Taejo of Joseon (October 11,1335 – May 24, 1408; r. 1392-1398), born
Yi Seong-gye, whose changed name is
Yi Dan, was the founder and the first king of the
Joseon DynastyJoseon , was a Korean sovereign 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 Kingdom at what is today the city of Kaesong...
of Korea, and the main figure in overthrowing the
GoryeoThe Goryeo Dynasty or Koryŏ was a sovereign state established in 918 by King Taejo. 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...
Dynasty. He was posthumously raised to the rank of Emperor in 1899 by
GojongGojong , the Gwangmu Emperor was the twenty-sixth king of the Korean Joseon Dynasty and the first emperor of the Korean Empire.-King of the Joseon:...
, the Gwangmu Emperor, who had proclaimed the
Korean EmpireThe Greater Korean Empire was a former empire of Korea that succeeded the Joseon Dynasty that had ruled the nation for 500 years.In 1897, Emperor Gojong proclaimed the new entity at Gyeongungung Palace and oversaw the partially successful modernization of the military, economy, real property laws,...
in 1897.
Taejo's father
Yi Ja-chunYi Ja-chun was a minor officer of the Yuan Dynasty and the father of Yi Seong-gye, the founder of the Joseon Dynasty...
was a former minor Mongol official, but his ethnicity was Korean. Taejo joined the Goryeo army and rose through the ranks, seizing the throne in 1392. He abdicated in 1398 during the strife between his sons and died in 1408.
Historical Context for Rise
By the late 14th century, the 400 year-old Goryeo Dynasty established by Wang Geon in 918 was tottering, its foundations collapsing from years of war and
de facto occupation by the disintegrating
Mongol EmpireThe Mongol Empire was an empire from the 13th and 14th century spanning from Eastern Europe across Asia. It is the largest contiguous empire in the history of the world...
. The legitimacy of Goryeo itself was also becoming an increasingly disputed issue within the court, as the ruling house failed not only to govern the kingdom effectively, but was also tarnished by generations of forced intermarriage with members of the Mongol
Yuan DynastyThe Yuan Dynasty , or Great Yuan Empire was both the continuation of the Mongol Empire and the Mongol founded historical state in Mongolia and China, lasting officially from 1271 to 1368. Although the dynasty was established by Kublai Khan, he had his grandfather Genghis Khan placed on the...
imperial family and by rivalry amongst the various
GoryeoThe Goryeo Dynasty or Koryŏ was a sovereign state established in 918 by King Taejo. 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...
royal family branches (even King U's mother was a known commoner, thus leading to rumors disputing his descent from King Gongmin).
Within the kingdom, influential aristocrats, generals, and even prime ministers struggled for royal favor and vied for domination of the court, resulting in deep divisions among various factions. With the ever-increasing number of raids against
JoseonJoseon , was a Korean sovereign 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 Kingdom at what is today the city of Kaesong...
conducted by Japanese pirates (
wakōWako can refer to:*Wakō : Pirates who raided coastal areas of East Asia from the thirteenth into the seventeenth century.*Wakō, Saitama : a city in Japan, part of the Greater Tokyo Area.*Haruo Wako, a member of the Japanese Red Army...
) and the
Red Turbans invasions of KoreaThe Red Turbans invasions of Korea occurred in the 14th century between Goryeo Dynasty and Chinese Red Turbans army.-Background:Goryeo had been a dependency of the Mongol Yuan Dynasty since Mongol invasion of Korea. However, mid-14th century, King Gongmin began efforts to reform Goryeo government...
, those who came to dominate the royal court were the reformed-minded Sinjin aristocracy and the opposing Gweonmun aristocracy, as well as generals who could actually fight off the foreign threats—namely a talented general named Yi Seong-gye and his rival
Choe YeongChoe Yong was a Korean general born in Cheorwon, Gangwon Province, in Goryeo .-Early years:Despite being born into a relatively wealthy family, his beginnings were humble, and his lifestyle would best be described as spartan...
