An Introduction to the Samguk Sagi

Korea's oldest extant historical source is the Samguk sagi, which was compiled by Kim Pusik (1075–1151) and others during Injong's reign (1122–1146) in the Koryŏ kingdom. This history and its compilers have been at the center of controversy as critics have challenged the work's accuracy and its omissions. Despite its failings, this history is a reaffirmation of Koryŏ's identity, which had been seriously challenged by events of the early twelfth century and is an excellent expression of that society's values and historical understanding.