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What role did the Council of Nobles play in the Silla kingdom?

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In the Silla kingdom, the Council of Nobles, known as the Hwabaek, served as a vital state deliberative body responsible for making important decisions.1

The council was composed exclusively of members from the chin’gol ("true-bone") class, representing the highest tier of the aristocracy. This body functioned within the context of Silla’s kolp’um ("bone-rank") system, a rigid social structure where specific noble families monopolized political power and official positions. By participating in the Hwabaek, these high-ranking aristocrats exercised significant influence over the governance of the kingdom, reflecting the centralized power and aristocratic control that characterized the Three Kingdoms period.12