Goryeo (918-1392) - 34 kings

When Silla was swaying, Gungye emerged rebellion and gained the territory north of the Han river. But he was soon overthrown by Wanggon, who named his small kingdom Goryeo. General Wanggon became the first ruler of Goryeo dynasty and established his capital in Kaesong. Goryeo accepted Buddhism and the temples received a special court protection. Goryeo had been faced with incessant harassment from northern tribes such as the Tartars and Mongols. In the 13th century Mongol hordes invaded Korea. In 1270 a peace treaty was imposed fifty years after the first Mongol invasion. Also during the 13th century one of Korea's greatest cultural achievements was undertaken. While in exile on Kangwha island, king Kojong had the Tripitaka carved on wood blocks, a project which had earlier been undertaken destroyed. this was to be done as a pious gesture to secure divine favor against the Mongol invaders. These 81,258 wood blocks which took 16 years to complete. In ceramics, Goryeo potters achieved an excellent and unique greenish-blue glaze.   World's first movable metal type was invented in the 14th century. Goryeo had a close relationship with Sung dynasty. The central government patterned after that of China was headed by three top organs; the Royal Chancellery, which was a king's council involved in policy making. the Royal Secretariat, which drafted royal degrees and transmitted them, and the Secretariat of State Affairs, an executive branch which consisted of six ministries of Personnel, Military Affairs, Revenue, Punishment , Rites, Public Works. The legacy of the Golden Age of Buddhism of Silla was carried over to the Goryeo period, and Buddhism became Buddhism for protection of the nation. The greatest cultural achievement of Goryeo wa in ceramic art. The potters of Goryeo improved the technology of pottery making that was imported from Sung China. A wide shapes of celadon ware was produced for various purposes. Printing was highly developed during Goryeo period.

1) Taejo (918-943)
Yung's son. His father, Yung who was the magistrate in Gaeseong, surrendered to Gungye in   895. Taejo helped Gungye   and   conquered Silla castles in the   north. His victory over Gyeonwhon   and Silla won the fame from the   people. He then   was recommended as the king in 918,   when Gungye was increasingly   outrageous in his later days. Named the   kingdom   Goryeo, short of   Koguryo   and the name from which the modern word Korea is derived. Established his   capital   Kaesung.   Buddhism was accepted as   the state religion. Accepted Silla's last king   Kyongsun-wang and peacefully   annexed in 935. Later Paekche fell in   936, thus   unified Later   Three Kingdom.

2) Hyejong (943-945)
First son of Taejo. He helped his father in the war against Later Paekche.

3) Chongjong (945-949)
Second son of Taejo. Constructed Pyongyang castle in 947.

4) Kwangjong (949-975)
Third son of Taejo. Released slaves. Encouraged Buddhism. Kwago, a civil examination for   appointment   of public   office were first   instituted.

5) Kyongjong (975-981)
First son of Kwangjong. Enacted land law and salary were given to all the court   officials by the   land in accordance with their   ranks.   He had two wives of the   sisters, Honae and Honjong. He spent most of the   days with wine and women in   his later days.

6) Songjong (981-997)
Grandson of Taejo. Accepted Confucianism from China and made its teaching a ruling   guideline.   Established three   ministries and six departments. He divided the country in ten   administrative provinces.   Iron coins were minted. General Seohi   defeated Khitans.

7) Mokjong (997-1009)
First son of Kyongjong. In 998 Fuel-land law was modified as the stipend land law , and land grants were made to the officials. Encouraged the learning. As the king had successor, his mother and her   family, in   order to have her own family   member on the throne, plotted   to eliminate king's uncle Soon, who was   supposed to be a king after Mokjong. The plot ended   with assassination of Mokjong and plotters including king's   mother. General Kangjo   enthroned   Soon.

8) Hyonjong (1009-1031)
Son-in-law of Songjong, and the son of Kyongjong's second wife Honjong,but different father. He was sent   to the   temple at   twelve by his   aunt, Mokjong's mother. She plotted to eliminate her sister's son. But, Kangjo ruled out the conspiracy and   Hyongjong became the eighth   ruler of the kingdom. Silsangtap   pagoda was erected. Khitan king Sungjong invaded in 1009 with his 400,000 troops on the pretext of   king's assassination. In the following invasion in 1018, general Kang Kamchan   annihilated 100,000 Khitan   troops at Chongchon river. Restored diplomatic tie with Khitanin 1019. Began engraving Tripitaka   Koreana and completed 6,000 blocks.

