Difference between revisions of "Jeong Jung-bu" - New World Encyclopedia

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'''Jeong Jung-bu''' (1106 – 1179) was a medieval [[Korean people|Korean]] soldier and military dictator during [[Goryeo]] Dynasty (918-1392). He was a career soldier, qualified on military part of civil service examination. He was most noted for leading a coup d'état in 1170 ([[Musin Jeongbyeon]]/''Revolt of military officers''), dethroning the king and beginning of 100-year military reign in Korea.
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'''Jeong Jung-bu''' (1106–1179), a medieval [[Korea|Korean]] soldier cum dictator during the [[Goryeo|Goryeo Dynasty]] (918-1392), won notoriety for leading, together with [[Yi Ui-bang]] (이의방, 李義方), a coup d'état in 1170 C.E., the [[Musin Jeongbyeon]] (revolt of military officers). King Uijong had been exiled and the military officers installed King Myeongjong (명종, 明宗) as a puppet king on the throne. Those events initiated a hundred-year military regime in which a succession of five generals, Jeong Jung-bu the first of them, ruled Goryeo from behind the throne.
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Jeong Jung-bu's military coup set the tone for the remainder of the [[Goryeo dynasty]]. Founded by defeating [[Unified Silla]] during the tenth century C.E., at a time that the [[Khitan people]] defeated the northern Korean kingdom of [[Ballhae]], thus ending the [[Period of North-South states]] and inaugurating the first unified Korean kingdom, [[Goryeo]] stood as the flag bearer for all of Korea. From 2333 B.C.E., with the founding of [[Dangun Joseon]], until the fall of Ballhae in the tenth century, the northern tribes had been restrained from attacking the [[Korean Peninsula]] south of Pyongyang. After the recasting of Goryeo's government into a military dictatorship, Goryeo had to repel the [[Mongol invasions]] at the end of the thirteenth century, as well as deal with the Khitan people's attacks on their northern borders. Although the people of Goryeo grew to hate their military dictatorship, the military cast of Goryeo may have saved Korea during those trying times of war. Jeong Jung-bu played a key role in bringing that change.
  
Jeong was born in 1106; he learned martial arts and military tactics in his early days. He was often reported to be 7-foot-tall giant with great confidence and intelligence unlike his fellow soldiers. He was diligent soldier, and his loyalty earned him the trust from the king. He went through a slow promotion and later became Chief of General Staff.
+
==Background==
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[[Image:Korea Goryeo ensign.jpg|Ancient ensign of the Goryeo state. The Chinese characters say "Tributary State of Great Qing(China)" and "Goryeo ensign".|right|thumb|220px]]
 +
From the time of its founding, the Goryeo Dynasty was primarily a [[Buddhism|Buddhist]] nation. Buddhist morality is underpinned by the principles of harmlessness and moderation, and Goryeo was governed in its early period under a policy that put [[civilian authority over military]]. This policy benefited the dynasty well during its early days, and many civilian officials were also able military commanders, such as [[Gang Gam-chan]] and [[Yun Gwan]]. As time passed, however, army officers came to be seen and treated as servants or even slaves of the civilian officials and royal advisers. In 998, not long after Goryeo was invaded by nearly a million [[Khitan people|Khitan]] forces in Manchuria, [[Mokjong of Goryeo|King Mokjong]], had placed the military under civilian control. In such tense times this caused a coup d'état by General [[Gang Jo]] and triggered another massive invasion from the north. In 1014, military officers were angered at being unpaid that year because the government ran out of funds after having to pay civilian officials first; Generals [[Choi Jil]] and [[Kim Hoon]] attempted a military rebellion, but failed. Later the government went so far as to close the military academy. Army officers suffered more and more as the their treatment harshened and their position in society and in public affairs eroded over the eleventh and twelfth centuries.
  
