Gwangjong of Goryeo
 |
| Gwangjong | |
|---|---|
| King of Goryeo | |
| Reign | 13 April 949 – 4 July 975 |
| Coronation | 13 April 949 |
| Predecessor | Jeongjong |
| Successor | Gyeongjong |
| Born | 925 Gaegyeong |
| Died | 4 July 975 Gaegyeong |
| Spouse | Queen Daemok |
| Issue | Gyeongjong, Crown Prince Hyohwa |
| House | House of Wang |
| Father | Taejo |
| Mother | Queen Shinmyeongsunseong |
| Korean name | |
| Hangul | 광종 |
|---|---|
| Hanja | |
| Revised Romanization | Gwangjong |
| McCune–Reischauer | Kwangjong |
| Birth name | |
| Hangul | 왕소 |
| Hanja | |
| Revised Romanization | Wang So |
| McCune–Reischauer | Wang So |
| Posthumous name | |
| Hangul | 홍도선열평세대성대왕 |
| Hanja | |
| Revised Romanization | Hongdoseonyeolpyeongsedaeseongdaewang |
| McCune–Reischauer | hongdosŏnyŏlp‘yŏngse taesŏng taewang |
Gwangjong (925 – 4 July 975), personal name Wang So, was the fourth king of Goryeo. He was known for squashing his political rivals and creating an atmosphere of fear within the political realm at the time.
Goryeo met the time of change by ascending of Gwangjong. At his early stage as ruler, he maintained a passive attitude to nobles. However, he became more and more drastic. Choi Seung-Ro said that his regime can be divided into three parts. First is the period of groping. Second is the period of strengthening power, and the last is the period of purge.
First Period - The Period of Groping (949–955)
At the early stage of Goryeo, it was a syndicate of powerful clans. Furthermore, many clans of them were the supporting powers of him. It was not easy to reinforce his power and he started to find the way to reinforce his power. He studied how to consolidate his power by reading zhenguanzhengyao. He get the support of the public by supporting Buddhism.
Second Period - The Period of Strengthening power (955–959)
| Monarchs of Korea |
| Goryeo |
|---|
|
The focus of his reform was strengthening the power of King. He started to drive out powerful clans from the Goryeo court. He brought Ssang Gi and naturalized people from China into his court and started aggressive reforms. He made the law of emancipating slaves (노비안검법, 奴婢按檢法) in 958, and the national civil service examination in 958. The national civil service examination helped the Goryeo court furnish new faces and expel people of powerful clans.
Third Period - The Period of Purge (959–975)
Powerful clans were unhappy because of his aggressive attitude and reforms. They perceived that they would be purged by him intuitively. Finally, some of them had the intention to revolt. However, they were killed by him before the revolt. Typical examples of the executed were Prince Heunghwa and Prince Gyeongchunwon.
Death
He got a serious disease in July, 975 and died just after few days.
Family
- Father: King Taejo (태조)
- Mother: Queen Sinmyeongsunseong (신명순성왕후)
- Consorts:
- Queen Daemok (대목왕후), half-sister of Gwangjong
- Lady Gyeonghwagung (경화궁부인), niece of Gwangjong, daughter of King Hyejong (혜종)
- Children:
- King Gyeongjong (경종), 1st Son of Queen Daemok
- Crown Prince Hyohwa (효화태자), 2nd Son of Queen Daemok
- Lady Chenchujeon (천추전부인), 1st daughter of Queen Daemok
- Lady Bohwagung (보화궁부인), 2nd daughter of Queen Daemok
- Queen Mundeok (문덕왕후), 3rd daughter of Queen Daemok
See also
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