Gwalleuk
Baekje missionary and monk who spread Taoism and Buddhism to Japan
About Gwalleuk
Lived 501 – 601 (aged 99–100). Gwalleuk was a missionary and buddhist monk.
Gwalleuk was a Korean Buddhist monk from the kingdom of Baekje who lived during the time of King Wideok. In 602, he travelled to Japan and is known for helping to spread the teachings of Taoism and Buddhism to Japan. In particular, he brought over fangshu texts related to the likes of geomancy and onmyōdō (yinyang-based sorcery and divination), as well as a calendar, according to the Nihon Shoki. In 624, he was made a high priest (僧正 sōjō), possibly of Gangō-ji, for the rest of his life.
Asteroid The asteroid 4963 Kanroku discovered on 18 February 1977 by Hiroki Kosai and Kiichirō Furukawa of the Tokyo Astronomical Observatory was named after him.
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Important facts
Related people
Same field, nearest in time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Gwalleuk's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Gwalleuk?
Baekje missionary and monk who spread Taoism and Buddhism to Japan
When was Gwalleuk born?
Gwalleuk was born in 501.
When did Gwalleuk die?
Gwalleuk died in 601.
What was Gwalleuk's occupation?
Gwalleuk was a missionary and buddhist monk.
What nationality was Gwalleuk?
Gwalleuk's recorded nationality: Baekje.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Gwalleuk. https://biography.guide/gwalleuk/
MLA: "Gwalleuk." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/gwalleuk/.
Chicago: "Gwalleuk." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/gwalleuk/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-23 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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