Ye Gun (禰軍, 613 – 19 February 678) was the elder brother of Ye Sik-jin (禰寔進, or Ye Sik (禰植)), and was the one who led Uija (義慈王), the last king of Baekje, out of Ungjin Fortress, where he was resisting the Silla-Tang allied forces, and had him surrender to the Silla-Tang allied forces. His courtesy name was Wen (溫), and he was a native of Uyi (嵎夷) in Ungjin (熊津), Baekje. In recognition of his contribution to the fall of Baekje, Ye Gun and his younger brother Ye Sik-jin both received official posts from the Tang dynasty, and the Ye clan (禰氏) established itself as a noble family of Tang.
He died of illness on the first day of the second intercalary month of the third year of the Yifeng era (儀鳳) of Emperor Gaozong (高宗) of Tang (678), at age 66, at his residence in Yanshou Village (延壽里), Changan County (長安縣), Yongzhou (雍州). His life was revealed when his epitaph (墓誌銘) was excavated in 2011.1
Excavation of the epitaph and controversy
In 2011, the epitaph of Ye Gun was unearthed in Xi'an, Shaanxi (陝西 西安).2 By comparing this epitaph with the epitaph of Ye Sik-jin, which had been introduced around 2007, researchers clarified the ancestry of the Baekje Ye clan, among other things.
The most controversial part of the epitaph's contents is the word '日本' (Japan). The word appears in the passage '于時日本餘噍，據扶桑而逋誅，風谷遺甿，負盤桃而阻固' ("At that time, the remnants of Japan (日本) took refuge in Fusang (扶桑) to escape punishment, and the remaining people of Fenggu (風谷) relied on Pantao (盤桃) and resisted stubbornly"). This passage records that even after the Silla-Tang allied forces destroyed Baekje and Goguryeo, the people of Baekje and Goguryeo continued to resist. The point of dispute is whether this '日本' refers literally to Japan of the Japanese archipelago.
The argument that '日本' does not refer to Japan of the Japanese archipelago rests on the following. The terms 扶桑 (Fusang), 風谷 (Fenggu), and 盤桃 (Pantao) in this passage are respectively poetic names or alternative names for Japan, Goguryeo, and Silla. For this reason, the '日本' appearing here is likely not a direct name of a country, but a poetic name or alternative name reflecting the geographical situation of some state.
A counterargument may then be raised: if that "some state" is '倭' (Wa), then '日本' can simply be understood as a poetic name or alternative name for '倭', as commonly known. However, in this case there is a problem, because 扶桑, which was already used in Chinese at the time as a poetic name or alternative name for '倭', already appears in the passage. In that case the interpretation becomes "the remnants of Japan took refuge in Japan (or Wa) to escape punishment." It would be strange to use two different expressions, '日本' and '扶桑', for the country we know today as Japan, and it would also be awkward to say that they fled from Japan to Japan to escape 'punishment' (誅). Moreover, the character 誅 in this context does not mean an ordinary death.
The Chinese character 誅 generally carries the meaning, in East Asia, of 'punishing a person who has committed a crime, especially one who has defied the emperor's order.' Since it is the emperor who executes rebels or criminals, the legitimacy lies with the emperor. Therefore, 'fleeing to escape punishment' (逋誅) means 'fleeing to escape the suppression of the Tang emperor.' Furthermore, the adoption of 'Japan' as the official name of the country by the Japanese court occurred in 701, 23 years after Ye Gun's death in 678.
Therefore, based on historical facts, the remnants of 'Japan' who escaped the attack of the Tang army to 'Fusang' and survived are none other than the people of Baekje, and so it follows that '日本' is an alternative name for 'Baekje.'
Contents of the epitaph
大唐故右威衛將軍上柱國禰公墓志銘幷序
The Duke's personal name was Jun (軍), courtesy name Wen (溫), and he was a native of Ungjin Uyi (熊津嵎夷). His ancestors shared the same ancestry as the Chinese; at the end of the Yongjia era, fleeing turmoil, they went east and settled there. As for the lofty Gyeong Mountain (鯨山), it stands to the east, straddling Cheonggu; the vast Ungjin River (熊水) flows south, facing Danjeo. Its mists and clouds soaked and nourished its flowers, and it bestowed its blessings on the land of Tang; it shone with sun and moon and set forth its sprouts, its lofty and dense forests stretching ahead; its spirit writings and its refined texts surpassed the seven scholars of old in fragrance; its horses and warriors were mighty, surpassing the Three Han states in valor. Its fine structures grew more splendid, its outstanding talents echoed one another, its lineage never broke, and its reputation resounded generation after generation.
His great-grandfather Bok (福), grandfather Yeo (譽), and father Seon (善) were all men of the first rank of this domain, holding the title of Jwapyeong (佐平). They all upheld the duty of the land to brighten their persons and wore the heavenly rank to serve the state diligently. Their loyalty equaled iron and stone, and their integrity matched pine and bamboo. Those who regulate things achieve success in virtue and the Way; those who serve as scholars are firm in both civil and military arts. The Duke's brilliance was inherited, and he displayed a distinguished bearing. His depths were clear and calm like a pond, and his abundant light was cherished like the sun; he surpassed the bright qi of the Herdsman and Dipper, shining among the stars; his heroic demeanor surpassed the wind of the Horn, his shadow reaching beyond the clouds. In the fifth year of Xianqing (顯慶), when the imperial forces pacified his domain, he perceived the opportunity and understood the change, and holding his sword he knew to turn toward the state. He was like Yóu Yú (由余) leaving the barbarians, and like Jin Mìdī (金磾) entering Han. The sacred emperor praised and admired him, promoted him to a glorious rank, and appointed him Commandant of the Zhuanchuan Prefecture of the Right Martial Guard.
