Korean era name
Encyclopedia
Korea
n era names were used during the period of Silla
, Goguryeo
, Balhae
, Taebong
, Goryeo
, Joseon
, and the Korean Empire
. Dangun-giwon, the era name originating from the foundation of Gojoseon
is also widely used in Korea as an indication of long civilisation of Korea.
s were adopted, especially in the Joseon dynasty
due to the Korean Confucian
ideology. For example, in the Annals of Joseon Dynasty
, years were described with Chinese era names and Sexagenary Cycle. During Colonial Korea
, Imperial Japan enforced its own era system version for colonial Korea.
n government and associated organizations use a variation of the Gregorian calendar
with a Juche year based on April 15, 1912 CE
, the date of birth of Kim Il-sung, as year 1. There is no Juche year 0. The calendar was introduced in 1997. Months are unchanged from those in the standard Gregorian calendar. In many instances, the Juche year is given after the CE year, for example, 27 June 2007 Juche 96. But in North Korean publications, the Juche year is usually placed before the corresponding CE year, as in Juche 96 (2007).
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
n era names were used during the period of Silla
Silla
Silla was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, and one of the longest sustained dynasties in...
, Goguryeo
Goguryeo
Goguryeo or Koguryŏ was an ancient Korean kingdom located in present day northern and central parts of the Korean Peninsula, southern Manchuria, and southern Russian Maritime province....
, Balhae
Balhae
Balhae was a Manchurian kingdom established after the fall of Goguryeo. After Goguryeo's capital and southern territories fell to Unified Silla, Dae Jo-yeong, a Mohe general, whose father was Dae Jung-sang, established Jin , later called Balhae.Balhae occupied southern parts of Manchuria and...
, Taebong
Taebong
Taebong or Later Goguryeo was a state established by Gung Ye on the Korean peninsula in 901, during the Later Three Kingdoms period.-History:...
, Goryeo
Goryeo
The Goryeo Dynasty or Koryŏ was a Korean dynasty established in 918 by Emperor Taejo. Korea gets its name from this kingdom which came to be pronounced Korea. It united the Later Three Kingdoms in 936 and ruled most of the Korean peninsula until it was removed by the Joseon dynasty in 1392...
, Joseon
Joseon Dynasty
Joseon , was a Korean state founded by Taejo Yi Seong-gye that lasted for approximately five centuries. It was founded in the aftermath of the overthrow of the Goryeo at what is today the city of Kaesong. Early on, Korea was retitled and the capital was relocated to modern-day Seoul...
, and the Korean Empire
Korean Empire
The Greater Korean Empire was an empire of Korea that succeeded the Joseon Dynasty.In October 1897, Emperor Gojong proclaimed the new entity at Gyeongungung Palace and oversaw the partially successful modernization of the military, economy, land system, education system, and various industries...
. Dangun-giwon, the era name originating from the foundation of Gojoseon
Gojoseon
Gojoseon was an ancient Korean kingdom. Go , meaning "ancient," distinguishes it from the later Joseon Dynasty; Joseon, as it is called in contemporaneous writings, is also romanized as Chosŏn....
is also widely used in Korea as an indication of long civilisation of Korea.
Goguryeo
- Yeongnak (永樂, 영락 "Eternal Happiness" : 391 - 413, during the reign of King Gwanggaeto the GreatGwanggaeto the Great of GoguryeoGwanggaeto the Great of Goguryeo was the nineteenth monarch of Goguryeo, the northernmost of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. His full posthumous name roughly means "Very Greatest King, Broad Expander of Territory, buried in Gukgangsang.", sometimes abbreviated to Hotaewang or Taewang...
.)
- Note: The following era names are found on various Goguryeo artifacts, but the actual years of usage are unclear.
- Yeonsu (延壽, 연수 "Enduring Life" : 413 - 491 during the reign of King JangsuJangsu of GoguryeoEmperor Jangsu of Goguryeo was the 20th monarch of Goguryeo, the northernmost of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. He was born in 394, the eldest son of King Gwanggaeto the Great...
or 270 - 292, during the reign of King SeocheonSeocheon of GoguryeoKing Seocheon of Goguryeo was the 13th ruler of Goguryeo, the northernmost of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. He was the second son of King Jungcheon, and was confirmed as Crown Prince in 255. He ascended the throne upon his father's death in 270...
or 331 - 371, during the reign of King GogugwonGogugwon of GoguryeoKing Gogugwon of Goguryeo was the 16th king of Goguryeo, the northernmost of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. He was the son of King Micheon and Lady Ju. He's birth name is Sa-Yu. He was made crown prince in 314 and became king upon his father's death...