At the time he became a soldier, the Goryeo Dynasty had a policy that put the [[civilian power over military]]. The policy benefited the dynasty well during its early days, and many civilian officials were also able military commanders, such as [[Kang Kam-chan]] and [[Yoon Gwan]]. However, the civilian rule made many side-effects as time passed on; the military generals was seen as servants, or even slaves of the civilian officials, and treated as slaves by many government officials and advisers to the king. In 998, [[Mokjong of Goryeo|King Mokjong]] put military under civilian command, causing the coup d'état of General [[Gang Jo]]; in 1014, military officers were not paid because the government had to pay civilian officials first, causing the anger of Generals [[Choi Jil]] and [[Kim Hoon]] to attempt a failed military rebellion; and later the government even closed the military academy. The grief of army officers became greater and greater as the treatment and view toward them got harsher.
+
It is worth noting that unlike other military personnel, the horseback warrior class among the northern Khitan, [[Nuzhen|Jurchen]] and [[Mongolia|Mongol]] peoples who invaded Goryeo many times were by no means treated with contempt. This may have had to do with the degree to which [[Buddhism|Buddhist]] values were imbued in their leaderships and populations in those [[Manchuria]]n regions; comparatively, rooted as it was in the glory of [[Silla]], [[Korean Buddhism|Buddhism]] flowered to a very high crest on the Korean Peninsula.
  
In 1167, during the royal banquet of [[Uijong of Goryeo|King Uijong]], [[Kim Don-jung]], son of powerful aristocrat [[Kim Bu-sik]](author of [[Samguk Sagi]]), burnt Jeong's long beard with candle, and made fun of him;also he mocked whole military. The incident made Jeong to have strong animosity toward aristocrats and civilian officials.
+
==Early Life==
  
In 1170, King Uijong went to his royal villa to rest and to hold another feast, and he also held a martial arts competition. A youth soldier won the event, and was praised by the king. Then, many of king's advisers to the court and eunuchs forced General [[Yi So Eung]], who was at his late fifties, to face the champion, who was about 20. The old general, of course, was not able to fight the young champion and fell down to the ground. Then, a young civilian official named [[Han Röe]], insulted the general and even slapped him across his face in front of the king and many fellow soldiers. General Jeong, who could not stand the advisers' attitude anymore, knocked Han out and insulted him. The incident caused the long grievances of military to explode; young soldiers, notably Colonels [[Yi Ui-bang]], [[Yi Go]] and [[Chae Won]], urged Jeong to launch a coup d'état against the entire government and the king, who favored civilian officials over army. Jeong first ignored their opinion but later agreed to revolt against the government. With his order in the name oh commander-in-chief, the whole army rebelled against the king and his advisers. Almost all of advisers, including Kim Don-jung and Han Röe, were killed and King Uijong was overthrown;then he set up a puppet king, [[Myeongjong of Goryeo|King Myeongjong]], beginning the 100-year military rule of Korea.
+
Jeong Jung-bu was born in 1106; he learned martial arts and military tactics early on. He was reported to have been a seven-foot giant with great confidence and, more than his fellow soldiers, intelligence. He qualified in the military section of the civil service examination and made the army his career. He was a diligent soldier and his loyalty earned him the trust of the king. He was promoted through the ranks to general, and later to Chief of General Staff.
  
However, after the coup d'état in 1170, the leaders of the revolution began to feud each other; Generals Yi Go and Chae Won were killed by General Yi Ui-bang for treason. Then Yi visited Jeong, who adopted him as a son, only for a while. In 1173, a survived civilian official [[Kim Bodang]] rebelled in northeastern border, trying to restore the civilian order under deposed King Uijong. Yi Ui-bang decided to assassinate Uijong; and after he killed the ex-king, Yi put down the rebellion, which put Yi on the peak of the power. Then Yi began to oppress Buddhism and Confucianism, executed many civilian administrators and scholars, raped royal family members and forced the Crown Prince to marry his daughter. His despotic reign caused the grief of many people, and finally in 1174, a chain of rebellion that lasted for 50 years began in [[Pyongyang]] by [[Cho Wi Chong]]. Yi Ui-bang sent massive troops to put down the rebellion.
+
==The Coup==
  
