Difference between revisions of "Goryeo" - New World Encyclopedia
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Gung Ye established Hugoguryeo (meaning "Later [[Goguryeo]]," renamed [[Taebong]]). Gyeon Hwon established [[Hubaekje]] (meaning "Later [[Baekje]]"). Together with the declining Silla, they comprised the [[Later Three Kingdoms of Korea|Later Three Kingdoms]]. | Gung Ye established Hugoguryeo (meaning "Later [[Goguryeo]]," renamed [[Taebong]]). Gyeon Hwon established [[Hubaekje]] (meaning "Later [[Baekje]]"). Together with the declining Silla, they comprised the [[Later Three Kingdoms of Korea|Later Three Kingdoms]]. | ||
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[[Taejo of Goryeo|Wang Geon]], a lord of Songak (present-day [[Gaesong]]), joined Taebong but overthrew Gung Ye and established Goryeo in 918. [http://unpan1.un.org/intradoc/groups/public/documents/apcity/unpan014460.pdf] | [[Taejo of Goryeo|Wang Geon]], a lord of Songak (present-day [[Gaesong]]), joined Taebong but overthrew Gung Ye and established Goryeo in 918. [http://unpan1.un.org/intradoc/groups/public/documents/apcity/unpan014460.pdf] | ||
The Later Three Kingdoms era ended as Goryeo annexed Silla in 935 and defeated Hubaekje in 936. | The Later Three Kingdoms era ended as Goryeo annexed Silla in 935 and defeated Hubaekje in 936. | ||
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[[Image:Goryeo Pagoda.jpg|200px|right|thumb|reconstructed Goryeo pagoda]] | [[Image:Goryeo Pagoda.jpg|200px|right|thumb|reconstructed Goryeo pagoda]] | ||
:''See main article: [[Mongol invasions of Korea]]'' | :''See main article: [[Mongol invasions of Korea]]'' | ||
− | In 1231, Mongolians under [[Ögedei Khan]] invaded Goryeo | + | In 1231, Mongolians under [[Ögedei Khan]] invaded Goryeo as part of a general [[Yuan Dynasty#Northern Conquest|campaign to conquer China]]. The royal court moved to [[Ganghwa Island]] in the [[Bay of Gyeonggi]] in 1232. The military ruler, [[Choe Chung-heon]] (최충헌, 崔忠獻), insisted on fighting back. Goryeo resisted for about thirty years but finally sued for peace in 1259. |
− | === | + | Meanwhile, the Mongols began a campaign ravaging parts of [[Gyeongsang]] and [[Jeolla]] Provinces. Civilian resistance proved strong, and the Imperial Court at Ganghwa attempted to strengthen its fortress. Korea won several victories but the Korean military faltered in the face of repeated waves of invasions. In 1236, Gojong ordered the re-creation of the [[Tripitaka Koreana]], destroyed during the 1232 invasion. That collection of [[Buddhism|Buddhist]] [[scriptures]], which took fifteen years to carve on some 81,000 wooden blocks, has been housed in Haeinsa since the 1200s. |
+ | |||
+ | [[Kim Jun]]assassinated the dictator Choi in March 1258, ending the military dictatorship. The scholar faction that had insisted peace with Mongol gained power, eventually sending an envoy to Mongol to negotiate a peace treaty with the Mongols.<ref>국방부 군사편찬연구소, 고려시대 군사 전략 (2006) (The Ministry of National Defense, Military Strategies in Goryeo)</ref> Military officials who refused to surrender formed the [[Sambyeolcho Rebellion]], resisting in the islands off the southern shore of the [[Korean peninsula]]. The treaty permitted Goryeo sovereign power and practice of traditional cultures, implying that the Mongols settled for less than complete victory.<ref>국사편찬위원회, 고등학교국사교과서 p63(National Institute of Korean History, History for High School Students, p64)[http://www.e-history.go.kr/book/index.htm]</ref> | ||
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+ | Following the peace treaty, the Mongols planned to attack Japan by allying Goryeo troops. The invasion failed during a horrific storm called by the Japanese the [[Kamikaze]] (Japanese:神風), ''Divine Wind''. | ||
+ | |||
+ | ===Decline and Fall of Goryeo=== | ||
[[Image:Ddol-mangC.jpg|200px|left|thumb|bronze ritual vessel]] | [[Image:Ddol-mangC.jpg|200px|left|thumb|bronze ritual vessel]] | ||