.) - Yeon-ga (延嘉, 연가 "Enduring Excellence": 292 - 300, during the reign of King BongsangBongsang of GoguryeoKing Bongsang of Goguryeo was the 14th ruler of Goguryeo, the northernmost of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. He was the eldest son of King Seocheon....
or 531 - 545, during the reign of King AnwonAnwon of GoguryeoKing Anwon of Goguryeo was the 23rd ruler of Goguryeo, the northernmost of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. He was the younger brother of King Anjang, and is said to have been tall and wise....
.) - Geonheung (建興, 건흥 "Establishment of Prosperity" : 413 - 491, during the reign of King JangsuJangsu of GoguryeoEmperor Jangsu of Goguryeo was the 20th monarch of Goguryeo, the northernmost of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. He was born in 394, the eldest son of King Gwanggaeto the Great...
.) - Yeonggang (永康, 영강 "Eternal Peace": 545 - 559, during the reign of King YangwonYangwon of GoguryeoKing Yangwon of Goguryeo was the 24th ruler of Goguryeo, the northernmost of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. He was the eldest son of King Anwon...
.)
Silla
- Geon-won (건원, 建元 "First Establishment" : 536 - 551), during the reign of King BeopheungBeopheung of SillaKing Beopheung was the 23rd monarch of Silla, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. He was preceded by King Jijeung and succeeded by King Jinheung....
and King JinheungJinheung of SillaKing Jinheung was the 24th monarch of Silla, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea.He followed King Beopheung and was followed by King Jinji . Jinheung was the nephew of King Beopheung. King Jinheung was one of the greatest kings of Silla, and was responsible for expanding Silla territory immensely...
) - Gaeguk (개국, 開國 "Opening of the Country" : 551 - 567), during the reign of King JinheungJinheung of SillaKing Jinheung was the 24th monarch of Silla, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea.He followed King Beopheung and was followed by King Jinji . Jinheung was the nephew of King Beopheung. King Jinheung was one of the greatest kings of Silla, and was responsible for expanding Silla territory immensely...
) - Daechang (대창, 大昌 "Great Light": 568 - 572), during the reign of King Jinheung)
- Hongje (홍제, 鴻濟 "Vast Relief" : 572 - 583), during the reign of King Jinheung, King JinjiJinji of SillaGeomryun Kim , whose name as king was Jinji, was the twenty-fifth monarch of the ancient Korean kingdom of Silla. His wife was Lady Jido of the Park clan....
and King JinpyeongJinpyeong of SillaJinpyeong of Silla is the 26th king of the Silla Dynasty, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. King Jinpyeong followed in the footsteps of King Jinheung by reorganizing the central ruling system, and as many conflicts with Baekje and Goguryeo arose, sent emissaries to improve relations and...
) - Geonbok (건복, 建福 "Establishment of Blessings" : 584 - 634), during the reign of King Jinpyeong and Queen SeondeokQueen Seondeok of SillaQueen Seondeok of Silla reigned as Queen of Silla, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, from 632 to 647. She was Silla's twenty-seventh ruler, and its first reigning queen...
) - Inpyeong (인평, 仁平 "Even Benevolence" : 634 - 647, during the reign of Queen Seondeok)
- Taehwa (태화, 太和 "Great Harmony": 647 - 650, during the reign of Queen JindeokJindeok of SillaQueen Jindeok of Silla reigned as Queen of Silla, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, from 647 to 654. She was the kingdom's 28th ruler, and its second reigning queen following her predecessor Queen Seondeok. During her reign, Silla jockeyed with Baekje for favor in the Chinese Tang court...
)
- In 650, Silla stopped using its own era names and adopted those of Tang ChinaTang DynastyThe Tang Dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was founded by the Li family, who seized power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire...
.
- Gyeong-un (慶雲, 경운 "Clouds of Celebration": 822 during the reign of Kim HeonchangKim HeonchangKim Heonchang was the leader of an aristocratic rebellion in early ninth-century Unified Silla. He was a seventh-generation descendant of King Muyeol, and thus bore the "true bone" status in the Silla bone rank system...
's Jang-an state.)
Balhae
- Cheontong (天統, 천통 "Authority of Heaven": 699 - 718, during the reign of King GoGo of BalhaeDae Jo-yeong , also known in Korea as King Go , established the state of Balhae, reigning from 699 to 719...
.) - Inan (仁安, 인안 "Benevolence and Good": 719 - 736, during the reign of King MuMu of BalhaeDae Mu-ye, also known as King Mu , was the second king of the Balhae. He is noted for the military expansion of his domain.- Background :...
