Budoji is a pseudo-historical work on East-Asian, Korean culture written by Bak Geum (박금) in 1953, that claims to be a recollection of the contents of the original Budoji,which are supposedly one of the 15 books in a collection called JingShimRok that has been passed down from the period of the Silla dynasty. Bak Geum states he left the JingShimRok in the North on his escape to South Korea during the North-South Korean war, rewriting the current Budoji from memory after his escape.

The Budoji is claimed to have been the first of the 15 books of the JingShimRok with its focus on ancient history. The original JingShimRok is told to have been written by Bak Jae Sang (박제상) during the Silla dynasty and passed down in the Bak family,and finally to Bak Geum before its loss during his escape to South Korea. The book is considered to be part of a pseudo historical narrative and is widely considered false by mainstream historians.^[1][2][3]

Outline of Budoji[edit]

The Era of Mago[edit]

The first era of Korean history according to the book is called Mago(마고,麻故). Budoji states that there were four Heavenly people, who were Hwanggung(황궁, 黃穹), Baekso(백소,白巢), Cheonggung(청궁,靑穹) and Heukso(흑소,黑巢). The mother of Hwanggung and Cheonggung was Gungheui(궁희, 穹姬), and the mother of Baekso and Heukso was Soheui(소희,巢姬). The mother of Gungheui and Soheui was Mago. It is said that Mago, Soheui and Gungheui, bore children without a father.

The Era of Budo[edit]

This chapter describes the supposed historical story about the four Heavenly people of Hwanggung, Baekso, Cheonggung and Heukso. The first son of Hwanggung, Yuin (유인,有因), received Cheonbusamin (천부삼인, 天符三印), and then he bequeathed the Cheonbusamin to Hwanin.

The Era of Hwanung[edit]

The son of Hwanin, Hwanung, received the Cheonbusamin from his father, and established the Budō. Budoji describes the achievement of Hwanung during the era in this chapter.

The Era of Gojoseon[edit]

It is described that Imgeom or Dangun is the son of Hwanung. Imgeom also received Cheonbusamin from his father, and then established the state called Gojoseon.

From Samhan to Three kingdoms of Korea[edit]

This chapter describes Samhan after the destruction of Gojoseon. Mahan was located in the north, Byeonhan was located in the south and Jinhan was located in the east. Then, Baekje succeeded Byeonhan and Goguryeo succeeded Mahan and Silla succeeded Jinhan.

References[edit]