General Jeong, who promoted himself as Prime Minister, decided to put an end on Yi's reign of terror; he ordered his son, [[Jeong Kyun]] and his son-in-law, General [[Song You In]], to kill Yi Ui-bang. Yi was finally murdered by Jeong Kyun, and the power passed to Jeong Jung-bu. Jeong continued to fight against rebels in Pyongyang; however, slaves and people of lowest class of present-day [[Gongju]] rebelled against the government. Jeong managed to crush the uprising of Cho, and entered negotiation with outcast rebellion leaders [[Mang Yi]] and [[Mang So Yi]], but as the official army continued its campaign against the uprising, Mang brothers revolted again. They were executed in 1177, ending the rebellion; but many other impoverished people continued to revolt against the government.
+
In 1167, during a royal banquet of [[Uijong of Goryeo|King Uijong]], [[Kim Don-jung]], son of powerful aristocrat [[Kim Bu-sik]] (author of the [[Samguk Sagi]]), singed Jeong's long beard with a candle, and mocked him and the whole military. The incident incensed him and other officers against the arrogant aristocrats and civilian officials.
 +
 
 +
In 1170, King Uijong went to his villa to rest and to hold another feast. He conducted a [[martial art]]s competition; a young soldier won and Uijong praised him. Some of the court advisors and eunuchs challenged General [[Yi So-eung]], in his late 50s, to face the champion, around 20. The old general fell to the ground, and a young civilian official [[Han Roe]] insulted the general, even slapping him in the face in front of the king and fellow officers. General Jeong could not tolerate Han's attitude and knocked him out. The incident triggered a littany of grievances harbored by the military to explode; younger officers, of note Colonels [[Yi Ui-bang]], [[Yi Go]] and [[Chae Won]], urged Jeong to launch a coup against the entire government and the king. Jeong first refused but later agreed to rebel. Under his order in the name of commander-in-chief, the entire army rose against the government. Most of King Uijong's advisers including Kim Don-jung and Han Roe were killed and the king himself was sent into exile. Jeong set a puppet on the throne, [[Myeongjong of Goryeo|King Myeongjong]].
 +
 
 +
==Governance==
 +
 
 +
After the coup the leaders of the revolution began to feud. Generals Yi Go and Chae Won were purged, killed by Yi Ui-bang. Then Yi made a visit to Jeong Jung-bu, and Jeong adopted him—temporarily as it turned out—as a son. Together, Jeong and Yi increased the size and power of the military, appointing administrators from the warrior class to national offices that had been reserved for scholar-class ministers.
 +
 
 +
In 1173, when one of the remaining scholar-class ministers Kim Bo-Dang attempted to restore Uijong to the throne, Yi decisively slew the former king. Jeong promoted him to commander of the ground forces.
 +
 
 +
Jeong and Yi also faced a series of uprisings by [[Buddhism|Buddhist]] Monks from temples around the nation. As Goryeo was officially a Buddhist nation, the Buddhists had significant influence upon the government and most Goryeo kings had been appointing senior monks as close advisors. Yi put down these rebellions and raided, even pillaged many temples across the peninsula. He also killed [[Korean Confucianism|Confucian]] scholars, raped women in the royal family, and forced the crown prince to marry his daughter. General [[Cho Wi Chong]] in Pyong-an Province in the northeast rebelled in 1174, Yi killed some of Cho's supporters including Yun In-mi, but that cost him popular support. He sent a massive force to Pyongyang to put down the uprising, but failed.
 +
 
 +
General Jeong decided to stop Yi's reign of terror. He promoted himself to prime minister, and directed his son [[Jeong Gyun]] and his son-in-law General [[Song Yu-in]] to kill Yi Ui-bang and his henchmen. Yi's daughter was expelled from the royal family.
 +
 
