Talhae of Silla | |
Hangul | 탈해 이사금, 토해 이사금 |
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Hanja | 脫解尼師今, 吐解尼師今 |
Revised Romanization | Talhae Isageum, Tohae Isageum |
McCune–Reischauer | T'arhae Isagŭm, T'ohae Isagŭm |
Monarchs of Korea Silla (Pre-unification) |
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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.