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Boksin (?_663) was a military leader of the Korean kingdom of Baekje. He is remembered primarily as a leader of a movement for the restoration of Baekje after the kingdom fell in 660. He was the nephew of King Mu and thus also the cousin of King Uija, Baekje's last recognized king.
In 660, Baekje was attacked by the allied armies of Silla and Tang Dynasty China. The capital, Sabi, was taken, but Boksin resisted near modern-day Yesan. After King Uija's surrender to Tang, Boksin and the monk Dochim kindled a restoration movement. They sent for the prince Buyeo Pung, who had been living as a hostage in Yamato period Japan, an important Baekje ally. With some Japanese aid, they gathered the remnants of the Baekje army and launched a series of attacks on the Silla-Tang forces.
In 663, Silla and Tang counterattacked, and besieged the restoration movement at a fortress known as Juryu Castle (주류성/周留城). At this point Boksin appears to have betrayed the restoration movement. He had Dochim killed and sought to slay Prince Pung as well. However, Pung killed him first, and fled to Goguryeo. The restoration movement was destroyed shortly thereafter.
The location of Juryu Castle, at which Boksin's life came to an end, is now generally believed to be identical with the Ugeumam Mountain Fortress in Buan County, North Jeolla. [1] (http://www.visitkorea.or.kr/eng/info-db/dest/sight-detail.jsp?seqno=1961)
Rites to propitiate the spirits of Boksin and Dochim are still held annually at the village of Eunsan-ri in Buyeo County, near the ancient Baekje capital.
See also
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