Taejong of Joseon

Not to be confused with Taejo of Joseon.

Taejong 태종 太宗
Statues at the tomb of King Taejong
Grand King Emeritus of Joseon
Tenure	12 September 1421 – 10 May 1422
Predecessor	Taejo
Successor	Sejo
King Emeritus of Joseon
Tenure	10 August 1418 – 12 September 1421
Predecessor	Jeongjong
Successor	Danjong
King of Joseon
Reign	13 November 1400 – 10 August 1418
Enthronement	Suchang Palace, Gaegyeong
Predecessor	Jeongjong
Successor	Sejong
Crown Prince of Joseon
Tenure	4 February 1400 – 13 November 1400
Predecessor	Crown Prince Yi Pang-gwa
Successor	Crown Prince Yi Je
Born	16 May 1367 Yi Sŏng-gye's Mansion, Dongbuk-myeon, Goryeo
Died	10 May 1422(1422-05-10) (aged 54) Sugang Palace, Hanseong, Joseon
Burial	Heonilleung, Seocho District, Seoul, South Korea
Spouse(s)	Queen Wongyeong ​ ​ (m. 1382; died 1420)​
Issue among others...	Sejong of Joseon
Names Yi Pang-wŏn (이방원; 李芳遠) Era name and dates Adopted the era name of the Ming dynasty: Geonmun (Jianwen) (건문; 建文): 1400–1402 Hongmu (Hongwu) (홍무; 洪武): 1402 Yeongnak (Yongle) (영락; 永樂): 1403–1418 Posthumous name Joseon: King Gongjeong Seondeok Singong Munmu Gwanghyo the Great (공정성덕신공문무광효대왕; 恭定聖德神功文武光孝大王) Ming dynasty: Gongjeong (공정; 恭定) Temple name Taejong (태종; 太宗)
Clan	Jeonju Yi
Dynasty	Yi
Father	Taejo of Joseon
Mother	Queen Sinui
Religion	Korean Buddhism → Korean Confucianism (Neo-Confucianism)

Korean name
Hangul	태종
Hanja	太宗
Revised Romanization	Taejong
McCune–Reischauer	T'aejong
Birth name
Hangul	이방원
Hanja	李芳遠
Revised Romanization	I Bangwon
McCune–Reischauer	I Pangwŏn
Courtesy name
Hangul	유덕
Hanja	遺德
Revised Romanization	Yudeok
McCune–Reischauer	Yutŏk

Taejong (Korean: 태종; Hanja: 太宗; 16 May 1367 – 10 May 1422), personal name Yi Pang-wŏn (이방원; 李芳遠), was the third monarch of the Joseon of Korea and the father of Sejong the Great. He was the fifth son of King Taejo, the founder of the dynasty. Before ascending to the throne, he was known as Prince Jeongan (정안군; 靖安君).

Biography

Early life and founding of Joseon

Born in 1367 as the fifth son of Yi Sŏng-gye and his first wife Lady Han, Yi Pang-wŏn qualified as an official in 1382. He studied under Confucian scholars such as Won Cheon-seok. During his early years, he assisted his father in gathering the support of the commoners and of many influential figures in the government; Yi Pang-wŏn also helped in the founding of Joseon by assassinating powerful officials who remained loyal to Goryeo, most prominently Chŏng Mong-ju.

Strifes of Princes

After contributing heavily to the overthrowing of the previous dynasty and the establishment of Joseon, he expected to be appointed as successor to the throne. However, his father and Chief State Councillor Jeong Do-jeon favored Taejo's eighth son and Yi Pang-wŏn's youngest half-brother (second son of Queen Sindeok), Yi Pang-sŏk. This conflict arose chiefly because Jeong Do-jeon, as the principal architect of the ideological, institutional and legal foundations of the new dynasty, saw Joseon as a kingdom led by its ministers by virtue of the king's appointment. In contrast, Yi Pang-wŏn sought direct rule through an absolute monarchy. These differences ultimately contributed to an environment of deep political tension.

In 1398, following the sudden death of Queen Sindeok, Yi Pang-wŏn led a coup d'état while King Taejo was still in mourning for his second wife. This event led to the deaths of Jeong Do-jeon and his supporters, as well as the deaths of the late Queen Sindeok's two sons, including the crown prince. The incident became known as the "First Strife of Princes" (제1차 왕자의 난). Aghast at the fact that his sons were willing to kill each other for the crown, and psychologically exhausted by the death of his second wife, Taejo abdicated; his eldest surviving son, Yi Pang-gwa (posthumously King Jeongjong), immediately became the new ruler.

