Wonseong of Silla
Encyclopedia
Wonseong of Silla was the 38th to rule the Korea
n kingdom of Silla
. He was a twelfth-generation descendant of King Naemul
. His father was Kim Hyo-yang, and his mother was Lady Gye-o, the daughter of Pak Chang-do. Wonseong's queen was Lady Yeonhwa, the daughter of Gakgan Kim Sin-sul.
In 780, Wonseong fought alongside his kinsman Kim Yang-sang
to defeat the rebellion of Kim Ji-jeong. The rebellion left King Hyegong
dead, and Kim took the throne as King Seondeok. The new king gave Wonseong the title of sangdaedeung
. After Seondeok died without an heir, the nobles chose Wonseong as the new king.
In 787, Wonseong sent tribute to Tang China and requested a title. In 788, he established the national civil service examination
for the first time, on the Tang model.
After his death in 798, the king was buried south of Bongdeoksa.
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 kingdom of Silla
Silla
Silla was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, and one of the longest sustained dynasties in...
. He was a twelfth-generation descendant of King Naemul
Naemul of Silla
Naemul of Silla was the 17th ruler of the Korean kingdom of Silla. He was the nephew of King Michu. He married Michu's daughter, Lady Boban. He is given the title Isageum, the same one borne by earlier rulers, in the Samguk Sagi; he is given the title Maripgan, borne by later rulers, in the...
. His father was Kim Hyo-yang, and his mother was Lady Gye-o, the daughter of Pak Chang-do. Wonseong's queen was Lady Yeonhwa, the daughter of Gakgan Kim Sin-sul.
In 780, Wonseong fought alongside his kinsman Kim Yang-sang
King Seondeok of Silla
King Seondeok of Silla was the successor to King Hyegong and the 37th to rule the Korean kingdom of Silla. He was an eleventh-generation descendant of King Naemul, and the Daughter of haechan Kim Hyo-bang by King Seongdeok's daughter Lady Saso...
to defeat the rebellion of Kim Ji-jeong. The rebellion left King Hyegong
Hyegong of Silla
Hyegong of Silla was the 36th ruler of the Korean kingdom of Silla. He was the son of King Gyeongdeok by Lady Manwol. Hyegong was the last descendant of King Muyeol to sit on the throne. Because of this, his reign is often regarded as the end of the middle period of the Silla state.Hyegong...
dead, and Kim took the throne as King Seondeok. The new king gave Wonseong the title of sangdaedeung
Sangdaedeung
Sangdaedeung was an office of the Silla state equivalent to the European King's/Queen's Counsel. The Sangdaedeung was chosen from among those men of “true bone” lineage in Silla‘s strict aristocratic social order...
. After Seondeok died without an heir, the nobles chose Wonseong as the new king.
In 787, Wonseong sent tribute to Tang China and requested a title. In 788, he established the national civil service examination
Gwageo
The gwageo were the national civil service examinations under the Goryeo and Joseon dynasties of Korea. Typically quite demanding, these tests measured candidates' knowledge of the Chinese classics, and sometimes also of technical subjects...
for the first time, on the Tang model.
After his death in 798, the king was buried south of Bongdeoksa.