9) Tokchong (1031-1034)
First son of Hyonjong. Constructed the castle across the peninsula. Khitan's invasion continued.   Compiled chronicle.

10) Chongjong (1034-1046)
Second son of Hyonjong. Readjusted the stipend land law. Completed the fortress and he put more emphasis on national   defense.   Khitan invaded in 1037. Complied books on ethic and   moral code. Established hereditary kingship of eldest son system.

11) Munjong (1046-1083)
Third son of Hyonjong. Took a throne after his brother. Buddhism was encouraged and flourished. His   son, Hoo, enter the priesthood and became the famous priest Ichon. The kingdom's golden age in   social system, trade, folk art, craft, religion,   literature and learning. Modified stipend land law, and managed by state. Hungwangsa temple, the largest Buddhist temple ever   built in Korea in 1067. Confucianism was also encouraged, and many private schools were opened.

12) Sunjong (1083)
First son of Munjong. Crown prince at seven. Succeed the throne, but died in the same year.

13) Seonjong (1083-1094)
Buddhist Sect, Chontaejong was flourished. Built Kukchongsa headquarter temple of Chontaejong. Hyonmyotap stupa was erected. Died of disease.

14) Hongjong (1094-1095)
Son of Sonjong. Ascended the throne at the age of twelve. He abdicated the throne to his uncle as he   was sick. Died at fourteen.

15) Sukchong (1095-1105)
Third son of Munjong. Copper coins were minted, and later in 1101 silver coins.

16) Yejong (1105-1122)
Son of Sukjong. Constructed nice castles in the north eastern coastal plain. Encouraged education and learning.

17) Injong (1122-1146)
First son of Yejong. Ascended the throne at fifteen. Rebellions frequented. Kim Pushik compiled   Chronicles of Three the Kingdoms in 1145.

18) Uijong (1146-1170)
First son of Injong. Honored Civil officers, but despised Military officers. Dethroned by military officer, Jung Jungbu. In 1173, Kim Podang and his aides tried restoration of the throne, but failed and exiled to Kyongju.

19) Myongjong (1170-1197)
Third son of Injong. Jung Jungbu led a military coup d'etat and dethroned the Uijong and putting a new   king on the throne in 1170, exhibiting power with his private guards unit. Many civil officers were   massacred. An attempt made to restore the deposed king failed, bringing more bloodshed. Social   disorder followed and rebellions against the Military tyranny   continued. In 1172 bloodshed peasant uprisings for the heavy taxation and political oppression. And in 1182 uprising in   Kongju area, in 1193 Milyang uprising alone, some 7000 rebels were killed. A power struggle developed among Jung's men. Jung Jungbu was became the victim of his own men in 1179. A military officer who had replaced the man who murdered Jung was also assassinated in 1197 by Choi Chunghon. Now the power goes to   Choi's house. Choi Chunghon eliminated all the   challengers including his own brother and a nephew. The king was dethroned by Choi Chunghon, who had a power over the   king, and exiled to Kangwhado in1197. Thus Choi's tyranny began until 1213 when they deposed two kings in 1213.

20) Shinjong (1197-1204)
Fifth son of Injong. Enthroned by Choi Chunghon, but he was a puppet king. Rebellion, led by Manjok, in 1197 and followed by uprisings in Myongju, Kimhae, Hapchon, Kyongju and Kwangju. He abdicated the throne to his son.

21) Huijong (1204-1211)
First son of Shinjong. Choi Chunghon's despotism and tyranny continued. Choi Chunghon   was saved   his life from   the   plot   in 1211. He exiled the king   to Kangwhodo island, who later   spent his days in the   islands of Yongjongdo   and Kyodong. The king returned Seoul in 1219,   was again exiled to Kyodong island and died there in 1237.

