Baekje

Baekje, also Paekche, was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, ruling portions of the southwestern Korean Peninsula from 18 BCE to 660 CE. It began when Jumong's son Onjo established a polity at Wiryeseong near present-day Seoul. Baekje expanded into the Han River basin and the western coast, and later moved its capitals twice: to Ungjin (present-day Gongju) after 475, and to Sabi (present-day Buyeo) in 538.

Baekje developed a centralized monarchy and a rich culture that produced distinctive lacquerware, metalwork, and Buddhist art. The kingdom maintained extensive trade networks across the Yellow Sea, engaging with Chinese dynasties and Japanese polities. Buddhism was adopted in the 4th–5th centuries and became a major cultural force, shaping temple architecture and art.

Baekje maintained diplomatic and military interactions with Goguryeo and Silla, as well as with Chinese states such as Wei and Sui. In the 7th century, Baekje faced pressure from Silla allied with Tang China. In 660, Silla with Tang forces conquered Baekje, ending its kingdom. The last king, Uija, was captured, and much of Baekje's territory was absorbed into Silla.

Legacy: Baekje contributed to the cultural and technological foundation of later Korean kingdoms; its art, architecture, and religious imagery influenced neighboring regions, including the early Japanese archipelago. Records of Baekje appear in Korean and Japanese sources, and its history remains an important part of the Three Kingdoms period.