Difference between revisions of "King Sejong" - New World Encyclopedia
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| − | '''Sejong the Great''' ( | + | '''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]] (Chinese calligraphy). | ||
| − | Sejong is one of only two Korean rulers honored with the appellation "[[List of people known as The Great|the Great]]," the other being [[Gwanggaeto the Great of Goguryeo]] | + | Sejong is one of only two Korean rulers honored with the appellation |
| + | "[[List of people known as The Great|the Great]]," the other being | ||
| + | [[Gwanggaeto the Great of Goguryeo]], the king who expanded | ||
| + | Korean territory to [[China]] and [[Manchuria]]. King Sejong was honored with the appellation “Great” because he was an extremely good king. King Sejong the Great reigned for thirty-two years. | ||
| − | ==Early Life== | + | == Early Life == |
| − | Sejong was the third son of [[Taejong of Joseon|King Taejong]]. When he was ten, he became Grand Prince Chungnyeong ({{lang|ko| | + | Sejong was the third son of [[Taejong of Joseon|King Taejong]] of Joseon. When he was ten, he became Grand Prince Chungnyeong |
| + | ({{lang|ko|충녕대군}}; {{lang|ko|忠寧大君}}) and | ||
| + | married a daughter of [[Sim On]] ({{lang|ko|심온}}; {{lang|ko|沈 | ||
| + | 溫}}) of Cheongsong ({{lang|ko|청송}}; {{lang|ko|松}}), | ||
| + | commonly known as [[Sim-ssi]] ({{lang|ko|심씨}}; {{lang|ko|沈氏 | ||
| + | }}), who later was given the title Princess-Consort Soheon | ||
| + | ({{lang|ko|소헌왕비}}; {{lang|ko|昭憲王妃}}). | ||
| + | King Taejong (reigned 1400-1418), Sejong’s father, was cautious in | ||
| + | choosing an heir to the throne from among his four legitimate sons, because of bitter experiences with two “Rebellions of Princes,” crises in the succession to the throne of the early Joseon Dynasty. The young prince Sejong naturally excelled at his studies and was well favored by King Taejong. His two older brothers, in contrast, enjoyed the luxuries of life in the palace and ignored their studies. | ||
| − | Sejong | + | Sejong's rise to the throne was unusual. When King Taejong stepped down from the throne, his first-born son officially became the new king. Sejong was the third son, but his two older brothers are credited for Sejong's ascension to the throne. The eldest prince recognized that he lacked the requisite skills for rulership, and felt that Sejong was destined to become king. He and his brother, the second prince, believing it was their duty to place Sejong on the throne, acted with extreme rudeness in the court and were soon banished from Seoul. This ploy of the two elder princes ultimately brought Sejong to the throne. The eldest prince became a hunter and lived in the mountains, and the second son entered a Buddhist temple, where he became a monk. |
| − | + | In June of 1418, Sejong was crowned King of Joseon and began his rule. However King Taejong had taken control of the military and continued to dominate the administration of the government for four years until his death in 1422. | |
| − | + | == Strengthening of Diplomatic and Military Power == | |
| − | + | King Sejong the Great’s policy was to stabilize the Joseon Dynasty and to encourage [[Confucianism|Confucian]] scholars. | |
| − | King Sejong the | ||
| − | 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. | + | 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. The [[Jurchens]] (女真) inhabited this area and the borders were unclear. King Sejong aggressively explored the border, and created various military regulations to ensure the safety of his kingdom. King Sejong supported the advancement of Korean military technology and the development of cannon. Different kinds of mortars and fire arrows were tested, as well as the use of 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, and pushed north to expand Korean territory. The new border established by Kim is the border of modern-day Korea. |
