SOME FEATURES OF THE KOLPUM SYSTEM IN SILLA IN ANCIENT KOREAN HISTORY

Abstract

Silla was a state that formed in the southeastern part of the Korean Peninsula, situated in a less geographically advantageous position and emerging later; thus, its feudal production relations developed slowly. Nevertheless, Silla swiftly established its sovereignty. The Silla state was organized according to the principles of a noble monarchy. Compared to Goguryeo and Baekje, the aristocratic element of the Silla state was more pronounced, which was clearly reflected in the kolpum system. The kolpum system (골품제도) was established to distinguish social strata, especially among the aristocracy, based on lineage and bloodlines. This system also regulated the extent of power that nobles could hold based on their status. By employing historical and logical methodologies, this paper contributes to clarifying several issues related to the kolpum system in Silla during the 6th and 7th centuries as factors affecting the formation and the characteristics of the kolpum regime in politics, marriage, economics, society, military.... Thereby, the paper draws conclusions about the impacts of this system on the history of the Silla state specifically, and Korean history in general.