At that time, the remnants of Japan (日本餘噍) occupied Fusang to escape punishment, and the remaining people of Fenggu (風谷遺甿), relying on Pantao, resisted stubbornly. Ten thousand riders stretched across the fields, raising dust with their horses; a thousand ships crossed the waves, pulling their nets along. Because the Duke's strategy reached the eastern seas and his model was known across the eastern ocean, he was specifically chosen by the emperor and sent to console and pacify them. The Duke devoted himself to his duty as a subject, risking his life, and sang the Huanghua (皇華) as he set out in his chariot. He flew like a blue hawk over the sea and soared like a red sparrow over the mountains. He broke the flood gates, the Heavenly Sea Monster was calmed, and the wind-tunnel was cleared and the cloud road opened. The startled ducks lost their companions, and the crossing was completed before nightfall; in the end he was able to proclaim the majesty of the Emperor and instruct them on fortune and misfortune for a thousand autumns.
The usurper, in a single day, declared himself a vassal, and he led several dozen of the chief leaders to enter the court and pay homage; by special imperial grace he was appointed General of the Left Martial Guard. Shortly afterward he was promoted to Middle General of the Right Army Command and concurrently Acting Director of the Ungjin Commandery Office. His talent shone like a thousand-li horse, and his benevolence matched the hearts of a hundred cities. He lit the torch in the sacred terrace, his talents marked him among the flourishing shrubs; the moon hung in the divine palace, his fragrance surpassed the cassia tokens. Dressed in brocade and walking in daylight, his wealth and honor never changed; he slept peacefully at night, and cared for the people with method. In the third year of Xianheng (咸亨), in the eleventh month, on the twenty-first day, he was appointed General of the Right Majestic Guard by imperial edict.
His shadow reflected on the vermilion gates, and he respectfully adorned the purple steps. Often honored with advancement, he quickly passed through important and busy posts. It was thought that he would surely display his excellent policies and forever enjoy many blessings. But who could foresee that the sun would gallop away and not return, and frost would wither the trees of Mayang; the rivers flow past and cannot be held, and wind would startle the waters of the Dragon Charger.
On the second day of the second month of the third year of Yifeng, in the year of Wuyin, on the nineteenth day, he fell ill and died at his residence in Yanshou Village in Changan County, Yongzhou. He was sixty-six years old.
The imperial feelings remembered his merits and his old service, and the court grieved for a long time. He was bestowed three hundred bolts of silk and cloth, and three hundred sheng of millet, together with all that the funeral required, and the officials were ordered to provide it; he was also assigned Wang Xingben, Scholar of the Hongwen Hall concurrently Acting Chief Clerk of his guard, to supervise the funeral. The Duke's knowledge was elegant and broad, his bearing gentle and dignified; like a pearl without flaw, like a white jade without blemish. The fragrant orchid of ten paces had a scent that the household admired; the colored cassia of the four neighbors had a splendor that the mountains esteemed. Suddenly the wings that rose on the whirlwind fell, and abruptly the light of the flying rising sun ceased. In the tenth month of that year, on the second day, the day of Yiyou in the Jiashen cycle, he was buried in Gaoyang Village of Qianfeng County, Yongzhou, in accordance with the rites.
The team of four horses neighed sadly; in the nine springs he departed forever, the moon's wheel was yoked at dusk, and the spirits of the stars rose at night. When the sun sets over the mountains, the color of the grass is cold; when the wind passes over the plain, the sound of the pines rings. One may ascend the literary pavilion and pass through, and follow the mountain of martial virtue and find peace. Sorrowfully, the clear wind has ceased, and his fragrant name is planted in the longevity portrait. The verse says:
His lineage came from Cheonggu, its fragrance was splendid and beautiful. Its veins stretched far and wide, meeting with the right time for the salvation. The flourishing clan was pure and excellent, and its generations succeeded one another. Its loyalty was revealed early, and its great favor never declined. The first.
As for the Duke's descendants, the cassia was fragrant and the orchid was sweet. The lineage glorified the seven nobles, and the sons passed down the grandsons. Their fragrance flowed to later generations, and their beauty spread to later descendants. Though the famous voice has faded, the model of virtue still remains. The second.
The arrows through the window startle us with autumn, and the galloping colt hastens toward dusk. The famous general's days grow ever more distant, and his virtue fades with the years. The pines sing sorrowfully in the night wind, and the song of the dew grieves in the morning. The spirit carriage suddenly turns, and the horses neigh and look back. Alas, the hills and valleys change places, and I long for his sound and virtue, which will never decay. The third.3
Family
- Great-grandfather = Ye Bok (禰福)
- Grandfather = Ye Yeda (禰譽多, or Ye Ye 禰譽), Jwapyeong (佐平) of Baekje
- Father = Ye Sa-seon (禰思善, or Ye Seon 禰善), Jwapyeong (佐平) of Baekje
- Brother = Ye Sik-jin (禰寔進, 615–672), Left Guard (左威衛) of Tang
- Nephew = Ye So-sa (禰素士)
- Great-nephew = Ye In-su (禰仁秀)
Notes