| − | In | + | King Sejong was an effective military planner. After the end of the Goryeo Dynasty, the coastal areas of Korea were often invaded by Japanese pirates (Wakou). In 1367 the government of Korea sent two diplomats to request that the Japanese government (the Ashikaga shogunate) tighten control over the pirates. On their return the diplomats brought two Japanese Zen monks with them. In 1375 another Korean diplomat visited Kyoto, asking that the pirates be controlled more strictly, and brought back a Japanese monk who delivered a letter to the Korean government. In 1377 and 1378 Korean diplomats again visited Japan, and the Japanese feudal Lord Ouchi Yoshihiro cooperated by sending one hundred eighty soldiers to subjugate the Japanese pirates. This activity initiated diplomatic relations between the Japanese government and the Joseon Dynasty. In 1401, the Muromachi Shogun, Ashikaga Yoshimitsu of Japan, ordered the officials of Kyushu to regulate Japanese pirates, and at the same time sent a diplomat to open trade with the Ming dynasty of China, and in 1404, Ashikaga Yoshimitsu sent a monk as his representative to officially open trade with Korea. In 1406, Korea designated three treaty ports (including [[Pusan]]) for trade with Japan, and many of the pirates moved to China and [[Southeast Asia]]. In 1419, King Sejong, supported by Taejong as his military adviser, ordered Yi Jong-mu’s fleet of 227 ships and 17,285 soldiers to attack [[Tsushima]] (대마도) Island, a stronghold of the Japanese pirates. This attack, called the Oei Invasion, established Korean control of Tsushima until after King Sejong’s death, and ended most of the Japanese pirate activity. |
| + | |||
| + | == Literature == | ||
| + | King Sejong supported the development of literature and encouraged higher officials and scholars to study at his court. King Sejong’s most valuable cultural legacy was the enactment of Hunmin jeong eum (훈민정음). King Sejong oversaw the creation of a phonetic alphabet, [[Hangul]] and announced it to the Korean people in the Hunmin jeong eum (훈민정음), an announcement composed of both Hangul and Hanja. The Korean people now had an alphabet which could be used to transcribe their own language. | ||
| − | + | Some people thought that such a complex project, the invention of a new written alphabet, must have required research by a team of linguists over a long period. Documents show, however, that King Sejong worked quickly in secret with a small staff of scholars. The King himself was an eminent linguist and phonetician. He sent his linguists thirteen times to consult a famous Chinese phonetician who was living in exile in Manchuria. | |
| − | |||
| − | + | In His Preface to” the Hunmin jeong eum (훈민정음)”, King Sejong explained why he was introducing the new alphabet: | |
| + | “Our country’s phonetics are different from the Chinese language and the two languages cannot relate to each other. Because of this, when Korean people want to speak and express themselves using Chinese writing, they are unable to do so. As I regret this situation, I have created a new alphabet of twenty-eight characters, which the Korean people can easily learn and use in their daily lives.” | ||
| − | + | Most of the government officials opposed the usage of Hangul, saying that Hanja was the most advanced language. The upper classes mostly refused to learn Hangul, but the lower classes learned it, became literate and became able to communicate among each other easily. | |
| − | Sejong | + | 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 work ''Dongguk Jeong-un'' (“Dictionary of Proper Sino-Korean Pronunciation”, September 1447). |
| − | + | Sejong gathered intellectuals from all over Korea, and in 1420, established a [[Hall of Worthies]] ({{lang|ko|집현전}}; {{lang|ko|集賢殿}}; Jiphyeonjeon) in the royal palace. The scholars of the Hall of Worthies documented history, drafted documents and compiled books on various topics. Under the patronage of King Sejong, Korea advanced culturally. | |
| + | King Sejong ordered that promising young scholars be selected and sent to study at a temple in the mountains which later became the site of a library. Scholars there read not only Confucian works but the books of other Chinese scholars, and works on [[astronomy]], [[geography]], [[medicine]] and [[augury]]. | ||
| − | + | Another of King Sejong’s important projects was to expand the publishing industry in Korea. A metal printing press had been used as early as 1234, during the Goryeo Dynasty, and an official press had been initiated in 1403. Sejong promoted the cultivation of paper mulberries for the manufacture of an improved paper. | |
| − | |||
| − | + | Following the principles of [[Korean Confucianism|Neo-Confucianism]], Sejong was also a [[humanitarian]]. He decreed that there must be three [[trial (law)|trial]]s before a final judgment is reached, and he prohibited brutality, such as flogging, in the punishment of criminals. | |
| − | Jang eventually [[invent]]ed the world's '''first''' | + | == Techonology == |
