Talhae of Silla

Talhae of Silla (?-80, r. 57-80) was the fourth king of Silla, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. He is commonly called Talhae Isageum, isageum being the royal title in early Silla. Also known by his personal name as Seok Talhae (昔脫解).

He was a member of the Gyeongju Seok clan, one of the noble clans that shared the Silla throne during the early Common Era.

He was born in a small kingdom 1000 li¹ northeast of Wa (Japan). (The name of the kingdom is Dapana-guk 다파나국 多婆那國² "Dapana Country" according to Samguk Sagi, or Ryongseong-guk 룡성국 龍城國 "Dragon Castle/City Country," Jeongmyeong-guk 正明國 "Proper and Enlightened Country," Wanha-guk 琓夏國 "(A Kind of) Jade Summer Country," or Hwaha-guk 花厦國 "Flower Mansion Country" according to Samguk Yusa.) His father, King Hamdalpa, was a king of this kingdom; his mother was a queen or princess of another kingdom, called Nyeo-guk 女国 "Woman Country."

According to the Samguk Sagi, when he was born as an egg, his father considered it an ill omen and had it boxed and floated at sea. The egg floated past Geumgwan Gaya and landed east of Gyerim (near today's Gyeongju, South Korea), where he was raised by an old man as a fisherman. His family is said to have taken over a high official's house by claiming to be metalsmiths.

His birth year is unknown, but he was probably an old man when he assumed the throne, having married the daughter (or younger sister) of Silla's King Namhae in the year 8. He was offered the throne as successor to the second king Namhae, but the older Yuri served as king first. Yuri in turn designated Talhae his successor.

Hogong is chief retainer who served for establishment of Silla. He also founded Kim Alji who is the founder of Kim clan in Korea. He got involved to three royals who are founder of Silla. He has Japanese origin. Talhae of Sillla also came over by ship. The location of his birth place Dapana Country is estimated as somewhere in Japan peninsula. It is precisely estimated some part in Sea of Japan side or Kyushu. According to Kenichi Kamigaito, as it is a myth, other lines would be mixed, but Talhae of Silla was a King of Tanba province and he made jade at there. He reached Silla by following a trade route. Even though excluding details of myth, it can be assumed that clan Seok had trade with Japan.

¹li is roughly equivalent to 400–500 meters.

²Tamba no kuni was located 460 km northeast of Wakoku(hanja: 倭国 :zh:倭国,ja:倭国).

In 64, the rival Korean kingdom Baekje attacked several times. Silla battled the Gaya confederacy in 77.

According to legend, in 65 the infant Kim Alji, ancestor of the Gyeongju Kim family, was found by Hogong in a golden box in the royal Gyerim forest. Talhae named his kingdom Gyerim at this time (the name Silla was officially adopted much later).

A tomb believed to be Talhae's is located in northern Gyeongju City. The Gyeongju National Museum is constructed on the site where Talhae had a palace built.