Gwangjong of Goryeo

Gwangjong
Emperor of Goryeo
Reign	13 April 949 – 4 July 975
Coronation	13 April 949
Predecessor	Jeongjong
Successor	Gyeongjong
Born	925 Gaegyeong
Died	4 July 975 Gaegyeong
Spouse	Queen Daemok
Issue	Gyeongjong, Crown Prince Hyohwa
House	House of Wang
Father	Taejo
Mother	Queen Shinmyeongsunseong

Korean name
Hangul	광종
Hanja	光宗
Revised Romanization	Gwangjong
McCune–Reischauer	Kwangjong
Birth name
Hangul	왕소
Hanja	王昭
Revised Romanization	Wang So
McCune–Reischauer	Wang So
Posthumous name
Hangul	홍도선열평세대성대왕
Hanja	弘道宣烈平世大成大王
Revised Romanization	Hongdoseonyeolpyeongsedaeseongdaewang
McCune–Reischauer	hongdosŏnyŏlp‘yŏngse taesŏng taewang

Gwangjong (925 – 4 July 975), personal name Wang So, was the fourth king of Goryeo. He was known for squashing his political rivals and creating an atmosphere of fear within the political realm at the time.

Goryeo met the time of change by ascending of Gwangjong. At his early stage as ruler, he maintained a passive attitude to nobles. However, he became more and more drastic. Choi Seung-Ro said that his regime can be divided into three parts. First is the period of grouping. Second is the period of strengthening power, and the last is the period of purge.

First Period - The Period of Grouping (949–955)

At the early stage of Goryeo, it was a syndicate of powerful clans. Furthermore, many clans of them were the supporting powers of him. It was not easy to reinforce his power and he started to find the way to reinforce his power. He studied how to consolidate his power by reading zhenguanzhengyao. He got the support of the public by supporting Buddhism.

Second Period - The Period of Strengthening power (955–959)

Monarchs of Korea Goryeo

Taejo 918–943 Hyejong 943–945 Jeongjong 945–949 Gwangjong 949–975 Gyeongjong 975–981 Seongjong 981–997 Mokjong 997–1009 Hyeonjong 1009–1031 Deokjong 1031–1034 Jeongjong II 1034–1046 Munjong 1046–1083 Sunjong 1083 Seonjong 1083–1094 Heonjong 1094–1095 Sukjong 1095–1105 Yejong 1105–1122 Injong 1122–1146 Uijong 1146–1170 Myeongjong 1170–1197 Sinjong 1197–1204 Huijong 1204–1211 Gangjong 1211–1213 Gojong 1213–1259 Wonjong 1259–1274 Chungnyeol 1274–1308 Chungseon 1308–1313 Chungsuk 1313–1330 1332–1339 Chunghye 1330–1332 1339–1344 Chungmok 1344–1348 Chungjeong 1348–1351 Gongmin 1351–1374 U 1374–1388 Chang 1388–1389 Gongyang 1389–1392

The focus of his reform was strengthening the power of King. He started to drive out powerful clans from the Goryeo court. He brought Ssang Gi and naturalized people from China into his court and started aggressive reforms. He made the law of emancipating slaves (노비안검법, 奴婢按檢法) in 958, and the national civil service examination in 958. The national civil service examination helped the Goryeo court furnish new faces and expel people of powerful clans.

Third Period - The Period of Purge (959–975)

Powerful clans were unhappy because of his aggressive attitude and reforms. They perceived that they would be purged by him intuitively. Finally, some of them had the intention to revolt. However, they were killed by him before the revolt. Typical examples of the executed were Prince Heunghwa and Prince Gyeongchunwon.

Death

He got a serious disease in July, 975 and died just after few days.

Family

• Father: King Taejo (태조)
• Mother: Queen Sinmyeongsunseong (신명순성왕후)
• Consorts:

1. Queen Daemok (대목왕후), half-sister of Gwangjong
2. Lady Gyeonghwagung (경화궁부인), niece of Gwangjong, daughter of King Hyejong (혜종)

• Children:

1. King Gyeongjong (경종), 1st Son of Queen Daemok
2. Crown Prince Hyohwa (효화태자), 2nd Son of Queen Daemok
3. Lady Chenchujeon (천추전부인), 1st daughter of Queen Daemok
4. Lady Bohwagung (보화궁부인), 2nd daughter of Queen Daemok
5. Queen Mundeok (문덕왕후), 3rd daughter of Queen Daemok

See also

• List of Korean monarchs
• History of Korea
• List of Goryeo people

References