− | + | The Mongol [[Yuan Dynasty]] dominated Goryeo when [[Gongmin of Goryeo|King Gongmin]] took over the throne. Forced to spend many years in the Yuan court, sent there in 1341 as a virtual prisoner before becoming a king, he married the Mongol princess [[Nogukdaejang Gongju]] (노국대장공주, 魯國大長公主). In the mid-14th century Yuan dyansty began to crumble, soon replaced by the [[Ming dynasty]] in 1368. Gongmin attempted to reform the Goryeo government. In his first royal act, he removed all pro-Mongol aristocrats and military officers from their positions. King Gongmin followed that by attacking the Yuan. | |
− | + | Mongols had annexed the northern provinces of Korea after the invasions, incorporating them into their empire as [[South Hamgyong|Ssangseong]] (쌍성총관부, 雙城摠管府) and [[North Pyongan|Dongnyeong]] (동녕부, 東寧府). The Goryeo army retook those provinces with the help of defector [[Yi Ja-chun]], a minor Korean official in service of Mongols in Ssangseong, and his son [[Yi Seonggye]]. The campaigns of General Yi Seonggye and [[Ji Yongsu]] in [[Liaoyang]] also proved a major factor in the victory. Following the death of his wife, Nogukdaejang Gongju in 1365, [[Gongmin of Goryeo|King Gongmin]] became consumed with grief, losing his interest in the affairs of state, entrusting the throne to a monk [[Shin Don]] (신돈, 辛旽). Shin Don ruled for six years until killed by a court offical close to him. From that time, Goryeo quickly slid toward collapse. | |
− | In 1388, [[U of Goryeo|King U]] and general [[Choe Yeong]] planned a campaign to invade present-day [[Liaoning]] of China. King U put | + | |
+ | In 1388, [[U of Goryeo|King U]] and general [[Choe Yeong]] planned a campaign to invade present-day [[Liaoning]] of China. King U put general [[Taejo of Joseon|Yi Seong-gye]] (later [[Taejo of Joseon|Taejo]]) in command, but he stopped at the border and rebelled. Goryeo fell to General Yi in 1392. He then established the [[Joseon Dynasty]]. | ||
==Culture== | ==Culture== | ||
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==See also== | ==See also== | ||
*[http://kyujanggak.snu.ac.kr/info/info01_1.jsp ''The History of the Koryo Dynasty'']<ref name="seoul01">The official history of Koryo, is printed by woodblock 1580. </ref>(<span lang=zh-TW>高麗史</span>, the 1st source written in Chinese, the file type is PDF.) Seoul National Univ. | *[http://kyujanggak.snu.ac.kr/info/info01_1.jsp ''The History of the Koryo Dynasty'']<ref name="seoul01">The official history of Koryo, is printed by woodblock 1580. </ref>(<span lang=zh-TW>高麗史</span>, the 1st source written in Chinese, the file type is PDF.) Seoul National Univ. | ||
− | *[[ | + | *[[List of Korean monarchs]] |
*[[Names of Korea]] | *[[Names of Korea]] | ||
*[[List of Korea-related topics]] | *[[List of Korea-related topics]] | ||
*[[Korean Pottery: Categorized by Periods]] | *[[Korean Pottery: Categorized by Periods]] | ||
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{{credits|127170046}} | {{credits|127170046}} |
Revision as of 20:54, 1 August 2007
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The Goryeo Dynasty, established in 918, united the Later Three Kingdoms in 935 and ruled Korea until replaced by the Joseon dynasty in 1392. Goryeo pottery — the famous Korean celadon pottery — and the Tripitaka Koreana — the Buddhist scriptures (Tripitaka) carved onto roughly 80,000 woodblocks number among Goryeo's outstanding contributions to Korea culture. Goryeo also created the world's first metal-based movable type printing press in 1234.
The name "Goryeo" derives from a shortened form of "Goguryeo," one of the ancient Three Kingdoms of Korea. The English name "Korea" originates from "Goryeo." See also Names of Korea.
History
Background
Silla, which had united the Three Kingdoms of Korea in 668, weakened and lost control over local lords during the end of the 9th century. The country entered a period of civil war and rebellion, led by Gung Ye, Gi Hwon, Yang Gil, and Gyeon Hwon.
Gung Ye established Hugoguryeo (meaning "Later Goguryeo," renamed Taebong). Gyeon Hwon established Hubaekje (meaning "Later Baekje"). Together with the declining Silla, they comprised the Later Three Kingdoms.