 +
Jeong continued to fight the rebels in Pyongyang and peasants around [[Gongju]] who had joined the revolt. He managed to crush the Cho's uprising by 1177, but uprisings continued in various places for several decades. Jeong's son Jeong Gyun and his servants took bribes for influence, and the regime became more and more corrupt. By then a young general [[Gyeong Dae-seung]] had risen to power.
 +
 
 +
==Death==
 +
 
 +
With plenty of support from various corners General [[Gyung Dae-seung]], the youngest general of Goryeo army, rose against Jeong in 1179, killing Jeong Gyun and Song Yu-in. Jeong Jung-bu was arrested for corruption and treason and executed in public few days later. [[Gyeong Dae-seung]] assumed power, declaring an intention to restore the [[monarchy]] and clean up the government.
 +
 
 +
==Legacy==
 +
 
 +
A balance in Goryeo between civilian and military influence that had been lost was restored through the purging of corrupt aristocrats and scholars during the early stages of the military governance led by Jeong Jung-bu with Yi Ui-bang. The balance, however, tipped tragically the other way during Jeong's rule.
 +
 
 +
A sixth-generation descendent of Yi Ui-bang's younger brother Yi In was [[Yi Song-gye]], who founded the [[Joseon Dynasty]].
  
With the law and order crumbling over the whole nation, Jeong decided not to retire from politics even though he was at his late 70's. His son Jeong Kyun, backed by his powerful father, committed bribery from many officials who tried to gain more power and support from the reigning family; even Jeong's servants and slaves took bribes from politicians and brawled with some of them on the street. Politics drifted toward iniquity, and many people thought another coup d'état was necessary to put an end on Jeong's unjust rule; and in the end, General [[Kyung Dae Seung]], the youngest general of Goryeo army, revolted against Jeong in 1179, murdering Jeong Kyun and Song You In. Jeong Jung-bu was arrested for corruption and treason, and executed in public few days later.
 
  
 
==See also==
 
==See also==
*[[List of Goryeo people]]
 
 
*[[Goryeo]]
 
*[[Goryeo]]
*[[List of Korea-related topics]]
+
*[[Injong of Goryeo]]
 +
 
 +
 
 +
==References==
 +
*Grayson, James Huntley. 2001. ''Myths and legends from Korea an annotated compendium of ancient and modern materials''. Richmond, Surrey: Curzon. ISBN 9780700712410
 +
*Kim, Kumja Paik. 2003. ''Goryeo dynasty Korea's age of enlightenment, 918-1392''. San Francisco: Asian Art Museum—Chong-Moon Lee Center for Asian Art and Culture in cooperation with the National Museum of Korea and the Nara National Munseum.  ISBN 9780939117253
 +
*Yi, Ki-baek. 1984. ''A new history of Korea''. Cambridge, Mass: Published for the Harvard-Yenching Institute by Harvard University Press. ISBN 9780674615762
 +
 
  
 
{{start box}}
 
{{start box}}
{{succession box|years=1170–1179|title=Military Leader of Goryeo|before=-|after=[[Kyung Dae Seung]]}}
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{{succession box|years=1170–1179|title=Military Leader of Goryeo|before=King Uijong|after=[[Gyung Dae Seung]]}}
 
{{end box}}
 
{{end box}}
 
+
[[Category:Korea]]
 
[[Category:Biography]]
 
[[Category:Biography]]
 
[[Category:Politics and social sciences]]
 
[[Category:Politics and social sciences]]

Latest revision as of 16:29, 7 May 2014

Jeong Jung-bu
Hangul 정중부
Hanja 鄭仲夫
Revised Romanization Jeong Jung-bu
McCune-Reischauer Chŏng Chungbu


Jeong Jung-bu (1106–1179), a medieval Korean soldier cum dictator during the Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392), won notoriety for leading, together with Yi Ui-bang (이의방, 李義方), a coup d'état in 1170 C.E., the Musin Jeongbyeon (revolt of military officers). King Uijong had been exiled and the military officers installed King Myeongjong (명종, 明宗) as a puppet king on the throne. Those events initiated a hundred-year military regime in which a succession of five generals, Jeong Jung-bu the first of them, ruled Goryeo from behind the throne.