. With the rise of the
Ming DynastyThe Ming Dynasty , or Empire of the Great Ming , was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty. The Ming, "one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history," was the last dynasty in China ruled by ethnic...
under a former monk, Zhu Yuanzhang (the
Hongwu EmperorThe Hongwu Emperor , known variably by his given name Zhu Yuanzhang and by the temple name Taizu of the Ming was the founder and first emperor of the Ming Dynasty of China...
), Mongol forces became more vulnerable. By the 1350s Goryeo regained its full independence from the waning Mongol Empire, although Mongol remnants effectively occupied northeastern territories with large garrisons of troops.
Military career
General Yi Seong-gye had gained power and respect during the late 1370s and early 1380s by pushing Mongol remnants off the peninsula and also by repelling well-organized
Japanese piratesWokou or Japanese pirates were pirates who raided the coastlines of China and Korea from the thirteenth century onwards...
in a series of successful engagements. He was also credited with routing the Red Turbans when they made their move into the Korean Peninsula as part of their rebellion against the Yuan Dynasty. Following in the wake of the rise of the
Ming DynastyThe Ming Dynasty , or Empire of the Great Ming , was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty. The Ming, "one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history," was the last dynasty in China ruled by ethnic...
under the Zhu Yuanzhang, the royal court in Goryeo split into two competing factions: the group led by General Yi (supporting the Ming Dynasty) and the camp led by his rival
General ChoeChoe Yong was a Korean general born in Cheorwon, Gangwon Province, in Goryeo .-Early years:Despite being born into a relatively wealthy family, his beginnings were humble, and his lifestyle would best be described as spartan...
(supporting the Yuan Dynasty).
When a Ming messenger came to Goryeo in 1388 (the 14th year of King U) to demand the return of a significant portion of Goryeo’s northern territory, General Choe seized the opportunity and played upon the prevailing anti-Ming atmosphere to argue for the invasion of the
Liaodong PeninsulaThe Liáodōng Peninsula is a peninsula in the Liáoníng province of northeastern China, historically known in the west as southern east-Manchuria. Liaodong means "East of the Liáo"...
(Goryeo claimed to be the successor of the ancient kingdom of
GoguryeoGoguryeo or Koguryŏ was an ancient Korean kingdom located in the northern and central parts of the Korean peninsula, southern Manchuria, and southern Russian Maritime province....
; as such, restoring
ManchuriaManchuria is a historical name given to a vast geographic region in northeast Asia. Depending on the definition of its extent, Manchuria either falls entirely within China, or is divided between China and Russia...
as part of Korean territory was a tenet of its foreign policy throughout its history).
A staunchly opposed Yi was chosen to lead the invasion; however, at Wihwa Island on the Amrok River, he made a momentous decision that would alter the course of Korean history. Knowing of the support he enjoyed both from high-ranking government officials, the general populace, and the great deterrent of Ming Empire under the
Hongwu EmperorThe Hongwu Emperor , known variably by his given name Zhu Yuanzhang and by the temple name Taizu of the Ming was the founder and first emperor of the Ming Dynasty of China...
, he decided to revolt and swept back to the capital, Gaesong, to secure control of the government.
Revolution
General Yi swept his army from the Yalu River straight into the capital, defeated forces loyal to the king (led by General Choe, whom he proceeded to eliminate) and forcibly dethroned King U in a
de facto coup d'étatA coup d'état , or coup for short, is the sudden unconstitutional deposition of a legitimate government, usually by a small group of the existing state establishment—typically the military—to replace the deposed government with another, either civil or military...
but did not ascend to the throne right away. Instead, he placed on the throne King U's son,
King ChangChang of Goryeo was the 33rd and youngest ruler of the Goryeo dynasty of Korea. He was the son of his predecessor, King U. U was forced from power after Yi Seonggye mutinied in 1388, and Chang was put on the throne in his stead...
, and following a failed restoration of the former monarch, had both of them put to death. General Yi, now the undisputed power behind the throne, soon forcibly had a Goryeo royal named Yo, now King
GongyangGongyang of Goryeo was the 34th and final ruler of the Goryeo dynasty of Korea. He was deposed by Yi Seonggye, who then established the Joseon Dynasty....
