Gae-Baek

The story of Gye-Baek

The Paekche Dynasty flourished for six centuries from 18 BCE until it was defeated by its eastern neighbour, Silla, in 660 CE. Paekche was established in the southwest corner of the Korean peninsula, close to the site of present-day Seoul. It expanded southward and set up a trading relationship with China. Wary of the strengthening kingdom of Silla, Paekche and Koguryo joined forces to attack Silla, but were eventually driven back under the combined forces of Silla and T’ang China.

General Gye-Baek was commander-in-chief of the Paekche army in the dying years of that dynasty. In 660, when the united forces of Silla and T’ang China invaded Paekche, Gye-Baek organised an army of 5000 soldiers of the highest morale and courage to meet them in battle. He knew before he set out that his army was outnumbered and that his efforts would be futile, but he did not hesitate to try to defend his country, reportedly stating ‘I would rather die than be a slave of the enemy’. He then killed his wife and family to prevent them from falling into the hands of the opposing forces and to prevent the thought of them from influencing his actions or causing him to falter in battle.

In the first days of the campaign, Gye-Baek’s soldiers won four small initial battles. However, he was soon compelled to move his forces to block the advance of Silla’s General Kim Yoo-sin (whose story will be examined later). General Kim was advancing on the Paekche capital at Sabi and was intercepted at Hwangsan Field.

The Paekche army had arrived first at Hwangsan Field. Gye-Baek set up camp and gathered his troops together. He told the soldiers a story of the Chinese army that had defeated a 700,000-strong force with a mere five thousand men. Inspired by this speech, the Paekche forces rallied their strength and prepared for battle with Silla.

Kim Yoo-Sin soon arrived and the Silla forces launched an attack on Gye-Baek’s men. But the Paekche troops proved to be surprisingly resilient and managed to drive Silla back. One of General Kim’s officers sent his son, a Hwa-Rang warrior named Kwan-Chang, to single-handedly go out and fight the enemy. Kwan-Chang was twice captured by the Paekche forces. The first time he was released by Gye-Baek, impressed as he was by the young warrior’s bravery and fighting spirit. The second time he was captured, however, Kwan-Chang was executed and his body sent back to his father at the Silla base.

Buoyed by Kwan-Chang’s martyrdom, the Silla forces renewed their morale and Kim Yoo-Sin released a full attack on the dwindling Paekche army. In the end, Silla was victorious and Gye-Baek was slain. Kim later pronounced his enemy a man of honour and bravery.

Paekche was destroyed after 678 years of dynastic rule, shortly after Gye Baek's defeat and death at Hwangsan Field. Gye-Baek was later recognised by historians as exemplifying the Confucian ideals of patriotism and devotion to his king.

The pattern diagram is a single vertical line, symbolising Gye-Baek’s severe and strict military discipline. The pattern consists of 44 movements.

GYE-BAEK
Movements - 44
Ready Posture - PARALLEL READY STANCE

1. Move the right foot to C forming a right L-stance toward D while executing a checking block D with an X-knife-hand.
2. Execute a low twisting kick to D with the right foot keeping the position of the hands as they were in movement 1.
3. Lower the right foot to D forming a right walking stance toward D while executing a middle punch to D with the right fist.
4. Execute a left middle punch to D in a right walking stance toward D.
Perform 3 and 4 in a fast motion.
5. Move the right foot to C forming a left walking stance toward D while executing a rising block with the left forearm.
6. Execute a left low forearm block to D in a left walking stance toward D.
Perform 5 and 6 in a continuous motion.
7. Execute a high block to AD with a double arc hand while looking through it maintaining a left walking stance toward D.
8. Turn the face to D while forming a right bending ready stance A to D.
9. Lower the left foot to AD to form a sitting stance toward AC while executing a scooping block to AC with the left palm.
10. Execute a middle punch to AC with the right fist while maintaining a sitting stance toward AC.
Perform 9 and 10 in a connecting motion.
11. Execute a front strike to AC with the left back fist while maintaining a sitting stance toward AC.
12. Move the right foot on line AB, move the left foot to C forming a right L-stance to C while executing a middle knife-hand guarding block to C.
13. Execute a low side front snap kick to C with the left foot keeping the position of the hands as they were in movement 12.
14. Lower the left foot to C forming a left low stance toward C while executing a high thrust to C with the left flat finger tip.
15. Execute a high thrust to C with the right flat finger tip while maintaining a left low stance toward C.
16. Execute a middle side piercing kick to C with the right foot while pulling both hands in the opposite direction.
17. Lower the right foot to C forming a right L-stance toward D while executing a middle guarding block to D with the forearm.
18. Move the right foot to D turning counter clockwise to form a right L-stance toward C while executing a middle forearm guarding block to C.
19. Move the left foot to D turning anti- clockwise to form a right L-stance toward D while executing a middle guarding block to D with a knife-hand. <ki-hap>
20. Move the left foot on line CD to form a sitting stance toward A while executing a right 9-shape block.
21. Move the right foot to D, turning anti-clockwise to form a left walking stance toward C while executing a low block to C with the left knife-hand.
22. Execute a right middle turning kick to BC and lower the right foot to C.
23. Execute a flying side piercing kick to C with the right foot.
Perform 22 and 23 in a fast motion.
24. Land to C to form a right walking stance toward C while executing a high vertical punch to C with a twin fist.
25. Execute a high block to AC with a double arc-hand while looking through it maintaining a right walking stance toward C.
26. Execute an upset punch to C with the left fist while maintaining a right walking stance toward C.
27. Move the right foot on line CD, forming a left walking stance toward D while striking the left palm with the right front elbow.
28. Jump to D, forming a right x-stance toward BD while executing a high block to D with the right double forearm. <ki-hap>
29. Move the left foot to BC to form a sitting stance toward BD, at the same time executing a scooping block to BD with the right palm.
30. Execute a middle punch to BD with the left fist while maintaining a sitting stance toward BD.
Perform 29 and 30 in a connecting motion.
31. Execute a front strike to BD with the right back fist while maintaining a sitting stance toward BD.
32. Move the left foot to C, forming a left walking stance toward C, executing a high front strike to C with the right reverse knife-hand.
33. Move the left foot to A about half a shoulder width while executing a middle turning kick to C with the right foot.
34. Lower the right foot to C, and then turn counter-clockwise to form a left walking stance toward D, pivoting with the right foot while executing a high vertical punch to D with a twin fist.
35. Execute a middle punch to D with the right middle knuckle fist, bringing the left side first in front of the right shoulder while forming a right L-stance toward D pulling the left foot.
36. Move the right foot to D to form a sitting stance toward B, at the same time executing a left 9-shape block.
37. Execute a low guarding block to C with a reverse knife-hand while maintaining a sitting stance toward B.
38. Execute a low guarding block to D with a knife-hand while maintaining a sitting stance toward B.
Perform 37 and 38 in a continuous motion.
39. Move the left foot to D in a stamping motion to form a sitting stance toward A while executing a W-shape block with the outer forearm.
40. Move the left foot to C in a stamping motion to form a sitting stance toward B while executing a W-shape block with the outer forearm
41. Move the right foot to C forming a right walking stance toward C while executing a rising block with the right forearm.
42. Execute a middle punch to C with the left fist while maintaining a right walking stance toward C.
43. Move the right foot on line CD forming a left walking stance toward D while executing a rising block with the left forearm.
44. Execute a middle punch to D with the right fist while maintaining a left walking stance toward D.
END: Bring the right foot back to a ready posture.

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