Based upon the legends of Silla's founding, Gyerim also became a sobriquet for that state. The earliest recorded reference we have of Gyerim being used to designate Silla is from the Chinese histories. The "Old Book of Tang" records that in 663 Emperor Gaozong of Tang designated Silla the Gyerim Territory Area Command () and Munmu of Silla as its commander-in-chief. The early eighth-century Sillan scholar Kim Dae-mun authored a no longer extant book of tales of Silla entitled "Gyerim japjeon" ().