Wang Geon, a lord of Songak (present-day Gaesong), joined Taebong but overthrew Gung Ye and established Goryeo in 918. [2] The Later Three Kingdoms era ended as Goryeo annexed Silla in 935 and defeated Hubaekje in 936. Wang Geon moved the capital to his hometown Gaeseong, and ruled the Korean peninsula as the first king of Goryeo.
History of Korea |
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Jeulmun Period
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Political structure
The terminology used in the court of Goryeo adopted the system of an empire, not of a kingdom. Goryeo established the capital in Gaeseong ("Imperial Capital" (황도, 皇都)) and referred to the palace as "Imperial Palace" (황성, 皇城). Other terms, such as "Your (Imperial) Majesty" (폐하, 陛下), "Prince" (태자, 太子), "Empress Dowager" (태후, 太后), and "Imperial Ordinance" (詔 or 勅) also suggest that Goryeo adopted the title system of an empire. Goryeo used the term of an "emperor(황제, 皇帝)" for rulers instead of a supreme king (대왕, 大王). They sometimes used the term of an "emperor(황제, 皇帝)" or "emperor of the east of the ocean(해동천자, 海東天子". Mongolian emperors prohibited those terms after the Mongol invasion.
To strengthen the power of the central government, Gwangjong, the fourth supreme king, made a series of laws including that of freeing slaves in 958, and one creating the exam for hiring civil officials. The fifth supreme king Gyeongjong (hangul: 경종, hanja: 景宗), launched land-ownership reformation called Jeonsigwa (hangul: 전시과, hanja: 田柴科) and the 6th supreme king Seongjong (hangul: 성종, hanja: 成宗) appointed officials to local areas previously succeeded by the lords. Between 993 and 1019, the Goryeo-Khitan Wars ravaged the northern border.
By the time of eleventh supreme king Munjong (hangul: 문종, hanja: 文宗), the central government of Goryeo gained complete authority and power over local lords. Munjong and later supreme kings emphasized the importance of civilian leadership over the military.
Internal disorder and Wars
Khitan invasions (993 - 1019)
- See main article: Goryeo-Khitan Wars
In 993, the Khitan invaded Goryeo's northwest border with 800,000 troops. The Khitan withdrew and ceded territory to the east of the Yalu River when Goryeo agreed to end its alliance with Song China. Goryeo continued to communicate with Song, having strengthened its position by building fortress in the newly gained northern territories. Meanwhile, in 1009, General Gang Jo of Goryeo led a coup against King Mokjong killing the king and establishing military rule. In 1010, The Khitan attacked again during an internal Goryeo power struggle. Gang Jo blocked the Liao invasions until his own death. The Khitan forced Goryeo king Hyeonjong to flee the capital temporarily, but unable to establish a foothold and fearing a counterattack, the Khitan forces withdrew. In 1018, Khitan invaded for a third time. General Gang Gamchan ordered the stream blocked until the Khitans began to cross it, and the Khitans mid-way across, he ordered the dam destroyed, drowning much of the Khitan army. Khitan's army devastated, General Gang led a massive attack that annihilated all the Khitan army. Barely a few thousand of the Liao troops survived after the bitter defeat at Kwiju.
After Gang Gamchan, General Yoon Gwan destroyed the Jurchens armies and expanded the Goryeo territory for a temporary time.
Power struggles
The House Yi of Inju (인주 이씨, 仁州李氏) married the supreme king from Munjong to the 17th supreme king, Injong. Eventually the Yis gained more power than the supreme king himself. That spawned a coup by Yi Ja-gyeom in 1126. The coup, although failed, left the monarchy weakened; Goryeo broke out in civil war among the nobility.
In 1135, Myo Cheong proposed a move of the capital to Seogyeong (present day P'yŏngyang). That proposal divided the nobles of Goryeo in half. One faction, led by Myo Cheong, supporting moving the capital to Pyongyang and expanding Goryeo into Manchuria. The other faction, led by Kim Bu-sik (author of the Samguk Sagi), urged the status quo. Myo Cheong failed to persuade the King. He rebelled against the throne, failed, suffering execution.
