Hyeonjong (1 August 992 – 17 June 1031), personal name Wang Sun, was the 8th ruler of the Goryeo dynasty of Korea. He was a grandson of the dynastic founder King Taejo. He was appointed by the military leader Kang Cho, whom the previous King Mokjong had called upon to destroy a plot by Kim Ch'i-yang. During his reign, the Goryeo dynasty fought two wars against the Khitan Liao dynasty.

Hyeonjong
현종
顯宗
King of Goryeo
Reign1009–1031
Coronation1009
Yeonchong Hall, Gaeju, Goryeo
PredecessorMokjong of Goryeo
SuccessorDeokjong of Goryeo
BornWang Sun
1 August 992
Gaeseong-bu, Goryeo
Died17 June 1031 (aged 38)
Junggwang Hall, Gaegyeong, Goryeo
Burial
Seolleung (선릉; 宣陵)
Queen consort
(m. 1009; died 1018)

Queen Wonhwa
(m. 1011; died 1028)
Consort
(died 1022)
(m. 1013)
(m. 1022)
(m. 1022)
(before 1024)
Issue
Posthumous name
Great King Daehyo Deokwi Dalsa Wonmun
(대효덕위달사원문대왕, 大孝德威達思元文大王)
Temple name
Hyeonjong (현종; 顯宗)
HouseWang
DynastyGoryeo
FatherAnjong of Goryeo
MotherQueen Dowager Hyosuk
Korean name
Hangul
현종
Hanja
顯宗
Revised RomanizationHyeonjong
McCune–ReischauerHyŏnjong
Birth name
Hangul
왕순
Hanja
王詢
Revised RomanizationWang Sun
McCune–ReischauerWang Sun
Courtesy name
Hangul
안세
Hanja
安世
Revised RomanizationAnse
McCune–ReischauerAnse
Dharma name
Hangul
선재
Hanja
禪齋
Revised RomanizationSeonjae
McCune–ReischauerSŏnjae
Posthumous name
Hangul
원문대왕
Hanja
Revised RomanizationWonmun Daewang
McCune–ReischauerWŏnmun Taewang

Biography

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On 1 August 992, Wang Sun was born from an affair between Prince Wang Uk (later posthumously given the temple name Anjong) and his widowed niece, Queen Heonjeong. As a result of the affair, his father, Wang Uk, was exiled and his mother died in childbirth.[1]

Wang Sun was the heir to the childless King Mokjong, however the queen dowager, Queen Dowager Cheonchu, sought to have her child with her lover, Kim Ch'i-yang, as the next king. He was forced to become a monk. Queen Dowager Cheonchu would attempt to send assassins to kill Wang Sun, however, the abbot of his temple managed to foil the attempts.[1]

In 1009, the military inspector of Seobukmyeon, Kang Cho, overthrew King Mokjong and installed Wang Sun as the next king of Goryeo. In 1010, the Khitan attacked Goryeo, using the deposition of King Mokjong as a casus belli. Hyeonjong was forced to flee the capital temporarily and with the help of General Kang Kam-ch'an directed the court to move far south to the port city of Naju.[2] Kang Cho attempted to stop the foreign invaders but was defeated in battle and captured. While escaping from the Khitan invasion, Hyeonjong met Kim Un-bu in Gongju, and married his daughter, Queen Wonseong. In the end, Goryeo repulsed the Khitan and forced them to withdraw from the Korean land.[1]

In 1019, when Goryeo continued to refuse to submit or return the northern territories, the Khitan attacked once more. Goryeo generals, including Kang Kam-ch'an, were able to inflict heavy losses on the Khitan army in the Battle of Kwiju.[3] The Khitan withdrew without achieving their demands and never again invaded Goryeo. Both the Liao Dynasty and Goryeo enjoyed a time of peace, and their cultures were at their height.

Meantime, Hyeonjong ordered the compilation of the Tripitaka Koreana, which was 6,000 volumes. It is the act of carving the woodblocks that was considered to be a way of bringing about a change in fortune by invoking the Buddha's help.

Family

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  1. Queen Wonjeong of the Seonsan Kim clan (994–1018); half first cousin once removed – No issue.
  2. Queen Wonhwa of the Gyeongju Choi clan (996–?); half first cousin once removed.
    1. Princess Hyojeong (1011–1030)
    2. Princess Cheonsu (천수전주; 1016–?)[4]
    3. Wang Su (왕수)[5]
  3. Queen Wonseong of the Ansan Kim clan (995–1028)
    1. Crown Prince Wang Heum (1016–1034)
    2. Wang Hyeong, Prince Pyeongnyang (1018–1046)
    3. Queen Inpyeong (1023–?)
    4. Princess Gyeongsuk (1025–?)[6]
  4. Queen Wonhye of the Ansan Kim clan (1000–1022)
    1. Wang Hwi, Prince Nakrang (1019–1083)
    2. Wang Gi, Duke Pyeongnyang (1021–1069)
    3. Queen Hyosa (1022–?)
  5. Queen Wonyong of the Chŏngju Yu clan (998–?); half first cousin once removed – No issue.
  6. Queen Wonmok of the Icheon Seo clan (998–1057) – No issue.
  7. Queen Wonpyeong of the Ansan Kim clan ( d. 1028)
    1. Princess Hyogyeong (1026–?) [7]
  8. Pure Consort Wonsun of the Gyeongju Kim clan (995–?)
    1. Queen Gyeongseong (1015–1086)
  9. Noble Consort Wonjil of the Kaeseong Wang clan (1011–?) – No issue.
  10. Noble Consort, of the Yu clan (귀비 유씨; 1000–?) – No issue.
  11. Palace Lady Hwon-yeong of the Yangju Han clan (궁인 한훤영; 1000–?)
    1. Wang Chung (왕충; 1025–?)[8]
  12. Palace Lady Yi (궁인 이씨; 1005–?)
  13. Palace Lady Bak (궁인 박씨; 1005–?)
    1. Lady Aji (아지; 1025–?)
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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c Vermeersch, Sem (2013). "Royal Ancestor Worship and Buddhist Politics: The Hyŏnhwa-sa Stele and the Origins of the First Koryŏ Tripitaka". The Journal of Korean Studies. 18 (1): 115–146. doi:10.1353/jks.2013.0008. ISSN 2158-1665. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  2. ^ "Gang Gam-chan, the Great Goryeo General". KBS World. December 6, 2012. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
  3. ^ "Goryeo-Khitan War and Qing invasion of Joseon". Dong A Ilbo. November 21, 2023. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
  4. ^ 천수전주 (in Korean).
  5. ^ 《고려사》 권4, 세가4 현종1, 현종 7년(1016년) 6월 8일 (경진) – 왕자가 항춘전(恒春殿)에서 태어나자, 왕수(王秀)라는 이름을 하사하였다.
  6. ^ 경숙공주 (in Korean).
  7. ^ 효경공주 (in Korean).
  8. ^ Married his half niece, Lady Yu (부인 유씨; 婦人 劉氏) who was Deokjong's daughter. In Goryeosa, Wang Chung appeared with the title of "Geomgyotaesa" (검교태사, 檢校太師; "Taesa" is a type of post that given to a servant, public servant, and high-ranking official during the Goryeo dynasty period while "Geomgyo" is like a kind of honorary position) and a believer of Buddhism.[1][2]
Hyeonjong of Goryeo
Born: 1 August 992 Died: 17 June 1031
Regnal titles
Preceded by King of Goryeo
1009–1031
Succeeded by
  NODES
Note 1