Government of the Three Kingdoms

The Three Kingdoms ranked their aristocrats by office grades and decided great matters in noble councils: the daedaero and the council of chiefs in Goguryeo, the chief jwapyeong and the Jeongsaam council in Baekje, and the sangdaedeung and the Hwabaek council in Silla.

Under the king each kingdom set ranks of office that turned tribal chiefs into officials. In Goguryeo the daedaero headed the government with some ten-odd ranks, and the council of chiefs (jega hoeui) debated affairs of state. Baekje laid down six jwapyeong ministers and sixteen ranks under King Goi, with the chief jwapyeong acting as first minister, and tradition says its chief ministers were chosen at the Jeongsaam council. Silla had seventeen ranks, and the Hwabaek council led by the sangdaedeung decided matters such as succession and war by unanimity.

In the provinces Goguryeo sent yoksal to five regions, Baekje in the Sabi period sent bangnyeong to five districts (bang), and Silla sent gunju to five provinces (ju); the capitals were divided into five wards in Goguryeo and Baekje and six in Silla. Local governors also commanded the troops of their area, so administration and army were one, and Silla stationed a garrison (jeong) in each province. Goguryeo’s three capitals and Silla’s secondary capitals (sogyeong) were special districts.