Yi Pang-wŏn quickly emerged as the real force behind the throne and was soon in conflict with his disgruntled elder brother, Yi Pang-gan, who also yearned for power. In 1400, General Park Bo, who found the rewards for his deeds during the First Strife of Princes lacking, allied with Yi Pang-gan and rebelled in what came to be known as the "Second Strife of Princes" (제2차 왕자의 난). Yi Pang-wŏn successfully defeated his brother's forces, then executed Park Bo and exiled Yi Pang-gan. King Jeongjong, now fearful of his formidable younger brother, named Yi Pang-wŏn his successor and abdicated in the same year. At long last, Yi Pang-wŏn (posthumously King Taejong), assumed the throne of Joseon and became the dynasty's third monarch.

Reign

Consolidation of royal power

One of Taejong's first acts as king was to abolish the privilege to maintain private armies which was enjoyed by the aristocracy and the upper echelons of the government. His revoking of the right to keep independent forces effectively severed the upper class' ability to muster large-scale revolts, and drastically increased the number of soldiers employed by the national army.

Taejong's next act was to revise the existing legislation concerning land taxation. With the discovery of previously hidden land, national wealth increased twofold.

In addition, Taejong created a strong central government. In 1400, before taking the throne, he had played a key role in eradicating the Dopyeong Assembly, a branch of the old administration that had monopolized the executive power during the waning years of Goryeo, in favor of the Privy Council; during Taejong's reign, the Privy Council was replaced by the State Council. Taejong also issued a decree according to which all decisions passed by the State Council could only come into effect with the approval of the king. This ended the custom of court ministers making decisions through debate and negotiations among themselves, and thus brought the royal authority to new heights.

Shortly thereafter, Taejong installed a new department known as the Sinmun Office, to hear cases in which aggrieved subjects felt that they had been exploited or treated unjustly by officials or aristocrats.

Reforms and policies

Despite being the one responsible for Chŏng Mong-ju's assassination, Taejong posthumously honored him as Chief State Councillor, leading to a great irony — Chŏng To-jŏn, whose policies governed Joseon for five centuries, was vilified throughout the dynasty, while Chŏng Mong-ju was revered in spite of his opposition to its founding.

Taejong promoted Confucianism as the state ideology, thus demoting Buddhism, which consequently never recovered the glory and great power it had enjoyed during the Goryeo period. He closed many Buddhist temples; their vast possessions were seized and added to the national treasury.

In foreign policy, he was a straight hardliner — he attacked the Jurchens at the northern border and the Japanese pirates on the southern coast. Taejong is also remembered for being the initiator behind the Ōei Invasion of Tsushima Island in 1419.

He set up the system of hopae, an early form of identification which consisted of tags recording the bearer's name and residence; those tags were used to control the movements of the population.

In 1403, Taejong ordered 100,000 pieces of metal type and two complete fonts. Predating Gutenberg and Laurens Janszoon by several decades, he accomplished the metal movable type.

He promoted press, commerce, and education, and also reformed the Sapyeongsunwibu (사평순위부), Joseon's early military and law enforcement agency, and separated the Uigeumbu as Joseon's law enforcement agency but without military functions.

Later life and death

In 1418, Taejong abdicated in favor of his third legitimate son, Yi Do (posthumously King Sejong, commonly known as Sejong the Great), but continued to rule with an iron fist and decide on important matters.

Along the years, as a means to strengthen royal authority and subdue corruption, he executed or exiled some of the supporters who helped him ascend to the throne; he also executed the four brothers of his wife Queen Wongyeong, as well as Sejong's father-in-law Shim On and his younger brother Shim Jeong, in order to limit the influence of in-laws and powerful clans.

King Taejong died four years after his abdication, on 10 May 1422, in Sugang Palace. He was buried alongside Queen Wongyeong at Heolleung (헌릉), part of the Heonilleung burial ground, in present-day Seocho District, Seoul, South Korea.

Legacy

Taejong remains a controversial figure in Korean history who eliminated many of his rivals (such as Chŏng Mong-ju and Chŏng To-jŏn) and yet ruled effectively to improve the populace's lives, strengthen national defense, and lay down a solid foundation for his successor's reign.