.) - Daeheung (大興, 대흥 "Great Prosperity": 737 - 793, during the reign of King Mun.)
- Boryeok (寶曆, 보력 "Precious Era": 774-?, at least until 781, during the reign of King Mun)
- Jungheung (中興, 중흥 "Middle Prosperity":794, during the reign of King SeongSeong of BalhaeSeong of Balhae, sometimes called by his birth-name Dae Hwa-yeo, was the 5th ruler of the Balhae. He was the grandson of Emperor Mun, his father being the deceased heir Dae Goeng-rim.- Reign :...
.) - Jeongnyeok (正曆, 정력 "Justice Era": 795 - 808 during the reign of King GangGang of BalhaeGang of Balhae was the sixth to rule the king of Balhae. He was the son of Emperor Mun, who was Balhae's third emperor. He chose the era name Jeongnyeok . During his reign, there was active trade with Japan and Tang China, and missions passed frequently among the three states....
.) - Yeongdeok (永德, 영덕 "Eternal Virtue": 809 - 812 during the reign of King JeongJeong of BalhaeJeong of Balhae was the seventh king of Balhae. He was the son of King Gang. Little is known of his reign, save that he cose the era name Yeongdeok . After his death, his brother became King Hui....
.) - Jujak (朱雀, 주작 "Sparrow Cinnabar": 813 - 817 during the reign of King HuiHui of BalhaeHui of Balhae was the eighth king of Balhae. He was the son of King Gang, and the younger brother of King Jeong. He trafficked actively with Tang China, and imported many aspects of Tang culture and governmental systems....
.) - Taesi (太始, 태시 "Great Beginning": 817 - 818 during the reign of King GanGan of BalhaeGan of Balhae was king of Balhae. He was the son of the sixth king, King Gang, and the younger brother of King Hui and King Jeong. He chose the era name Taesi ....
.) - Geonheung (建興, 건흥 "Founding of Prosperity": 818 - 820 during the reign of King SeonSeon of BalhaeDae Insu, also known as King Seon was the 10th king of the Korean kingdom of Balhae. He restored national strength, and is remembered today as the last of the great Balhae rulers before its fall.- Background :...
.) - Hamhwa (咸和, 함화 "United Peace": 830 - 858 during the reign of King Dae Ijin.)
- Note : King Dae Ijin, posthumous names are unknown, so usually they're called by their personal names.
Jeong-an Kingdom
- Wonheung (元興, 원흥 "First Prosperity":976 - 986 during the reign of Oh Hyeon-myeong.)
Heung-Yo Kingdom
- Cheongyeong (天慶, 천경 ("Heavenly Celebration"): 1029 - 1030 during the reign of Dae Yeon-RimDae Yeon-rimDae Yeon-rim was the founder of the Heung-yo kingdom, which was a successor-state of Balhae.- Background and Rise to power :...
.)
Daewon Kingdom
- Yeunggi (隆基, 융기 ("Prosperous Foundation") : 1116 during the reign of Go Yeong-Chang.)
Later Baekje
- Jeonggae (正開, 정개 ("Proper Opening"): 900 - 936 during the reign of Gyeon HwonGyeon HwonGyeon Hwon was the king and founder of Hubaekje, one of the Later Three Kingdoms of Korea. Some records render his name as "Jin Hwon" . He was also the progenitor of the Hwanggan Gyeon clan...
)
Taebong
All these era names were used during the reign of King Gung-ye, who ruled Taebong from 901 to 918.- Mutae (武泰, 무태 "Exalted Military" : 904 - 905 during the reign of Gung YeGung YeGung Ye was the king of the short-lived Hugoguryeo on the Korean peninsula. Although he was a member of the Silla royal family, he became a victim of the power struggle among the royal family members during the late 9th century...
) - Seongchaek (聖冊, 성책 "Sacred Book" : 905 - 910 during the reign of Gung Ye)
- Sudeok Manse (水德萬歲, 수덕만세 "Ten Thousand Years of Flowing Power": 911 - 914 during the reign of Gung Ye)
- Jeonggae (政開, 정개 "Opening Rule" : 914 - 918 during the reign of Gung Ye)
- Note : In 918, General Wang Geon led a revolution, became the new emperor, and changed the country's name to Goreyo.
Goryeo Dynasty
- Cheonsu (天授, 천수 "Transmission of Heaven" : 918 - 933 during the reign of King Taejo.)
- Gwangdeok (光德, 광덕 "Brilliant Power" : 950 - 951 during the reign of King GwangjongGwangjong of GoryeoGwangjong was the fourth emperor of Goryeo.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...