| + | King Sejong is also credited with advancing technology during his reign. A young man named [[Jang Yeong-sil]] (장영실) became known as a prominent inventor. King Sejong called him to his court in Seoul and gave him an official government position and the authority to invent anything he chose. Court officials protested that someone from the lower classes could not be given the same authority as a noble, but Sejong believed that Jang had great potential and supported his projects. Jang eventually [[invent]]ed the world's '''first''' [[rain gauge]], a self-striking [[water clock]], and a [[sundial]]. | ||
| − | + | King Sejong established an [[astronomical observatory]], and organized a [[calendar]] and a system of weights and measures. | |
| − | Sejong died at the age of 53 and was buried at the [[Yeong Mausoleum]] ({{lang|ko| | + | == End of King Sejong’s Reign: 1450 == |
| + | King Sejong died at the age of 53 and was buried at the [[Yeong Mausoleum]] ({{lang|ko|영릉}}; {{lang|ko|英陵}}) in 1450. He was succeeded by his first son, [[Munjong of Joseon|Munjong]]. | ||
| − | The street [[Sejongno]] and the [[Sejong Center|Sejong Center for the Performing Arts]] – both located in central [[Seoul]] – are named after King Sejong, and he is depicted on the [[South Korea]]n 10,000-[[South Korean won|Won]] note. | + | The street [[Sejongno]] and the [[Sejong Center|Sejong Center for the |
| + | Performing Arts]] – both located in central [[Seoul]] – are | ||
| + | named after King Sejong, and he is depicted on the [[South Korea]]n | ||
| + | 10,000-[[South Korean won|Won]] note. | ||
==Further reading== | ==Further reading== | ||
Revision as of 13:18, 12 July 2006
| 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 (Chinese calligraphy).
Sejong is one of only two Korean rulers honored with the appellation "the Great," the other being Gwanggaeto the Great of Goguryeo, the king who expanded Korean territory to China and Manchuria. King Sejong was honored with the appellation “Great” because he was an extremely good king. King Sejong the Great reigned for thirty-two years.
Early Life
Sejong was the third son of King Taejong of Joseon. 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; 松), commonly known as Sim-ssi (심씨; 沈氏 ), who later was given the title Princess-Consort Soheon (소헌왕비; 昭憲王妃). King Taejong (reigned 1400-1418), Sejong’s father, was cautious in choosing an heir to the throne from among his four legitimate sons, because of bitter experiences with two “Rebellions of Princes,” crises in the succession to the throne of the early Joseon Dynasty. The young prince Sejong naturally excelled at his studies and was well favored by King Taejong. His two older brothers, in contrast, enjoyed the luxuries of life in the palace and ignored their studies.
Sejong's rise to the throne was unusual. When King Taejong stepped down from the throne, his first-born son officially became the new king. Sejong was the third son, but his two older brothers are credited for Sejong's ascension to the throne. The eldest prince recognized that he lacked the requisite skills for rulership, and felt that Sejong was destined to become king. He and his brother, the second prince, believing it was their duty to place Sejong on the throne, acted with extreme rudeness in the court and were soon banished from Seoul. This ploy of the two elder princes ultimately brought Sejong to the throne. The eldest prince became a hunter and lived in the mountains, and the second son entered a Buddhist temple, where he became a monk.
In June of 1418, Sejong was crowned King of Joseon and began his rule. However King Taejong had taken control of the military and continued to dominate the administration of the government for four years until his death in 1422.
Strengthening of Diplomatic and Military Power
King Sejong the Great’s policy was to stabilize the Joseon Dynasty and to encourage Confucian scholars.
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. The Jurchens (女真) inhabited this area and the borders were unclear. King Sejong aggressively explored the border, and created various military regulations to ensure the safety of his kingdom. King Sejong supported the advancement of Korean military technology and the development of cannon. Different kinds of mortars and fire arrows were tested, as well as the use of 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, and pushed north to expand Korean territory. The new border established by Kim is the border of modern-day Korea.