Family

• Father: King Taejo of Joseon (조선의 태조; 11 October 1335 – 24 May 1408)
  • Grandfather: Yi Cha-chun, King Hwanjo of Joseon (조선의 환조 이자춘; 1315 – 18 April 1360)
  • Grandmother: Queen Uihye of the Yeongheung Choe clan (의혜왕후 최씨; 1304 – ?)
• Mother: Queen Sinui of the Cheongju Han clan (신의왕후 한씨; 4 September 1337 – 23 September 1391)
  • Grandfather: Han Gyeong, Internal Prince Ancheon (안천부원군 한경)
  • Grandmother: Lady Shin of the Saknyeong Shin clan, Grand Madame of Samhan State (삼한국대부인 삭녕 신씨)

Consort(s) and their respective issue

• Queen Wongyeong of the Yeoheung Min clan (원경왕후 민씨; 11 July 1365 – 10 July 1420)
  • Princess Jeongsun (정순공주; 1385 – 25 August 1460), first daughter
  • Princess Gyeongjeong (경정공주; 1387 – 6 June 1455), second daughter
  • First son
  • Second son
  • Third son
  • Princess Gyeongan (경안공주; 1393 – 22 April 1415), third daughter
  • Yi Je, Grand Prince Yangnyeong (양녕대군 이제; 1394 – 7 September 1462), first (fourth) son
  • Yi Bo, Grand Prince Hyoryeong (효령대군 이보; 11 December 1395 – 11 May 1486), second (fifth) son
  • Yi Do, Grand Prince Chungnyeong (충녕대군 이도; 10 April 1397 – 17 February 1450), third (sixth) son
  • Princess Jeongseon (정선공주; 1404 – 25 January 1424), fourth (fifth) daughter
  • Yi Jong, Grand Prince Seongnyeong (성녕대군 이종; 9 July 1405 – 4 February 1418), sixth (eleventh) son
  • Eleventh (sixteenth) son (1412–1412)
• Royal Noble Consort Myeong of the (old) Andong Kim clan (명빈 김씨; ? – 1479)
• Royal Noble Consort Ui of the Andong Kwon clan (의빈 권씨; 1384 – ?)
  • Princess Jeonghye (정혜옹주; ? – 6 October 1424), fifth (sixth) daughter
• Royal Noble Consort Hyo of the Cheongpung Kim clan (효빈 김씨; ? – 26 February 1454)
  • Yi Bi, Prince Gyeongnyeong (경녕군 이비; 13 December 1402 – 9 September 1458), fourth (ninth) son
• Royal Noble Consort Shin of the Yeongwol Shin clan (신빈 신씨; 1377 – 2 February 1435)
  • Yi In, Prince Hamnyeong (함녕군 이인; 26 December 1402 – 30 September 1467), fifth (tenth) son
  • Yi Jeong, Prince Onnyeong (온녕군 이정; 1407 – 12 May 1454), seventh (twelfth) son
  • Princess Jeongshin (정신옹주; ? – 26 September 1452), sixth (seventh) daughter
  • Princess Jeongjeong (정정옹주; 1410 – 28 February 1456), seventh (eighth) daughter
  • Princess Sukjeong (숙정옹주), eighth (ninth) daughter
  • Princess Suknyeong (숙녕옹주), tenth (twelfth) daughter
  • Princess Soshin (소신옹주; ? – 16 June 1437), eleventh (thirteenth) daughter
  • Princess Sosuk (소숙옹주; ? – 12 November 1456), thirteenth (fifteenth) daughter
  • Princess Sukgyeong (숙경옹주; 1420–1494), sixteenth (eighteenth) daughter
• Royal Noble Consort Seon of the Sunheung Ahn clan (선빈 안씨; ? – 17 June 1468)
  • Yi Ji, Prince Hyeryeong (혜령군 이지; 1407 – 25 June 1440), eighth (thirteenth) son
  • Yi Chi, Prince Iknyeong (익녕군 이치; 1422 – 10 July 1464), thirteenth (eighteenth) son
  • Princess Gyeongshin (경신옹주), twelfth (fourteenth) daughter
  • Princess Sukan (숙안옹주; ? – 12 May 1464), fourteenth (sixteenth) daughter
• Royal Noble Consort So of the Jangyeon No clan (소빈 노씨; ? – 23 October 1479)
  • Princess Sukhye (숙혜옹주; 1413 – 19 July 1464), ninth (eleventh) daughter
• Royal Noble Consort Jeong of the Go clan (정빈 고씨; ? – 13 July 1426)
  • Yi Nong, Prince Geunnyeong (근녕군 이농; 1411 – 15 November 1461), ninth (fourteenth) son
• Royal Consort Sug-ui of the Choe clan (숙의 최씨)
  • Yi Ta, Prince Huiryeong (희령군 이타; 1412 – 7 July 1465), tenth (fifteenth) son
• Royal Consort Sug-ui of the Yi clan (숙의 이씨)
  • Yi Gan, Prince Hunyeong (후령군 이간; 1419 – 6 October 1450), twelfth (seventeenth) son
• Royal Princess Sukgong of the Cheongdo Gim clan (숙공궁주 김씨)
• Royal Princess Uijeong of the Hanyang Jo clan (의정궁주 조씨; ? – 1454)
• Royal Princess Hyesun of the Goseong Yi clan (혜순궁주 이씨; ? – 5 March 1438)
• Royal Princess Shinsun of the Seongju Yi clan (신순궁주 이씨; 1390 – ?)
• Princess Deoksuk of the Yi clan (덕숙옹주 이씨)
• Princess Hyeseon of the Hong clan (혜선옹주 홍씨)
• Princess Sunhye of the Andong Jang clan (순혜옹주 장씨; ? – 26 July 1423)
• Princess Seogyeong (서경옹주)
• Concubine Gim (후궁 김씨)
  • Princess Sukgeun (숙근옹주; ? – 1 August 1450), fifteenth (seventeenth) daughter
• Lady Yi (이씨)
  • Princess Suksun (숙순옹주; 1421 – c. 1481), seventeenth (nineteenth) daughter
• Unknown
  • Fourth daughter (1400–1402)
  • Seventh son (1400–1401)
  • Eighth son (1402–1404)
  • Tenth daughter (1412–1414)

