The main reason of Chang Po-go‘s collapse
lies in his desire to advance to central political circle
and to marry her daughter to the King. The other reason is
from the opposition of small maritime societies to Chang Po-go,
which were around the southwestern seashore. After the establishement
of Cheong-Hae-Jin, they came under Chang Po-go's control and
lost most of their profit from maritime trade. Especially,
the loss was bigger on the maritime influential who made enormous
profit from slave trade. In the background of Chang Po-go’s
assassination, the interests of Shilla nobles who were afraid
of Chang Po-go's power might have been matched with those
of some influential people around the southwestern coast.
Shilla-Myungshin
(God of Shilla Chang Po-go)
in Japan
|
There is a slight discrepancy between Korean and Japanese
historical documents on the year of assassination of Chang
Po-go. According to Sam-Gook-Sa-Ghi, he died in the spring
of 846. According to Japanese record in 'Zokku-Nihon-Kou-Ki''(A
History of Japan), on the other hand, he died in November
of 841. In his diary, Ennin wrote a story of Choi Hoon-Sip-I-Rang,
a commander of Cheong-Hae-Jin, who had gone to Tang for
trading; he sought refuge from 'a civil war' in Shilla,
at a Shillabang(Shilla Village) in Yeon-Su-Hyeon(Lian
Shui Xian in Chinese, district), China in July 845. This
'civil war' is considered to indicate the assassination
of Chang Po-go. Based on the Japanese documents, year
of his assassination is estimated to be November of 841. |
After the assassination of Chang Po-go, Lee Chang-jin, the
commander of section of his army, attempted to defend themselves
against assassinator, but was suppressed by Yeom Jang, assassinator.
For a while later, Cheong-Hae-Jin was under the control of
Yeom Jang; thus, the associates of Chang Po-go left for China
or Japan. Wando residents who used to follow Chang Po-go revolted
tenaciously against the tyranny of assassinator Yeom, but
to no avail. Shilla Government closed Cheong-Hae-Jin in February
851 (the 13th year of King Moonseong) and relocated the residents
to Byeokgolgun (present Kimje, Jeonbook Province). Since then,
Cheong-Hae-Jin virtually lost the function of international
port.
Remains discovered
in Cheong-Hae-Jin(Wand-do Is)
|
The Assassination of Chang Po-go and the Destruction of Cheong-Hae-Jin