22)   Kangjong (1211-1213)
First son of Myongjong. He went into exile with this father Myongjong at the   age of forty six.   He was summoned in 1210, and   enthroned next year by Choi Chunghon.

23) Kojong (1213-1259)
First son of Kangjong. Choi Chunghon was still behind the throne. Goryeo refuesed to meet various demands of Mongols, inlcuding large annbual tributes. Mongol envoy to Goryeo was killed in 1225 on the way back from his missioin. Mongol launched their first invasion in 1231.   Government moved   to Kangwhado island, where king   struggled for 28 years against Mongols.   Hwangyongsa temple   including 9   storied wooden   pagoda was totally burned   down. Peace treaty was singed   and Goryeo   became the vassal state   of Yuan.   The civil officers who favored making peace with the Mongols were able to assassinate the last Choi dictator in 1258. In 1236 began to engrave a complete set of Tripitaka Koreana with a hope to expel   the   Mongols with Buddha's divine help, and completed in 1251. Removable metal   type was invented in 1232. King's sovereignty restored on Choii's   death in 1258.

24) Wonjong (1259-1274)
First son of Kojong. He visited Yuan in 1259 for a peace talk. He was   dethroned in 1269 by Limyon, a   court officer who   eliminated Choi, the second power after Choi Chunghon. But, soon restored by Yuan's claim. In 1270 under the leadership of Bae Jungson, they established a new government with a royal kinsman named Wangon a king, and brought about what is known as the rebellion of the Three Elite Patrols, Sambyolcho when the king capitulated to the Mongols. The   rebels moved to Cheju island to   strengthen their position, but ended by allied forces of   Yuan in 1273.

25) Chungnyol-wang (1274-1308)
First son of Wonjong. Married to Mongol princess in 1271. Returned home on   his father's death, and succeeded the   throne. Two military expeditions to   Japan   were made on Yuan's demand both in 1271   and 1280, but failed by typhoon. . In 1280 the Monglos established the Eastern Expedition Field Headquarters   in Goryeo for the second invasion of Japan. Mongol rebel leader, Haptan,   invaded in 1290. The king took a refuge in Kangwhado   island for two years. The King transferred the throne to his son and   stayed in Yuan.The king was fed up with politics with Yuan's excessive intervention on domestic affairs. He, on hearing   that   a privy seal   was stolen, hurriedly returned   home and took a throne again after 7 months absence. Monk Ilyon compiled Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms. He did not   care   the politics, and spent   his   later days in hunting and   entertainment. From 1274, Mongol strongly influenced Goryeo court, and Goryeo kings   had monarchical titles   meaning they were royal to Mongol empire. They also took Mongol names, do   Mongol style hairdos, wore Mongole costumes until 1351.

26) Chungson-wang (1298, 1308-1313)
Son of Chungyol-wang. Married to Mongol princess. He strengthen the royal authority by killing   despotic   40   court officials   including eunuchs in 1297,   when the king already lost his interest   on politics. With   this case, he became a king in 1298. He confiscated the land from the court   officials and gave them   to the   poor nationals. Revised the tax law   Expanded national academy and established the institute for the   teaching of classics and history. He was more progressive and independent from Yuan. The trouble with   his wife worsen the   ties   between Yuan, and finally his   privy   seal was taken by the Yuan envoy. Chungyol-wang   replaced the throne. He was called in   Mongolia and   dethroned   by Yuan.   In 1305, Yuan king   Sungjong died and power struggle began. He helped Mujong, who   later became the king of   Yuan, and eliminated   the rivals. His title was given   Shimyang-wang in 1308. In the   same year, he ascended the throne after   his father. Political reforms were made. Banned inter-family marriage and salt monopoly by the temples and high ranking court officials. Established royal library called the hall of ten thousand volumes. Neo-Confucianism of Chu Hsi was introduced. Later he went to Yuan after assigning his uncle for the throne. In 1313, he transferred the throne to his son. He was once exiled to Turpan for 3 years   in 1320 for the trouble with Yuan eunuch. Died in Mongolia in 1325.

