A study on the basic original text of the Middle Ancient Period records of the Samguksagi Sillabongi and it’s completion

Abstract

Most Middle Ancient Period records of the Sillabongi are estimated to be quoted from the Old Samkugsa. However, among the Middle Ancient Period records, there are several cases that records from the Samguksai Yeoljeon(Biographies), Jabji(Miscellanies), and Baekjebongi are original. It is also ascertained that the editor of the Samguksagi extracted some documents about the dispatch of envoys and the records about emissary, and some records from the Middle Ancient Period texts that indicate interchange between Shilla and Chinese dynasties from the Cefu yuanchi and Zizhi tongjian. The Editor of the Samguksagi did not reproduce records from the Old Samkugsa. The Editor modified and edited it appropriately and organized the frame of the Middle Ancient Period records of the Samguksagi Sillabongi, and added various excerpts from internal and external records to complement the roughness of the Old Samkugsa. The editor also presented references of certain events or article that needed additional explanations and gave description of some transmission materials that was not dated accurately in a lump to the date of the king’s later years. The editor properly presented references of certain events if it existed or if there were any variations among various records, and expressed author’s opinion or made comments about historical events based on the author’s view of hisory through supplementary note. In this respect, the author of the Samguksagi can be evaluated to overcome the stance and perception of history of the editor of the Old Samkugsa and to make efforts to organize Shilla’s history based on his own perspective and concept of history.