Beopheung of Silla (500–540)
Born 500 CE, died 540 CE.
Beopheung (r. 514–540 AD) was the 23rd monarch of Silla, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. He was preceded by King Jijeung (r. 500–514) and succeeded by King Jinheung. His name was inscribed on Bongpyeong Silla Stele and Cheonjeonri Petroglyphs as Mojeukji (牟卽智, 另卽智). In Chinese literature, his name was written as Mojin (募秦) as well. By the time of his reign, Buddhism had become fairly common in Silla, as it had been introduced much earlier by Goguryeo monks during King Nulji's reign. One of King Beopheung's ministers, a man named Ichadon, was a Buddhist convert who had even shaved his head and took the tonsure. He constantly implored the king to adopt Buddhism as the state religion, and in fact King Beopheung himself had become fond of Buddha's teachings. However, the other ministers of Silla were greatly opposed to this, and expressed such defiance to the king. Beopheung, having been persuaded by his ministers, was at a crossroads, and encountered great reluctance to change. At this time, Ichadon suggested his own martyrdom and pleaded with the king to execute him in public for the cause of Buddhism.
Text from the Wikipedia article Beopheung_of_Silla, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.