punishments according to standards and results. It can be said that the Silla government recruited people with military capabilities enough to preemptively promise victory and rewards and organized them into Seodang.

  Since the late 7th century, the Nine-Seodang took on the character of the royal guard, and its members also played a role in raising the status of the king. The unique color of each Seodang was clearly distinguished from other military organizations, showing that its members were members of the royal guard. In particular, it can be said that the appearance of the military service of the Nine-Seodang officers from the conquered groups or the appearance of the splendidly decorated Mabyeong participating in events such as receiving the envoys was a visual decoration of the king's authority.

< Key Word >

Nine-Seodang(九誓幢), conquered group, Mabyeong(馬兵), conduct of war, stature of kingship​