Munhwa Ryoo clan of Korea

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...

 (or spelled Ryu or Rieu) is one of the great aristocratic houses of 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...

 and 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...

 dynasty. "Munhwa" is the name of the clan seat

Bon-gwan

Bon-gwan is the concept of clan in Korea, which is used to distinguish clans that happen to share a same family name . Since Korea has been traditionally a Buddhist country this clan system is cognate with Gotra in Sanskrit texts and shares most features...

, a township in modern-day Hwanghae

Hwanghae

Hwanghae was one of the Eight Provinces of Korea during the Joseon Dynasty. Hwanghae was located in the northwest of Korea. The provincial capital was Haeju.The regional name for the province was Haesŏ .-History:...

 province, North Korea

North 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...

. The surname "Ryoo" comes from the character meaning willow tree. Hence, the lineage is also called "willow Ryoo" (버들 류씨).

In the early tenth century AD the clan's progenitor Ryoo Cha-dal (류차달; 柳車達) was instrumental in defeating subversive forces and reuniting the kingdom under a new regime, the Goryeo dynasty (918-1392). For his loyalty and service King Taejo

Taejo of Goryeo

Taejo of Goryeo was the founder of the Goryeo Dynasty, which ruled Korea from the 10th to the 14th century. Taejo ruled from 918 to 943.-Background:...

 rewarded Rieu with estates and the title "Duke of Great Aid" (대승공; 大丞公).

Until recently, it was thought that the Cha

Cha (Korean name)

Cha is an uncommon family name in Korea. The Yeonan Cha clan is the only clan. The founding ancestor was Cha Hyo-jeon, son of Yu Cha-dal . Most of the clan’s members live in Gyeongsang province, Hwanghae province, or P'yŏngan province...

clan (차; 車) shared the same lineage as the Munhwa Ryoo clan. However, historians have proven that this was in fact an error.

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