WANG GEON
(877– 943)
( 66 years)
TAEJO
1ST MONARCH OF GORYEO
(Reign: 918-943)
( 25 years)
ORIGINS OF TAEJO’S NAME
Taejo was the founder of the Goryeo Dynasty which ruled Korea from the tenth to the fourteenth century (918 - 1392).
It was this kingdom which later gave its name to modern ‘Korea’.
As the first king of a new dynasty, historians gave him the name ‘King Taejo of Goryeo’.
The name, ‘Taejo’, comprises two Chinese characters, ‘Tae’, which means ‘very big or great’, and ‘Jo’, which means ‘grandfather’. ‘Taejo’ means ‘Great Progenitor’.
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WANG GEON
BACKGROUND
(MERCHANT CLAN)
TRADE WITH CHINA
During his lifetime, King Taejo was also known as Wang Geon.
Wang Geon was born in 877 into a wealthy merchant clan based in Songak (now known as Kaesong), and which controlled trade on the Yeseong River.
His father, Wang Yung, was the clan leader and had gained much wealth from trade with China.
His ancestors were known to have lived within ancient Goguryeo boundaries, thus making Taejo a Goguryeon by descent.
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THE THREE KINGDOMS
By the first century B.C., three Korean kingdoms were established.
Goguryeo rose in the north. It would eventually encompassed much of what is today North Korea, a large portion of modern South Korea, and part of the northeastern Chinese region that would become Manchuria.
Paekche was established in the south-west.
It was followed by the powerful kingdom of Silla in the southeast.
Each of these kingdoms was under strong Chinese cultural influence, including Mahayana Buddhism (North), Confucianism and the Chinese written language.
But in the 7th century, Silla, supported by the powerful Tang Dynasty of China, conquered both Koguryeo and Paekche.
Over the years, a more centralised Chinese style administrative trend was adopted that even included an examination system similar to what the Chinese were employing.
The Chinese language was used as the principal means of written communication and even Tang clothing styles were adopted. There were efforts put into creating a phonetic system for writing Korean which would lead to the evolution of the modern Han’gul.
Tribute missions were sent to Tang China.
In 918, General Wang Geon declared himself king and took up arms against the Silla Dynasty. By the tenth century, Silla had lost control of the peninsula to Goryeo.
Wang Geon renamed the kingdom 'Goryeo'. Goryeo is a short form of Goguryeo.
The following year he moved the capital back to his hometown, Songak (Kaesong).
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THE LATER THREE KINGDOMS PERIOD
Map of Korea during the Later Three Kingdoms period (892-936),
which immediately preceded the Goryeo period
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THE KHITANS
During the 10th century, the Khitans tried to establish relations with Goryeo at least on two occasions.
In 942, the Khitan ruler, Taizu, sent an embassy with a gift of 50 camels to Goryeo, but Taejo refused them, banishing the envoys and starving the camels to death.
Goryeo had maintained relations with most of the 'Five Dynasties’ and southern kingdoms in China.
By 962, formal relations were established with the Song dynasty. Relations with Song were close, with many embassies being exchanged between Goryeo and Song, but relations would be interrupted by the rise of the Liao and Jin dynasties.
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HOW DID TAEJO CONSOLIDATE
HIS POWER?
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EMPEROR TAEJO
FAMILY
Father: Wang Yung
Mother: Lady Han
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TAEJO
Jong Min-ki
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NO
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NAME OF EMPRESS / CONSORT & OFFSPRINGS
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CLAN
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1
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EMPRESS SINHYE
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Yoo
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2
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EMPRESS JANGHWA
HYEJONG OF GORYEO / EMPEROR HYEJONG
(WANG MU)
Wang Mu played by Kim San Ho
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Oh
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3
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EMPRESS SINMYEONGSUNSEONG
Empress Dowager Yoo played by Park Ji-young
JEONGJONG I OF GORYEO / EMPEROR JEONGJONG
(WANG YO)
Wang Yo played by Hong Jong-hyun
GWANGJONG OF GORYEO / EMPEROR GWANGJONG
(WANG SO)
Wang So played by Lee Joon Gi
King Munwon
Lord Jeungtong
Princess Nangrang
Princess Heungbang
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Yoo
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4
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EMPRESS SINJEONG DAEJONG
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Hwangbo
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5
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EMPRESS DEAMOK
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6
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EMPRESS SINSEONG
Anjong (Wang Uk / Wang Wook?)
Prince Imperial Hyoui
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Kim
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7
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EMPRESS JEONGDEOK
Prince Wangwui
Prince In-ae
Crown Prince Wonjang
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Yoo
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8
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EMPRESS MUNHYE
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-
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9
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EMPRESS SEONEUI
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-
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10
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Queen Hyunmok
Prince Sumyeong
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Pyung
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11
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Royal Consort Jeongmok
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Wang
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12
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Queen Dowager Sunan
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-
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13
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Royal Consort Dongyang
Prince Hyomok
Prince Hyoeun
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Yoo
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14
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Royal Consort Sukmok
Prince Wonnyeong
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-
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15
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Consort Cheonanbu
Prince Hyoseong
Prince Hyoji
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Lim
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16
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Consort Heungbok
Princess Ilhu
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Hong
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17
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Consort Daeryang
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Lee
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18
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Consort Daemyeongju
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Wang
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19
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Consort Geangju
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Wang
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20
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Consort Sogwangju
Prince Gwangju
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Wang
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21
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Consort Dongsan
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Pak
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22
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Consort Yehwa
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Wang
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23
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Consort Daeseo
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Kim
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24
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Consort Soseo
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Kim
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25
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Consort Seojeon
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-
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26
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Consort Sinju
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Kang
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27
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Consort Weolhwa
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-
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28
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Consort Sohwang
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-
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29
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Consort Seongmu
Prince Hyoje
Prince Hyomyeong
Prince Beopdeung
Prince Jari
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Pak
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30
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Consort Euiseongbu
Grand Prince Euiseongbu
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Hong
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31
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Consort Weolgyeong
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Pak
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32
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Consort Mongryang
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Pak
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33
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Consort Haeryang
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-
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SOURCE: NEW WORLD ENCYCLOPAEDIA
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DEATH AND LEGACY
Taejo ruled Goryeo until 943. He died from disease.
UNIFICATION OF THE ENTIRE KOREAN PENINSULA
In 936, the entire Korean peninsula was unified and all Korean people were united for the first time in Korean history.
Korea remained united for more than 1,000 years, right up to 1948 when Korea was divided into the North and the South.
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