King Sejong

King Sejong
King Sejong
Hangul:	세종대왕
Hanja:	世宗大王
Revised Romanization:	Sejong Daewang
McCune-Reischauer:	Sejong Taewang
Birth name
Hangul:	이도
Hanja:	李祹
Revised Romanization:	I Do
McCune-Reischauer:	I To

Sejong the Great (May 6 1397 – May 18 1450, r. 1418 - 1450) was the fourth ruler of the Joseon Dynasty of Korea. He was also a skilled linguist who is famous for creating the native Korean alphabet Hangul, despite strong opposition from the scholars educated in hanja, which is Chinese calligraphy.

Sejong is one of only two Korean rulers honored with the appellation "the Great," the other being Gwanggaeto the Great of Goguryeo. Gwanggaeto was a king who expanded Korean territory to China and Manchuria. During his reign, Korea was as powerful as China. Because King Sejong was an extremely good king, his name was honored with "Great".

Early Life

Sejong was the third son of King Taejong. When he was ten, he became Grand Prince Chungnyeong (충녕대군; 忠寧大君) and married a daughter of Sim On (심온; 沈溫) of Cheongsong (청송; 靑松), commonly known as Sim-ssi (심씨; 沈氏), who later was given the title Princess-Consort Soheon (소헌왕비; 昭憲王妃).

Sejong, as a young prince, naturally excelled at studying and was well favored by King Taejong. His two older brothers however, enjoyed relaxing as princes and ignored their studying.

Sejong's rise to king was different from most other kings. The first born son to the former king became the new king, howeever Sejong was the third son. His two older brothers are credited for Sejong's ascension to the throne. First, the eldest prince, viewing himself as lacking in the requisite skills for kingship, believed that Sejong was destined to become king. Together with the second prince, he believed it was their duty to place Sejong as king. So they acted extremely rudely in the court, and soon were banished from Seoul. This ploy of the two princes ultimately brought Sejong to the throne. The eldest prince became a hunter and lived in the mountains. The second son travelled to a Buddhist temple, where he became a monk.

After King Taejong died, in June 1418, Sejong was crowned King of Joseon (in August of the same year) and began his rule.

Strengthening of Korean Military

King Sejong the Great was an effective military planner. During his era, he sent an army to destroy the increasing number of Japanese pirates appearing on Korean shores. Also, naval engagements of Korean battleships against Japanese pirate fleets, destroyed much of Japanese pirate activity. This eventually led to the invasion of Tsushima (대마도) island, where the Japanese pirates controlled. Korea controlled the island after this and Korean civilians were allowed to live in Tsushima. After King Sejong's rule, however, Tsushima fell back into Japanese hands. King Sejong eventually reduced and eliminated heavy Japanese pirate activities along the southern coast line.

On the northern border, he established four forts and six posts to safeguard his people from the hostile Chinese and Manchurian nomads living in Manchuria. He also created various military regulations to strengthen the safety of his kingdom. King Sejong supported the advancement of Korean military technology and cannon development increased. Different kinds of mortars and fire arrows were tested as well using gunpowder.

In 1433, King Sejong sent Kim Jong-seo (김종서), a prominent general north to destroy the Manchurian barbarians. Kim's military campaign captured several castles, pushed north, and increased the land of Korea. THe border that Kim increased is currently today's Korean border.

Literature

King Sejong overall, supported literature, and encouraged high class officials and scholars to study at the court. King Sejong also oversaw the creation of Hangul and announced it to the Korean people in the Hunminjeongeum (훈민정음), which was an announcement composed of both Hangul and Hanja.

Although most of the government officials opposed the usage of Hangul, saying that "Hanja was the most advanced language". Most upper classes refused to learn Hangul. Instead, lower classes learned Hangul and became literate and were able to communicate among each other easily.

King Sejong's personal writings are also highly regarded. He composed the famous Yongbi Eocheon Ga (“Songs of Flying Dragons”, 1445), Seokbo Sangjeol (“Episodes from the Life of Buddha”, July 1447), Worin Cheon-gang Jigok (“Songs of the Moon Shining on a Thousand Rivers”, July 1447), and the reference Dongguk Jeong-un (“Dictionary of Proper Sino-Korean Pronunciation”, September 1447).

Sejong established the Hall of Worthies (집현전; 集賢殿; Jiphyeonjeon) in 1420 in the royal palace, Sejong gathered intellectuals from around Korea. The scholars of the Hall of Worthies documented history, drafted documents and compiled books on various topics. Korea culturally advanced through King Sejong's encouragement.

Following the principles of Neo-Confucianism, Sejong was also a humanitarian who proclaimed that there must be three trials before a final judgment is reached, and he prohibited brutality in the punishment of criminals, such as flogging.

Techonology

Sejong is also credited with technological advances during his reign. During his rule, Jang Yeong-sil (장영실) became known as a prominent inventor. Jang was naturally a creative and smart thinker as a young person. However, Jang was at the bottom of the social class.

King Sejong noticed Jang's skill and immediately called him to his court in Seoul. Upon giving Jang a government position and power to invent anything, the officials protested, believing that a low class person could not rise to power as a noble or a higher class. King Sejong instead believed that Jang had the skill and supported his projects.

Jang eventually invented the world's first rain gauge, a self-striking water clock, and a sundial.

End of Reign 1450

Sejong died at the age of 53 and was buried at the Yeong Mausoleum (영릉; 英陵) in 1450. His successor was his first son, Munjong.

The street Sejongno and the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts – both located in central Seoul – are named after King Sejong, and he is depicted on the South Korean 10,000-Won note.

Further reading

• King Sejong the Great: the Light of Fifteenth Century Korea, Young-Key Kim-Renaud, International Circle of Korean Linguistics, 1992, softcover, 119 pages, ISBN 1-882177-00-2

Preceded by: Taejong

Korean monarchs (Joseon Dynasty) 1418–1450

Succeeded by: Munjong

See also

• List of Korea-related topics
• History of Korea
• List of Kings of Korea

External links

• King Sejong's Confucian Humanism in the Early Choson Period

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