(공양왕; 恭讓王), crowned as king. After indirectly enforcing his grasp on the royal court through the puppet king, Yi then proceeded to ally himself with Sinjin aristocrats such as Jeong Do-jeon and Jo Jun. In 1392 (the 4th year of King Gongyang), Yi dethroned King Gongyang, exiled him to
WonjuWonju is the largest city by population city in Gangwon province, South Korea.Wonju is a city approximately 90 miles east of Seoul. Wonju is home to three major universities which draw many students from Seoul and elsewhere. It was the site of a battle in the Korean War.The city is home to two...
(where he and his family was secretly murdered), and ascended the throne. The Goryeo Dynasty had come to an end after 475 years of rule.
One of the most widely repeated episodes that occurred in the immediate aftermath of the fall of Goryeo was in 1392, when Taejo's fifth son, Yi Bang-won (later
King TaejongTaejong was the third king of the Joseon Dynasty in Korea and the father of King Sejong the Great.-Early life:...
), threw a party for the renowned scholar, poet and statesman
Jeong Mong-juJeong Mongju , often known by his pen name Poeun, was a Korean civil minister and scholar during the late period of the Goryeo dynasty.-Biography:He was born in Yeongcheon, Gyeongsang province to a family from the Yeongil Jeong clan...
, who refused to be won over by Yi despite their numerous correspondences in the form of archaic poems, and continued to be a faithful supporter the old dynasty, and a leading figure in the opposition to Yi's claim to the throne. Jeong was revered throughout Goryeo, even by Yi Bang-won himself, but he was seen to be an obstacle and as such, in the eyes of supporter of the new dynasty, had to be removed. After the party, on his way home, Jeong was murdered by five men on the Seonjuk Bridge (선죽교; 善竹橋) in Gaeseong. This bridge has now become a national monument of
North KoreaNorth Korea, officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea , is a state 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 area between North Korea and South Korea...
, and a brown spot on one of the stones is said to be a bloodstain of his which turns red when it rains.
Views on Taejo Yi Seong-gye
The solid foundation established by Taejo Yi Seong-gye allowed the
Joseon DynastyJoseon , was a Korean sovereign 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 Kingdom at what is today the city of Kaesong...
to enjoy six centuries of independence until 1910.
Despite the fact that he overthrew the kingdom of
GoryeoThe Goryeo Dynasty or Koryŏ was a sovereign state established in 918 by King Taejo. 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 purged officials who remained loyal to the old regime, many regard him as a revolutionary and a decisive ruler who disposed the inept, obsolete and crippled governing system to save the nation from many foreign forces and conflicts.
Safeguarding domestic security led the Koreans to rebuild and further discover their culture. In the midst of the rival
YuanThe Yuan Dynasty , or Great Yuan Empire was both the continuation of the Mongol Empire and the Mongol founded historical state in Mongolia and China, lasting officially from 1271 to 1368. Although the dynasty was established by Kublai Khan, he had his grandfather Genghis Khan placed on the...
and
MingThe Ming Dynasty , or Empire of the Great Ming , was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty. The Ming, "one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history," was the last dynasty in China ruled by ethnic...
Dynasties, the Joseon Dynasty encouraged the development of national identity which once was threatened by the
MongolsThe name Mongol specifies one or several ethnic groups, now mainly located in Mongolia, China, and Russia.-Definition:...
. However, some scholars view him as a mere traitor to the old regime, paralleling him to a bourgeois apostate, and General
Choe YeongChoe Yong was a Korean general born in Cheorwon, Gangwon Province, in Goryeo .-Early years:Despite being born into a relatively wealthy family, his beginnings were humble, and his lifestyle would best be described as spartan...
as a military elite, who conservatively served the old regime of Goryeo to death.
