Prince Imseong (琳聖太子, Rinshō Taishi, 577 – November, 657), was the third son of King Seong of Baekje who died in battle with Silla forces in 554. Because of the discrepancies in dates it is thought he was actually third son of Wideok of Baekje.^[1] Another way to read or write his name is Rimseong.

Japan

Prince Imseong arrived to Japan in 597. The Japanese called him Rinshō Taishi because of the Japanese reading of the characters in his name.^[2] The Prince brought metallurgy to Japan, thus changed his last name to Tatara (多々良), which literally means "Bellows" and as extension "metalworking," in Japanese.^[3] This in turn was named after an ancient Korean port controlled by the Gaya Confederacy (which was also famed for its abundant iron mines and their plate armor) in what is now called Dobijin (蹈鞴津), which means "Port of Bellows" and was written as Dadara (多多羅) for its pronunciation. This place was the major route for exporting iron to Japan. He then changed his last name to Ōuchi (大内), which was the name of the place he was living.^[4]

The first record which says Ōuchi clan has relation with Baekje is that Ōuchi Yoshihiro sent gifts of local products and a letter with an envoy in 1399, politely belittling himself and asking for some of the land in the region of Korea where his Baekje ancestors came from, but failing that, at least ask Korea to officially recognize their pedigree as true, which is written in the Veritable Records of the Joseon Dynasty.^[5] Throughout the years into the next century, the Ōuchis became the most welcomed among the various tributary daimyos from Muromachi Japan, and eventually asked for the cherished Tripitaka Koreana, thinking the now anti-Buddhist Koreans may no longer have a need for it, but was refused.^[6]

The Ōuchis have been claiming their ancestor had come from Baekje even among the Japanese, when it was more popular to claim connections to Fujiwaras, Heikes, and Genjis, lending credence to their claims. And their Tatara name, connected to the Dadara in Korea, had appeared both in the Shinsen Shōjiroku and Mokkan wooden relics dating from the 9th century.

Legend

There is also a legend about the God Myōken that is entwined with the prince of Baekje, Prince Imseong:

• In ancient times, during the reign of the one-hundred sixth emperor of Japan, Go-Nara-in of Chinzei there was a man named Tandai Ōuchi Tatara Ason Nii Hyōbugyō Yoshitaka. His ancestor was called Prince Rinshō [Imseong], the third son of King Seong of Baekje. Incidentally, on the eighth day of the ninth month of 595 in the reign of Empress Suiko, a big radiant star suddenly fell from the heavens in Aoyanagai no Ura, Washizunoshō Tsuno District, Suō Province and landed on top of a pine tree. It was like the light sent out by a full moon, and it shone for seven days and nights. The various peoples of the region were very surprised and thought it strange. They immediately engaged a shamaness. She spoke, "I am Hokushin Myōken Sonshō, three years from now on the second day of the third month, Prince Imseong of Baekje should come to this country. I have announced this fact to Prince Shōtoku and he has agreed that Prince Imseong should stay. Accordingly, I humbly reported the gist of this to the Empress in Kyoto. Empress Suiko was delighted, and on the second day of the third month of the same fifth year of 597, when over one-hundred imperial court nobles arrived at Tataranohama in Suō Province, the Empress boarded the boat of Prince Imseong and landed at Tataranohama. The prow of the boat was designed as a dragon head and the neck of a fabulous seabird, befitting a noble. She immediately had a palace built in Nagato no Kuni Ōuchi Province and bade him live there. Accordingly, a palace was built promptly for Prince Imseong on Washizuyama. They prayed for the arrival of the deity Hokushin Myōken Sonshō-o, named the place the Star Palace, and fixed the date of worship as the eighteenth day of the ninth month.^[7]

Descendants

Prince Imseong became the progenitor of the Ōuchi clan took its name from the place name where they held power. The family possess a document of their descent in the Ōuchi family tree (Ō uchi Tatarashi fuch ō, 大内多々良氏譜牒).^[8] On 17 April 2009, the current head of the clan, Ōuchi Kimio (大內公夫), visited Iksan, Korea to pay tribute to his Baekje ancestors.^[9]

In November, 657 there is a record stating that Imseong died when he was 81 years old.

琳聖太子 (Imseong Taeja; Japanese: Rinshō Taishi, founder of Ōuchi clan)[4][10]
 　┃
琳龍太子 (Imryeong Taeja; Japanese: Rinryu Taishi)[11]
 　┃
阿部太子 (Abe Taishi)[12]
 　┃
世農太子 (Atoyo Taishi)[13]
 　┃
世阿太子 (Azusa Taishi)[14]
 　┃
阿津太子 (Atsu Taishi)[15]
 　┃
大内正恒 (Ōuchi Masatsune)[16]

See also

• Soga clan
• Ōuchi clan
• Baekje
• Monarchs of Korea

References