Wongwang’s Plea for Troops

Beset by Goguryeo raids, King Jinpyeong had the monk Wongwang write a memorial asking Sui China for troops.

As Goguryeo repeatedly raided Silla’s northern frontier, Jinpyeong in 608 resolved to borrow Sui troops against Goguryeo and ordered Wongwang to draft the request. Wongwang wrote it, saying: "To destroy others to preserve oneself is not the way of a monk, but as this poor monk lives on Your Majesty’s land and eats Your Majesty’s water and grass, how could I not obey?"

In 611 Silla sent envoys to present the memorial and ask for troops, and Emperor Yang of Sui agreed. The next year he invaded Goguryeo with a huge army but was crushed by Eulji Mundeok at the Salsu River. The episode shows Buddhism serving the state and foreshadows the diplomacy that led Kim Chun-chu to the Silla–Tang alliance.