His diplomatic policy successes in securing
KoreaKorea is a civilization and formerly unified nation currently divided into two states. Located on the Korean Peninsula, it borders China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the east by the Korea Strait....
in the early modern period is noteable.
Reign
Yi Seong-gye declared a new dynasty in 1392-1393 under the name of Joseon (meaning to revive an older dynasty also known as Joseon, founded nearly four thousand years previously) and renamed the country the "Kingdom of Great Joseon". An early achievement of the new monarch was improved relations with China; and indeed, Joseon had its origin in General Yi's refusal to attack China in response to raids from Chinese bandits. In this process of developing foreign relations, envoys were dispatched to Japan, seeking the re-establishment of amicable relations between the two countries and commemorating the good relations which existed in ancient times. The mission was successful; and
Shogun is a military rank and historical title for Hereditary Commanders in Chief of the Armed Forces of Japan. The modern rank is equivalent to a Generalissimo...
Ashikaga Yoshimitsuwas the 3rd shogun of the Ashikaga shogunate who reigned from 1368 to 1394 during the Muromachi period of Japan. Yoshimitsu was the son of the second shogun Ashikaga Yoshiakira....
was reported to have been favorably impressed by this initial embassy.
In 1394, the capital was established at Hanseong (Seoul).
When the new dynasty was promulgated and officially brought into existence, Taejo brought up the issue of which son would be his successor. Although Taejo's fifth son by Queen Sineui, Yi Bang-won, had contributed most to assisting his father's rise to power, he harbored a profound hatred against two of his father's key allies in the court, the prime minister Jeong Do-jeon and Nam Eun.
Both sides were fully aware of the mutual animosity that existed between each other and constantly felt threatened. When it became clear that Yi Bang-won was the most worthy successor to the throne, Jeong Do-jeon used his influence on the king to convince him that the wisest choice would be in the son that Taejo loved most, not the son that Taejo felt was best for the kingdom.
In 1392, the eighth son of King Taejo (the second son of Queen Sindeok), Grand Prince Uian (Yi Bang-seok) was appointed Prince Royal, or successor to the throne. After the sudden death of the queen, and while King Taejo was still in mourning for his second wife, Jeong Do-jeon conspired to pre-emptively kill Yi Bang-won and his brothers to secure his position in court.
In 1398, upon hearing of this plan, Yi Bang-won immediately revolted and raided the palace, killing Jeong Do-jeon, his followers, and the two sons of the late Queen Sindeok. This incident became known as the First Strife of Princes. Aghast at the fact that his sons were willing to kill each other for the crown, and psychologically exhausted from the death of his second wife, King Taejo immediately crowned his second son Yi Bang-gwa, later
King JeongjongKing Jeongjong of Joseon , born Yi Bang-gwa, whose changed name is Yi Gyeong, was the second king of Joseon Dynasty . He was the second son of the founder and first king of the dynasty, King Taejo of Joseon....
, as the new ruler. In 1400, King Jeongjong immediately invested Yi Bang-won as heir presumptive and voluntarily abdicated. That same year, Yi Bang-won assumed the throne of Joseon at long last as King Taejong.
He died on May 24, 1408 in Changdeok Palace. He was buried at the tomb of Hongneung (건원릉, 健元陵) in the city of
GuriGuri is a city in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. The name "Guri" is thought by some to mean "nine villages," which is reflected in the Hanja for the town. It is located immediately to the east of Seoul, in the heart of the Capital Metropolitan Area.The Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty are...
.
Family
- Father: Yi Ja-chun
Yi Ja-chun was a minor officer of the Yuan Dynasty and the father of Yi Seong-gye, the founder of the Joseon Dynasty...
(이자춘)
- Mother: Queen Uihye of the Yeongheung Choe clan (의혜왕후 최씨)
- Consorts:
- Queen Sin-ui of the Anbyeon Han clan (신의왕후 한씨, 1337-1391)
- Queen Sindeok of the Goksan Kang clan (신덕왕후 강씨)
- Anonymous Concubine (후궁)
- Sincere Consort of the Wonju Won clan (성비 원씨, ?-December 29, 1449)
- Princess Hwaui of the Kim clan (화의옹주 김씨)
- Princess Jeonggyeong of the Ryu clan (정경궁주 유씨)
- Grand Prince Jinan (진안대군, 1354-1393), 1st Son of Queen Sin-ui of the Anbyeon Han clan.