.) - Junpung (峻豊, 준풍 "Towering Plenty" : 960 - 963 during the reign of King Gwangjong.)
-
- Cheongae (天開, 천개 "Opening of Heaven" : 1135 - 1136 during the reign of Myo CheongMyo CheongMyo Cheong was an influential Buddhist monk and geomancer of the royal court who lived during the Goryeo Dynasty in Korea.-Myo Cheong's Rebellion:...
's Daewi state.)
- Cheongae (天開, 천개 "Opening of Heaven" : 1135 - 1136 during the reign of Myo Cheong
Joseon Dynasty
- Gaeguk (開國, 개국 "Nation's Opening" : used for the reign of King Gojong 1894 - 1895)
- Geonyang (建陽, 건양 "Founding Yang Principle" : used for the reign of King Gojong 1896 - 1897)
Korean Empire
- Gwangmu (광무; 光武; "Bright Valour") - used for the reign of Emperor Gojong, 1897-1907
- Yunghui (융희;隆熙; "Prosperous Brilliance") - used for the reign of Emperor Sunjong, 1907-1910
Republic of Korea
- Daehan minguk (대한민국, 大韓民國 "Great Korean Republic" : 1948)
- Dangun-giwon (단군기원, 檀君紀元 "First Age of Lord Dangun" : 1948-1962)
Usage of Non-Korean Era names
Some Chinese era nameChinese era name
A Chinese era name is the regnal year, reign period, or regnal title used when traditionally numbering years in an emperor's reign and naming certain Chinese rulers . Some emperors have several era names, one after another, where each beginning of a new era resets the numbering of the year back...
s were adopted, especially in the Joseon dynasty
Joseon Dynasty
Joseon , was a Korean state founded by Taejo Yi Seong-gye that lasted for approximately five centuries. It was founded in the aftermath of the overthrow of the Goryeo at what is today the city of Kaesong. Early on, Korea was retitled and the capital was relocated to modern-day Seoul...
due to the Korean Confucian
Confucianism
Confucianism is a Chinese ethical and philosophical system developed from the teachings of the Chinese philosopher Confucius . Confucianism originated as an "ethical-sociopolitical teaching" during the Spring and Autumn Period, but later developed metaphysical and cosmological elements in the Han...
ideology. For example, in the Annals of Joseon Dynasty
Annals of Joseon Dynasty
The Annals of the Joseon Dynasty are the annual records of the Joseon Dynasty of Korea, which were kept from 1413 to 1865. The annals, or sillok, comprise 1,893 volumes and are thought to cover the longest continual period of a single dynasty in the world...
, years were described with Chinese era names and Sexagenary Cycle. During Colonial Korea
Korea under Japanese rule
Korea was under Japanese rule as part of Japan's 35-year imperialist expansion . Japanese rule ended in 1945 shortly after the Japanese defeat in World War II....
, Imperial Japan enforced its own era system version for colonial Korea.
Juche Calendar
The North KoreaNorth Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
n government and associated organizations use a variation of the Gregorian calendar
Gregorian calendar
The Gregorian calendar, also known as the Western calendar, or Christian calendar, is the internationally accepted civil calendar. It was introduced by Pope Gregory XIII, after whom the calendar was named, by a decree signed on 24 February 1582, a papal bull known by its opening words Inter...
with a Juche year based on April 15, 1912 CE
Common Era
Common Era ,abbreviated as CE, is an alternative designation for the calendar era originally introduced by Dionysius Exiguus in the 6th century, traditionally identified with Anno Domini .Dates before the year 1 CE are indicated by the usage of BCE, short for Before the Common Era Common Era...
, the date of birth of Kim Il-sung, as year 1. There is no Juche year 0. The calendar was introduced in 1997. Months are unchanged from those in the standard Gregorian calendar. In many instances, the Juche year is given after the CE year, for example, 27 June 2007 Juche 96. But in North Korean publications, the Juche year is usually placed before the corresponding CE year, as in Juche 96 (2007).
See also
- History of KoreaHistory of KoreaThe Korean Peninsula was inhabited from the Lower Paleolithic about 400,000-500,000 years ago. Archeological evidence indicates that the presence of modern humans in northeast Asia dates to 39,000 years ago. The earliest known Korean pottery dates to around 8000 BC, and the Neolithic period began...
- List of Korea-related topics
- Korean calendarKorean calendarThe traditional Korean calendar is a lunisolar calendar, like the traditional calendars of other East Asian countries. Dates are calculated from Korea's meridian, and observances and festivals are based in Korean culture....