Kim Yushin

Kim Yu-sin
Portrait of Kim Yushin in the "famous portrait photo book of Joseon" published in 1926
Korean name
Hangul	김유신
Hanja
Revised Romanization	Kim Yu Shin
McCune–Reischauer	Kim Yu Shin

Kim Yushin (595 – 18 August 673) was a general in 7th-century Silla. He led the unification of the Korean Peninsula by Silla under the reign of King Muyeol of Silla and King Munmu of Silla. He is said to have been the great-grandchild of King Guhae of Geumgwan Gaya, the last ruler of the Geumgwan Gaya state. This would have given him a very high position in the Silla bone rank system, which governed the political and military status that a person could attain.

Much of what is known about Kim's life comes from the detailed account in the Samguk Sagi, Yeoljeon 1-3, and the much briefer record in the Samguk Yusa, vol. 1.

Kim Yushin was the son of General Kim Seohyeon (the second son of General Kim Mu-ryeok) and Lady Manmyeong, who was a daughter of Kim Sukheuljong (hangul 김숙흘종 hanja 金肅訖宗, King Jinheung of Silla's younger brother). He was born in Gyeyang, Jincheon County in 595, became a Hwarang warrior at just 15 and was an accomplished swordsman and a Gukseon (국선, 國仙; Hwarang leader) by the time he was 18 years old. By the age of 34 (in 629) he had been given total command of the Silla armed forces. Three years later, Kim Yushin's cousin, Princess Deokman, became Queen Seondeok of Silla and kept Kim Yushin as commander in chief of the royal army. During the reign of Queen Seondeok of Silla (632-647), Kim Yushin owned ten thousand private soldiers, won many battles against Baekje and became one of the most powerful man in Silla.

Yushin's first military engagement in command is believed to have occurred around 629 AD, and through it he quickly proved his capabilities as a warrior. Silla was in a constant struggle with its neighbor to the west, Baekje, over territory. There had been gains and losses on both sides, and the struggle lasted for many years. It was during this period that Yushin rose through the ranks of the military, rising to the position of general and becoming a skilled field commander.