- Grand Prince Yeongan(영안대군
King Jeongjong of Joseon , born Yi Bang-gwa, whose changed name is Yi Gyeong, was the second king of Joseon Dynasty . He was the second son of the founder and first king of the dynasty, King Taejo of Joseon....
, 1357-1419), 2nd Son of Queen Sin-ui of the Anbyeon Han clan.
- Grand Prince Ikan (익안대군, 1360-1404), 3rd Son of Queen Sin-ui of the Anbyeon Han clan.
- Grand Prince Hoean (회안대군, 1364-1421), 4th Son of Queen Sin-ui of the Anbyeon Han clan
- Grand Prince Jeong-an (정안대군
Taejong was the third king of the Joseon Dynasty in Korea and the father of King Sejong the Great.-Early life:...
, 1367-1422), 5th Son of Queen Sin-ui of the Anbyeon Han clan.
- Grand Prince Deokan (덕안대군), 6th Son of Queen Sin-ui of the Anbyeon Han clan.
- Grand Prince Muan (무안대군, 1381-1398), 1st Son of Queen Sindeok of the Goksan Kang clan.
- Grand Prince Uian (의안대군, 1382-1398), 2nd Son of Queen Sindeok of the Goksan Kang clan.
- Princess Gyeongsin (경신공주), 1st daughter of Queen Sin-ui of the Anbyeon Han clan.
- Princess Gyeongseon (경선공주), 2nd daughter of Queen Sin-ui of the Anbyeon Han clan.
- Princess Gyeongsun (경순공주), Only daughter of Queen Sindeok of the Goksan Kang clan.
- Princess Uinyeong (의녕옹주), 1st daughter of the anonymous concubine.
- Princess Sookshin (숙신옹주), 2nd daughter of the anonymous concubine.
His full posthumous name
- Emperor Taejo Gangheon Jiin Gyeun Eungcheon Jotong Gwanghun Yeongmyeong Seongmun Sinmu Jeongeui Gwangdeok of Korea
- 태조강헌지인계운응천조통광훈영명성문신무정의광덕황제
- 太祖 康獻至仁啓運應天肇通光勳永命聖文神武正義光德皇帝
Legacy
The tomb of his Umbilical cordUmbilical cord tomb of Taejo are buried as umbilical cords of Taejo of Joseon and his son Jeongjong's located in Maninsan, Geumsan, South Chungcheong province, Korea....
is in Man-In-san, Geumsan-gun, South Chungcheong Province in the Republic of Korea.
See also
- Joseon Dynasty
Joseon , was a Korean sovereign 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 Kingdom at what is today the city of Kaesong...
- Goryeo Dynasty
- Choe Yeong
Choe Yong was a Korean general born in Cheorwon, Gangwon Province, in Goryeo .-Early years:Despite being born into a relatively wealthy family, his beginnings were humble, and his lifestyle would best be described as spartan...
- Korean Imperial Household
The House of Yi consists of the descendants of the Joseon Dynasty and the imperial family of the Korean Empire. All are members of the Jeonju Yi clan, and trace their descent from Taejo of Joseon....
- List of Korean monarchs
- Joseon missions to Imperial China
Joseon missions to Imperial China were Joseon diplomatic ventures which were intermittently sent in the years 1392-1910. These represent a significant aspect of the international relations of mutual Joseon-Chinese contacts and communication.-Joseon diplomacy:...
- Joseon missions to Japan
Joseon missions to Japan represent a crucial aspect of the international relations of mutual Joseon-Japanese contacts and communication. In sum, these serial diplomatic ventures illustrate the persistence of Joseon's kyorin diplomacy from 1392-1910.The chronology of one side in a bilateral...
- List of Korea-related topics