kolp’um

kolp’um, (Korean: “bone rank”), Korean hereditary status system used to rank members of the official class of the Unified Silla dynasty (668–935).

The system originally began as a way of distinguishing the status and function of members of the Silla confederation, a union of the six major tribes of southeastern Korea. After the tribes conquered the rest of the Korean peninsula and established the Silla dynasty, the kolp’um became restricted to the residents of the capital of the kingdom, who constituted the bulk of the ruling class.

Various privileges and restrictions accompanied the kolp’um. Aside from the official grades, even the size and style of housing, furniture, and clothing were different according to status.

There were eight classes in the system: two gols (sŏnggol, or “sacred bone,” and chin’gol, or “true bone”) and six dup’ums (or “head ranks”). The two gols were from the royal and formerly royal families; the sixth dup’um through the fourth were from the general nobility, and the third down to the first from the commoners.

Of the eight classes, at first only the sŏnggol was entitled to the throne, but, with the gradual disappearance of the sŏnggol class, the chin’gol came to enjoy the prerogative. The chin’gol also held all the important official posts of the state and presided over the state conferences called hwabaek. The sixth down to the fourth ranks occupied the few lower posts. People below the third dup’um were excluded from officialdom.