King Sejong was an effective military planner. After the end of the Goryeo Dynasty, the coastal areas of Korea were often invaded by Japanese pirates (Wakou). In 1367 the government of Korea sent two diplomats to request that the Japanese government (the Ashikaga shogunate) tighten control over the pirates. On their return the diplomats brought two Japanese Zen monks with them. In 1375 another Korean diplomat visited Kyoto, asking that the pirates be controlled more strictly, and brought back a Japanese monk who delivered a letter to the Korean government. In 1377 and 1378 Korean diplomats again visited Japan, and the Japanese feudal Lord Ouchi Yoshihiro cooperated by sending one hundred eighty soldiers to subjugate the Japanese pirates. This activity initiated diplomatic relations between the Japanese government and the Joseon Dynasty. In 1401, the Muromachi Shogun, Ashikaga Yoshimitsu of Japan, ordered the officials of Kyushu to regulate Japanese pirates, and at the same time sent a diplomat to open trade with the Ming dynasty of China, and in 1404, Ashikaga Yoshimitsu sent a monk as his representative to officially open trade with Korea. In 1406, Korea designated three treaty ports (including Pusan) for trade with Japan, and many of the pirates moved to China and Southeast Asia. In 1419, King Sejong, supported by Taejong as his military adviser, ordered Yi Jong-mu’s fleet of 227 ships and 17,285 soldiers to attack Tsushima (대마도) Island, a stronghold of the Japanese pirates. This attack, called the Oei Invasion, established Korean control of Tsushima until after King Sejong’s death, and ended most of the Japanese pirate activity.
Literature
King Sejong supported the development of literature and encouraged higher officials and scholars to study at his court. King Sejong’s most valuable cultural legacy was the enactment of Hunmin jeong eum (훈민정음). King Sejong oversaw the creation of a phonetic alphabet, Hangul and announced it to the Korean people in the Hunmin jeong eum (훈민정음), an announcement composed of both Hangul and Hanja. The Korean people now had an alphabet which could be used to transcribe their own language.
Some people thought that such a complex project, the invention of a new written alphabet, must have required research by a team of linguists over a long period. Documents show, however, that King Sejong worked quickly in secret with a small staff of scholars. The King himself was an eminent linguist and phonetician. He sent his linguists thirteen times to consult a famous Chinese phonetician who was living in exile in Manchuria.
In His Preface to” the Hunmin jeong eum (훈민정음)”, King Sejong explained why he was introducing the new alphabet: “Our country’s phonetics are different from the Chinese language and the two languages cannot relate to each other. Because of this, when Korean people want to speak and express themselves using Chinese writing, they are unable to do so. As I regret this situation, I have created a new alphabet of twenty-eight characters, which the Korean people can easily learn and use in their daily lives.”
Most of the government officials opposed the usage of Hangul, saying that Hanja was the most advanced language. The upper classes mostly refused to learn Hangul, but the lower classes learned it, became literate and became 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 work Dongguk Jeong-un (“Dictionary of Proper Sino-Korean Pronunciation”, September 1447).
Sejong gathered intellectuals from all over Korea, and in 1420, established a Hall of Worthies (집현전; 集賢殿; Jiphyeonjeon) in the royal palace. The scholars of the Hall of Worthies documented history, drafted documents and compiled books on various topics. Under the patronage of King Sejong, Korea advanced culturally. King Sejong ordered that promising young scholars be selected and sent to study at a temple in the mountains which later became the site of a library. Scholars there read not only Confucian works but the books of other Chinese scholars, and works on astronomy, geography, medicine and augury.
Another of King Sejong’s important projects was to expand the publishing industry in Korea. A metal printing press had been used as early as 1234, during the Goryeo Dynasty, and an official press had been initiated in 1403. Sejong promoted the cultivation of paper mulberries for the manufacture of an improved paper.
Following the principles of Neo-Confucianism, Sejong was also a humanitarian. He decreed that there must be three trials before a final judgment is reached, and he prohibited brutality, such as flogging, in the punishment of criminals.
Techonology
King Sejong is also credited with advancing technology during his reign. A young man named Jang Yeong-sil (장영실) became known as a prominent inventor. King Sejong called him to his court in Seoul and gave him an official government position and the authority to invent anything he chose. Court officials protested that someone from the lower classes could not be given the same authority as a noble, but Sejong believed that Jang had great potential and supported his projects. Jang eventually invented the world's first rain gauge, a self-striking water clock, and a sundial.
King Sejong established an astronomical observatory, and organized a calendar and a system of weights and measures.
End of King Sejong’s Reign: 1450
King Sejong died at the age of 53 and was buried at the Yeong Mausoleum (영릉; 英陵) in 1450. He was succeeded by 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
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