Jeong Jung-bu's military coup set the tone for the remainder of the Goryeo dynasty. Founded by defeating Unified Silla during the tenth century C.E., at a time that the Khitan people defeated the northern Korean kingdom of Ballhae, thus ending the Period of North-South states and inaugurating the first unified Korean kingdom, Goryeo stood as the flag bearer for all of Korea. From 2333 B.C.E., with the founding of Dangun Joseon, until the fall of Ballhae in the tenth century, the northern tribes had been restrained from attacking the Korean Peninsula south of Pyongyang. After the recasting of Goryeo's government into a military dictatorship, Goryeo had to repel the Mongol invasions at the end of the thirteenth century, as well as deal with the Khitan people's attacks on their northern borders. Although the people of Goryeo grew to hate their military dictatorship, the military cast of Goryeo may have saved Korea during those trying times of war. Jeong Jung-bu played a key role in bringing that change.

Background

Ancient ensign of the Goryeo state. The Chinese characters say "Tributary State of Great Qing(China)" and "Goryeo ensign".

From the time of its founding, the Goryeo Dynasty was primarily a Buddhist nation. Buddhist morality is underpinned by the principles of harmlessness and moderation, and Goryeo was governed in its early period under a policy that put civilian authority over military. This policy benefited the dynasty well during its early days, and many civilian officials were also able military commanders, such as Gang Gam-chan and Yun Gwan. As time passed, however, army officers came to be seen and treated as servants or even slaves of the civilian officials and royal advisers. In 998, not long after Goryeo was invaded by nearly a million Khitan forces in Manchuria, King Mokjong, had placed the military under civilian control. In such tense times this caused a coup d'état by General Gang Jo and triggered another massive invasion from the north. In 1014, military officers were angered at being unpaid that year because the government ran out of funds after having to pay civilian officials first; Generals Choi Jil and Kim Hoon attempted a military rebellion, but failed. Later the government went so far as to close the military academy. Army officers suffered more and more as the their treatment harshened and their position in society and in public affairs eroded over the eleventh and twelfth centuries.

It is worth noting that unlike other military personnel, the horseback warrior class among the northern Khitan, Jurchen and Mongol peoples who invaded Goryeo many times were by no means treated with contempt. This may have had to do with the degree to which Buddhist values were imbued in their leaderships and populations in those Manchurian regions; comparatively, rooted as it was in the glory of Silla, Buddhism flowered to a very high crest on the Korean Peninsula.

Early Life

Jeong Jung-bu was born in 1106; he learned martial arts and military tactics early on. He was reported to have been a seven-foot giant with great confidence and, more than his fellow soldiers, intelligence. He qualified in the military section of the civil service examination and made the army his career. He was a diligent soldier and his loyalty earned him the trust of the king. He was promoted through the ranks to general, and later to Chief of General Staff.

The Coup

In 1167, during a royal banquet of King Uijong, Kim Don-jung, son of powerful aristocrat Kim Bu-sik (author of the Samguk Sagi), singed Jeong's long beard with a candle, and mocked him and the whole military. The incident incensed him and other officers against the arrogant aristocrats and civilian officials.

