How did Confucianism and Buddhism influence literature during the Three Kingdoms period?

During the Three Kingdoms period (57 BCE–668 CE), the adoption of Confucianism and Buddhism marked a significant transition in Korean literature, moving it from a reliance on oral tradition toward a combination of oral and written forms.1

The influence of these traditions contributed to the thematic depth of literature during this era. The state-sanctioned use of Chinese, which accompanied the introduction of these belief systems, facilitated the compilation of historical records—such as the Yugi and Kuksa—as a means to consolidate the political structures of the kingdoms of Silla, Koguryŏ, and Paekche.1

Furthermore, the integration of these philosophies helped establish a foundation for the literary developments that followed the unification of the peninsula. By the time of the Unified Silla dynasty, the emphasis on Confucianism helped foster a class of literati leaders who were instrumental in the further development of poetry and prose, while Buddhist scholars later utilized literature and other arts to express the tenets of their faith.12