27) Chungsuk-wang (1313-1330, 1332-1339)
Second son of Chungson-wang. Married to Mongol princess. Stayed in Yuan after transferring his   throne to   his   son,   Chunghye-wang. Yuan dethroned him for his rudeness. He returned and took a   throne again in 1332. He   was   against Yuan and claimed to   reduce tax and tribute, and stop taking Goryeo   eunuchs and girls. He later did not care the politics and spent his days in wine and entertainment.

28) Chunghye-wang (1330-1332, 1339-1344)
Son of Chungsuk-wang. Married to Mongol princess. Stayed in Yuan as a hostage in 1328. Returned home in 1330 and ascended the throne. But, he was indulged in wine and party. Thus, privy seal was   taken by Yuan and the throne went to   his father Chungsuk-wang.   His libertine life continued in Mongolia. On his father's death return home and ascended the throne. A wealthy yet valuable tribute were sent to   Yuan in an exchange of the seal. Yuan exiled the king to Shantung   province of China for his despotic   rule in 1343.

29) Chungmok-wang (1344-1348)
Son of Chunghyepwang. Ascended the throne at eight. Much of the land returned to the original owners. Complied the chronicles of Chungyol-wang, Chungwon-wang and Chunghye-wang. Marble pagoda   (Kyongchonsastap), which is now designated as national treasure 89, was erected. Now He had no successor.

30) Chungjong-wang (1348-1351)
Illegitimate son of Chunghye-wang. Yuan enthroned him at his age of twelve. Japanese pirate   frequented in the southern coast. The court was in the hand of his maternal family. Court official's claim   was accepted by Yuan and finally king was   dethrone in 1351. Exiled in Kangwhado and was killed in 1352 after king Kongmin-wang took a power.

31) Kongmin-wang (1351-1374)
Second son of Chungsuk-wang. Married to Mongol princess. He launched a national recovery and abolished Yuan   liaison organ purging the pro-Yuan faction. And restored the government structure.   Recovered northern territory and Cheju island. Banned Yuan culture including Yuan hairdo and dress in 1352.   Pusoksa temple was rebuilt. Ming replaced Yuan in 1368. Priest Shindon was adopted at the court by the king, and he reformed by releasing the slaves and returning the land to the original owners. Chinese red turbans bandits invaded In 1359 and 1361. The political controversy developed within the Goryeo court as   the Mongols and the Chinese created a crisis that signaled the end of the dynastic rule of the Wang clan. On his queen's death, the king left the politics by leaving the throne to Shindon, and concentrated   on Buddhism. Shindon tried to move the capital to Chongju, but lost king's favor. He then plotted to eliminate   Kongmin-wang, but exiled to Suwon and was assassinated in 1371. The king was also assassinated by his subject. The cotton was first introduced from China in 1362,   and cotton was   cultivated and the production of cotton cloth began. In 1370 gunpowder was invented and it let to the production of firearms.

32) U-wang (1374-1388)
Illegitimate son of Kongmin. Kongmin-wang had a son with a maid of Shindon. Ascended the throne at   ten after king was   assassinated. After his regent's death, he became libertine. His general Lee Sunggye, who later become the founder of Yi dynasty or Chosun, claiming that the king is not a royal   descendent but Shindon's son, exiled him to Kangwhado, in 1388. He was killed in Kangnung, and his son Chang-wang in Kangwhaodo in 1389 by Lee Sungkye.

33) Chang-wang (1388-1389)
Son of Chang-wang. Ascended the throne at nine by the court officials claim, when his father was exiled   to Kangwhado.

34) Kongyang-wang (1389-1392)
The last king of Goryeo. Two parties of pro-Yuan and pro-Ming rivaled in the court. Pro-Ming Lee Sungkye   enthroned Chang-wang. But, soon dethroned him for his plot and enthroned an irresolute   Kongyang-wang . He was supported by Jung Mongju, who was an eminent scholar, but he became an puppet king after his loyal courtier Jung Mongju was killed by Lee Sungkye's son. Lee Sungkye   dethroned Kongyang-wang for his foolishness and lack of virtue. Then he was sent   out to Wonju, and   two years later in 1394 was killed in Samcheok.Thus, Goryeo ended in 475 years.