The Current Status and Task of the Silla Military System History

Abstract

This article reviews the results of research on the Silla military organization and summarizes future research issues. Silla's military organization can be found in the Bumgunho record of Mugwan section, in the 『Samguksagi(History of the Three Kingdoms)』. Mention of the Silla military organization began in the late Joseon Dynasty. In the late Joseon Dynasty period, the Silla military organization was mentioned in order to organize the military system of the past or to reform the military government and military system. Actual research on the Silla military organization with modern historical research methods was began after the 1900s. The interest in Korean history during this period led to empirical research on historical and geographical aspects, and also for the Silla military organization. After the liberation of Korea in 1945, the study of the Silla military organization intensified. Studies were published that provided an overview of the Silla military organization from an institutional perspective, and studies were also conducted that linked the military organization to the local system. These studies became the basis for later research on military organizations. From the 1970s, research on Silla's military organization became more detailed, with studies focusing on individual military organizations or specific military offices based on the results of previous studies. From the 1990s to the present, researchers have research achievements in military organizations that have been difficult to identify due to very sketchy records, and studies have been published to trace the process of change in military organizations and the operation of military organizations in connection with the Silla defense system. As a result of the constant efforts of researchers in the face of absolute scarcity, both qualitatively and quantitatively research on the Silla military organization has been greatly advanced and accumulated. However, there are still many things that need to be resolved. It is hoped that more research on military organizations will be conducted in the future and much will be revealed about the Silla military organization.