The Background and Trends of 'Refugees' in the Three Kingdoms Period

In this paper, the background and trends of occurrence were reviewed in a macroscopic way by type after conceptualizing ancient Korean immigrants as ancient refugees. The refugees who voluntary emigrated were divided into 'political refugees'·'religious refugees'·'economics refugees. Forced refugees were categorized as 'diplomatic refugees' and 'war refugees'. And the people of Baekje and Goguryeo were analyzed separately because of the combination of voluntary migration and compulsory mirgration. The trends of refugees were divided into those between the three kingdoms, those from the three kingdoms to China, and those from China to the three kingdoms. 'political refugees' among the three kingdoms were largely refugees from Goguryeo to Baekje and Silla. The number of political refugees from the three kingdoms to China was Goguryeo much higher than that of Baekje and Silla in terms of frequency and scale. More than 114,000 refugees have fled to China on 18 occasions. The status of refugees ranged from royalty to subjects and people. The number of political refugees from China to the three kingdoms was Goguryeo overwhelmingly higher than that of Baekje and Silla. Goguryeo accepted more than 5000 political refugees on 10 occasions from China's previous dynasties. During the Three kingdoms period, the number of 'economic refugees' from Baekje to Silla and Goguryeo was more than 12,000. Mostly occurred in the end of 4th~the first half of the 6th century, especially after the Hanseong capital period. The status of economic refugees was all confined to the people. The 'diplomatic refugees' were those sent as hostages. Among the three kingdoms, silla's diplomatic refugees accounted for the largest number of four cases. Silla sent hostages to Goguryeo and Baekje·Gaya respectively. Goguryeo has the largest number of cases of diplomatic refugees from the three kingdoms to China, with four cases. The diplomatic refugees of Goguryeo were all hostages sent to Moyong(慕容部) and Jeonyeon(前燕) in the fourth century. All diplomatic refugees were limited to royalty or descendants of nobles. During the Three kingdoms period, 'war refugees' overwhelmed cases of refugees in terms of frequency and scale. The war refugees of Goguryeo were Baekje, Silla, and China, with more than 215,601 people. The war refugees of Baekje were taken to Silla, Goguryeo and other areas more than 25,000. In the case of Silla, there were more than 41,801 people from Baekje and 52,000 people from Goguryeo and China. The total number of war refugees from China to the three countries reached 50,000 people. The scale of war refugees can be a measure of the outcome of war and the superiorty of kingdoms. 'displaced refugees' have a complex nature of voluntary migration and compulsory migration in terms of drivers. In 660.9, King Uija(r. 641~660) of Baekje and 93 subjects 12,000 people were taken to the Tang Dynasty. In 668, King Bojang(r. 642~668), Prince Boknam, and 200,000 officials and people of Goguryeo were forcibly taken to the Tang Dynasty. 10,000 people displaced refugees of Goguryeo defected to the northen Gök Türk(突厥). As many as 30,000 people moved from Goguryeo to Silla.