King Seong of Baekje

He led a long campaign to regain the Han River valley, the former heartland of Baekje which had been lost to Goguryeo in 475. The old Baekje capital was regained in 551. The campaign culminated in 553 with victories in a series of costly assaults on Goguryeo fortifications. Silla troops, however, arriving on the pretense of offering assistance, attacked the exhausted Baekje army and took possession of the entire Han River valley. Incensed by this betrayal, the following year King Seong launched a retaliatory strike against Silla's western border, but was killed in the resulting melée.

King Seong also maintained his country's diplomatic ties with Liang Dynasty China as well as Japan. He is credited with having sent a mission in 538 from Baekje to Japan that brought an image of Shakyamuni and several sutras to the Japanese court. This has traditionally been considered the official introduction of Buddhism to Japan. He sent tribute missions to Liang in 534 and 541, on the second occasion requesting artisans as well as various Buddhist works and a teacher. According to Chinese records, all these requests were granted. A subsequent mission was sent in 549, only to find the Liang capital in the hands of the rebel Hou Jing, who threw them in prison for lamenting the fall of the capital.

He was known as a great patron of Buddhism, and built many temples. Indeed, in 528 Baekje officially adopted Buddhism as its state religion.

See also