Ancestry

Ancestors of Taejong of Joseon

8. Yi Chun, King Dojo of Joseon (조선 도조 이춘) 4. Yi Cha-chun, King Hwanjo of Joseon (조선 환조 이자춘) 9. Queen Gyeongsun of the Munju Park clan (경순왕후 박씨) 2. King Taejo of Joseon (조선 태조) 10. Choe Han-gi, Internal Prince Yeongheung (영흥부원군 최한기) 5. Queen Uihye of the Yeongheung Choe clan (의혜왕후 최씨) 11. Lady Yi, Grand Madame of Joseon State (조선국대부인 이씨) 1. Taejong of Joseon 12. Han Gyu-in (한규인) 6. Han Gyeong, Internal Prince Ancheon (안천부원군 한경) 3. Queen Sinui of the Cheongju Han clan (신의왕후 한씨) 14. Shin Yun-ryeo (신윤려) 7. Lady Shin of the Saknyeong Shin clan, Grand Madame of Samhan State (삼한국대부인 삭녕 신씨)

In popular culture

• Im Hyuk-joo in the 1983 KBS1 TV series Foundation of the Kingdom.
• Lee Jung-gil in the 1983 MBC TV series The King of Chudong Palace.
• Yoo Dong-geun in the 1996–1998 KBS1 TV series Tears of the Dragon.
• Kim Yeong-cheol in the 2008 KBS TV series The Great King, Sejong and the 2016 KBS1 TV series Jang Yeong-sil.
• Baek Yoon-sik in the 2011 SBS TV series Deep Rooted Tree.
• Choi Tae-joon in the 2012–2013 SBS TV series The Great Seer.
• Park Yeong-gyu in the 2012 film I Am the King.
• Ahn Jae-mo in the 2014 KBS1 TV series Jeong Do-jeon.
• Ahn Nae-sang in the 2015 JTBC TV series More Than a Maid.
• Jang Hyuk in the 2015 film Empire of Lust and the 2019 JTBC TV series My Country: The New Age.
• Nam Da-reum and Yoo Ah-in in the 2015–2016 SBS TV series Six Flying Dragons.
• Kam Woo-sung in the 2021 SBS TV series Joseon Exorcist.
• Joo Sang-wook in the 2021–2022 KBS1 TV series The King of Tears, Lee Bang-won.

See also

• List of monarchs of Korea
• Cheonsang Yeolcha Bunyajido
• Chen Yanxiang (Chinese merchant from Java who was hosted by Taejong during his reign)