AncientBattle

Battle of Baekgang — East Asian Sword Context

Name: Battle of Baekgang — East Asian Sword Context
Start: 0663
Location: Baekgang (present-day Geum River estuary, southwestern Korean Peninsula)

August 663 CE (2nd year of Emperor Tenji)

Baekgang (present-day Geum River estuary, southwestern Korean Peninsula)

Date: August 663 CE (2nd year of Emperor Tenji)
Location: Baekgang (present-day Geum River estuary, southwestern Korean Peninsula)
Result: Decisive Tang-Silla victory. The Baekje restoration failed; the Yamato court undertook urgent military reforms in Kyushu and accelerated the domestication of sword-forging technology.

Forces

Japanese-Baekje Coalition

CommanderAbe no Hirafu, Iohara no Kimi Omi (Japan) / Buyeo Pungseong (Baekje)

Strengthapprox. 27,000 troops (over 1,000 vessels)

Tang-Silla Alliance

CommanderLiu Rengui (Tang) / Kim In-mun (Silla)

Strengthapprox. 13,000 troops (170 vessels)

Related figures, swords & places

Famous Sword

Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi

Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi — the sacred sword of Wa, embodying the mythological dimension of East Asian blade culture

Kogarasu-maru

One of the earliest curved swords dated to the Baekgang era (7th c.) — symbolizing the transition from Wa blades to Japanese swords

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