In 1170, a group of army officers led by Jeong Jung-bu (정중부, 鄭仲夫) and Yi Ui-bang (이의방, 李義方), launched a coup d'état and succeeded to overthrow the crown. They sent supreme king Injong into exile, installing supreme king Myeongjong (명종,明宗) as king. Effective power, though, laid with a succession of generals: Military rule of Goryeo had begun. In 1177, the young general Kyong Taesung rose to power, attempting to restore the full power of the monarch while purging the corruption of the state. He died in 1184 before he could effect reform. Yi Ui-min, the son of a slave, succeeded him . His unrestrained corruption and cruelty spawned a coup by a more traditionalist general, Choi Chungheon, who assassinated Yi Uimin and took over power in 1197. For the next sixty-one years, the Choe house ruled as military dicators, maintaining the kings as puppet monarchs.
Choe Chungheon's son Choi U, his grandson Choi Hang and his great-grandson Choi Uisucceeded in turn. On taking power, Choi Chungheon forced Meyongjong off the throne, replacing him with Supreme king Sinjong. After Sinjong died, Choi forced the next two kings off the throne until he found the pliable king Gojong.
Mongol invasions (1231 - 1259)
- See main article: Mongol invasions of Korea
In 1231, Mongolians under Ögedei Khan invaded Goryeo as part of a general campaign to conquer China. The royal court moved to Ganghwa Island in the Bay of Gyeonggi in 1232. The military ruler, Choe Chung-heon (최충헌, 崔忠獻), insisted on fighting back. Goryeo resisted for about thirty years but finally sued for peace in 1259.
Meanwhile, the Mongols began a campaign ravaging parts of Gyeongsang and Jeolla Provinces. Civilian resistance proved strong, and the Imperial Court at Ganghwa attempted to strengthen its fortress. Korea won several victories but the Korean military faltered in the face of repeated waves of invasions. In 1236, Gojong ordered the re-creation of the Tripitaka Koreana, destroyed during the 1232 invasion. That collection of Buddhist scriptures, which took fifteen years to carve on some 81,000 wooden blocks, has been housed in Haeinsa since the 1200s.
Kim Junassassinated the dictator Choi in March 1258, ending the military dictatorship. The scholar faction that had insisted peace with Mongol gained power, eventually sending an envoy to Mongol to negotiate a peace treaty with the Mongols.[1] Military officials who refused to surrender formed the Sambyeolcho Rebellion, resisting in the islands off the southern shore of the Korean peninsula. The treaty permitted Goryeo sovereign power and practice of traditional cultures, implying that the Mongols settled for less than complete victory.[2]
Following the peace treaty, the Mongols planned to attack Japan by allying Goryeo troops. The invasion failed during a horrific storm called by the Japanese the Kamikaze (Japanese:神風), Divine Wind.
Decline and Fall of Goryeo
The Mongol Yuan Dynasty dominated Goryeo when King Gongmin took over the throne. Forced to spend many years in the Yuan court, sent there in 1341 as a virtual prisoner before becoming a king, he married the Mongol princess Nogukdaejang Gongju (노국대장공주, 魯國大長公主). In the mid-14th century Yuan dyansty began to crumble, soon replaced by the Ming dynasty in 1368. Gongmin attempted to reform the Goryeo government. In his first royal act, he removed all pro-Mongol aristocrats and military officers from their positions. King Gongmin followed that by attacking the Yuan.
Mongols had annexed the northern provinces of Korea after the invasions, incorporating them into their empire as Ssangseong (쌍성총관부, 雙城摠管府) and Dongnyeong (동녕부, 東寧府). The Goryeo army retook those provinces with the help of defector Yi Ja-chun, a minor Korean official in service of Mongols in Ssangseong, and his son Yi Seonggye. The campaigns of General Yi Seonggye and Ji Yongsu in Liaoyang also proved a major factor in the victory. Following the death of his wife, Nogukdaejang Gongju in 1365, King Gongmin became consumed with grief, losing his interest in the affairs of state, entrusting the throne to a monk Shin Don (신돈, 辛旽). Shin Don ruled for six years until killed by a court offical close to him. From that time, Goryeo quickly slid toward collapse.
In 1388, King U and general Choe Yeong planned a campaign to invade present-day Liaoning of China. King U put general Yi Seong-gye (later Taejo) in command, but he stopped at the border and rebelled. Goryeo fell to General Yi in 1392. He then established the Joseon Dynasty.
Culture
Tripitaka Koreana
Goryeo celadon
Buddhism
ReferencesISBN links support NWE through referral fees
See also
- The History of the Koryo Dynasty[1](高麗史, the 1st source written in Chinese, the file type is PDF.) Seoul National Univ.
- List of Korean monarchs
- Names of Korea
- List of Korea-related topics
- Korean Pottery: Categorized by Periods
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- ↑ The official history of Koryo, is printed by woodblock 1580.