Life and Activities of Seol Gye-Doo(薛罽頭) in the Early 7th Century

As a figure in the King Jinpyeong’s period (r. 579-632), Seol Gye-Doo(薛罽頭) is well-known as a person who criticized Silla Golpumje(骨品制, Bone-rank system) and joined Tang dynasty. This anecdote is told in 『Samguksagi(三國史記)』, Biography(Yeoljeon, 列傳). However, when examining the latter half of the Biography, it is noteworthy that it also describes his activities after joining Tang dynasty. According to this, Seol Gye-Doo recommended himself, and was given the military officer of Tang, which was zuowuweiguoyi(左武衛果毅) and died in the battle of Jupilsan(駐蹕山 戰鬪) in 645 (Jeonggwan 19). In recognition of his achievements at this time, he was honored as the great general. Although it is an interesting record, there has been no study devoted to the activities of Seol Gye- Doo so far. In particular, his activities after joining the Tang dynasty were rarely illuminated. Of course, except for the Biography, there is no historical record which it concerned, but it is noteworthy that there has been no detailed review even of Seol Gye-Doo's Biography. First of all, at the beginning of the Biography, Seol Gye-Doo is expressed as “the descendants of Silla Uigwan”. If so, it will be necessary to clarify in more detail the causal relationship that Seol Gye-Doo who is the descendant of Ui-gwan, criticizing the Golpumje. Also, terms such as 'self-recommendation' and 'zuowuweiguoyi', used in the Biography, are found in the operation of the political system of Tang. Therefore, by using historical sources from China, including 『Tang Yuk Jeon(唐六典)』, we will try to infer the circumstances in which Seol Gye-Doo received the zuowuweiguoyi. Finally, it is possible to make new interpretation his actions, which were active in the battle of Jupilsan, through social trends such as the operation of immigrants and Posthumous Conferment of Honors at that time. The year 621 (Mudeok 4), when Seol Gye-Doo joined the Tang, is the 4th year since the founding of the Tang and the year Silla established diplomatic ties with the Tang in earnest. Since then, the confrontation between the Tang and the Korean peninsula has intensified, a fierce battle unfolded, and the battle of Jupilsan also unfolded in this flow. In other words, as a figure penetrating the rapidly changing Tang-Korean peninsula situation in the early 7th century, the work of looking at his life and activities shall be considered meaningful in itself.