In 1170, King Uijong went to his villa to rest and to hold another feast. He conducted a martial arts competition; a young soldier won and Uijong praised him. Some of the court advisors and eunuchs challenged General Yi So-eung, in his late 50s, to face the champion, around 20. The old general fell to the ground, and a young civilian official Han Roe insulted the general, even slapping him in the face in front of the king and fellow officers. General Jeong could not tolerate Han's attitude and knocked him out. The incident triggered a littany of grievances harbored by the military to explode; younger officers, of note Colonels Yi Ui-bang, Yi Go and Chae Won, urged Jeong to launch a coup against the entire government and the king. Jeong first refused but later agreed to rebel. Under his order in the name of commander-in-chief, the entire army rose against the government. Most of King Uijong's advisers including Kim Don-jung and Han Roe were killed and the king himself was sent into exile. Jeong set a puppet on the throne, King Myeongjong.

Governance

After the coup the leaders of the revolution began to feud. Generals Yi Go and Chae Won were purged, killed by Yi Ui-bang. Then Yi made a visit to Jeong Jung-bu, and Jeong adopted him—temporarily as it turned out—as a son. Together, Jeong and Yi increased the size and power of the military, appointing administrators from the warrior class to national offices that had been reserved for scholar-class ministers.

In 1173, when one of the remaining scholar-class ministers Kim Bo-Dang attempted to restore Uijong to the throne, Yi decisively slew the former king. Jeong promoted him to commander of the ground forces.

Jeong and Yi also faced a series of uprisings by Buddhist Monks from temples around the nation. As Goryeo was officially a Buddhist nation, the Buddhists had significant influence upon the government and most Goryeo kings had been appointing senior monks as close advisors. Yi put down these rebellions and raided, even pillaged many temples across the peninsula. He also killed Confucian scholars, raped women in the royal family, and forced the crown prince to marry his daughter. General Cho Wi Chong in Pyong-an Province in the northeast rebelled in 1174, Yi killed some of Cho's supporters including Yun In-mi, but that cost him popular support. He sent a massive force to Pyongyang to put down the uprising, but failed.

General Jeong decided to stop Yi's reign of terror. He promoted himself to prime minister, and directed his son Jeong Gyun and his son-in-law General Song Yu-in to kill Yi Ui-bang and his henchmen. Yi's daughter was expelled from the royal family.

Jeong continued to fight the rebels in Pyongyang and peasants around Gongju who had joined the revolt. He managed to crush the Cho's uprising by 1177, but uprisings continued in various places for several decades. Jeong's son Jeong Gyun and his servants took bribes for influence, and the regime became more and more corrupt. By then a young general Gyeong Dae-seung had risen to power.

Death

With plenty of support from various corners General Gyung Dae-seung, the youngest general of Goryeo army, rose against Jeong in 1179, killing Jeong Gyun and Song Yu-in. Jeong Jung-bu was arrested for corruption and treason and executed in public few days later. Gyeong Dae-seung assumed power, declaring an intention to restore the monarchy and clean up the government.

Legacy

A balance in Goryeo between civilian and military influence that had been lost was restored through the purging of corrupt aristocrats and scholars during the early stages of the military governance led by Jeong Jung-bu with Yi Ui-bang. The balance, however, tipped tragically the other way during Jeong's rule.

A sixth-generation descendent of Yi Ui-bang's younger brother Yi In was Yi Song-gye, who founded the Joseon Dynasty.


See also


References
ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

  • Grayson, James Huntley. 2001. Myths and legends from Korea an annotated compendium of ancient and modern materials. Richmond, Surrey: Curzon. ISBN 9780700712410
  • Kim, Kumja Paik. 2003. Goryeo dynasty Korea's age of enlightenment, 918-1392. San Francisco: Asian Art Museum—Chong-Moon Lee Center for Asian Art and Culture in cooperation with the National Museum of Korea and the Nara National Munseum. ISBN 9780939117253
  • Yi, Ki-baek. 1984. A new history of Korea. Cambridge, Mass: Published for the Harvard-Yenching Institute by Harvard University Press. ISBN 9780674615762


Preceded by:
King Uijong
Military Leader of Goryeo
1170–1179
Succeeded by:
Gyung Dae Seung

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