Gojong (1192–1259), personal name Wang Cheol, was the 23rd king of the Korean Goryeo dynasty, ruling from 1213 to 1259. Gojong's reign was marked by prolonged conflict with the Mongol Empire, which sought to conquer Goryeo, ending only to settle peace in 1259. During his reign actual power rested with the Choe family of military dictators.
| Gojong 고종 高宗 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| King of Goryeo | |||||||||
| Reign | 1213–1259 | ||||||||
| Coronation | 1213 Gang'an Hall, Gaegyeong | ||||||||
| Predecessor | Gangjong of Goryeo | ||||||||
| Successor | Wonjong of Goryeo | ||||||||
| Born | Wang Jil 1192 Gaegyeong, Goryeo | ||||||||
| Died | 1259 (aged 67) Yugyeong's house, Ganghwa-gun, Goryeo | ||||||||
| Burial | |||||||||
| Spouse | |||||||||
| Issue | Wonjong of Goryeo Yeongjong of Goryeo Princess Suheung A daughter | ||||||||
| |||||||||
| House | Wang | ||||||||
| Father | Gangjong of Goryeo | ||||||||
| Mother | Queen Wondeok | ||||||||
| Religion | Buddhism | ||||||||
| Korean name | |
| Hangul | 고종 |
|---|---|
| Hanja | 高宗 |
| Revised Romanization | Gojong |
| McCune–Reischauer | Kojong |
| Birth name | |
| Hangul | 왕질, later 왕철 |
| Hanja | 王晊, later 王皞 |
| Revised Romanization | Wang Jil, later Wang Cheol |
| McCune–Reischauer | Wang Chil, later Wang Ch'ŏl |
| Courtesy name | |
| Hangul | 대명 or 천우 |
| Hanja | 大明 or 天祐 |
| Revised Romanization | Daemyeong or Cheonu |
| McCune–Reischauer | Taemyŏng or Ch'ŏnu |
| Posthumous name | |
| Hangul | 안효대왕 |
| Hanja | 安孝大王 |
| Revised Romanization | Anhyo Daewang |
| McCune–Reischauer | Anhyo Taewang |
Biography
editAlthough ascending to the throne in 1213, Gojong did not wield much power due to decades of military rule over Goryeo.[1] In 1216, the Khitan invaded Goryeo but was defeated. In August 1232, Gojong moved the capital of Goryeo from Songdo to the island of Ganghwa and started the construction of significant defenses there, in order to better defend from the Mongol threat. Gojong resisted the Mongol invasion for nearly thirty years before the kingdom was forced to make peace with the Mongols in 1259; Gojong died soon after.[2]
In 1251, the carving of the Tripitaka Koreana, a collection of Buddhist scriptures recorded on some 81,000 wooden blocks, was completed. The work was perhaps motivated by Gojong's hopes to change fortunes through the act of religious devotion; however the originals were later destroyed by the Mongols — the existing Tripitaka is a replica of Gojong's original, and was commissioned around one hundred years after the originals were lost.
Gojong was married to Queen Anhye, daughter of Huijong, the twenty-first king of Goryeo. His tomb is located near the city of Incheon.
Family
edit- Father: Gangjong of Goryeo (10 May 1152 – 26 August 1213)
- Grandfather: Myeongjong of Goryeo
- Grandmother: Queen Uijeong of the Kim clan
- Mother: Queen Wondeok of the Gaeseong Wang clan (d. 1239)
- Grandfather: Wang Seong, Marquess Sinan (신안후왕성)
- Grandmother: Princess Changrak (d.1216)
- Consorts and their Respective issue(s):
- Queen Anhye of the Yu clan (d.1233), his second cousin
- Wonjong of Goryeo (5 April 1219 – 23 July 1274), first son
- Yeongjong of Goryeo (August 1223), second son
- Princess Suheung, first daughter
In popular culture
edit- Portrayed by Oh Hyeon-cheol in the 2003–2004 KBS TV series Age of Warriors.
- Portrayed by Lee Seung-hyo in the 2012 MBC TV series God of War.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "[Why] [이한우의 역사속의 Why] 고려판 강화도령 강종 조선의 철종과 닮은꼴". Chosun Ilbo. February 7, 2009. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
- ^ 이, 윤옥 (December 23, 2020). 고려시대 고종 무덤에는 산새만 울어대네. Koya Culture. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
- 고종 (in Korean). Doosan Encyclopedia.