Joseon Dynasty
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| Joseon Dynasty | |
|---|---|
| Korean alphabet : | 조선 왕조 |
| Hanja : | 朝鮮 王朝 |
| Revised Romanization : | Joseon Wangjo |
| McCune-Reischauer : | Choson Wangjo |
The Joseon dynasty ( Korean 조선 왕조 , also known as the Yi dynasty , after the earlier McCune-Reischauer transliteration as the Chosŏn dynasty or Ri dynasty ) was a ruling dynasty that lasted from 1392 with the beginning of Joseon until the end of the Empire of Korea in 1910 Korea ruled for more than 500 years. Joseon and the Joseon dynasty emerged from the upheaval in the state organization and rule of Goryeo , which was shaped by the structure and development of a premodern society.
Rise to the ruling family
After the death of King Gongmin Wang of Goryeo , the military installed a shadow king in 1374. But the real power lay with the generals. Commander-in-chief General Choe Yeong commissioned General Yi Song-gye in 1388 to recapture the Liaodong peninsula , which fell to the Chinese Ming dynasty . He set off, but then turned back and, with the support of the Ming, turned against General Choe Yeong. He deposed the shadow king and in 1389 a member of the previous ruling house as king. However, in 1392 he forced him to abdicate, made himself king and thus founded a new dynasty.
The Joseon Dynasty ruled the Korean Peninsula for more than 500 years from 1392 to 1910. King Taejo, as Yi was posthumously known, was followed by 26 other rulers until the last ruler of the Joseon Dynasty was forced to abdicate after the annexation of Korea by Japan .
List of rulers of the Joseon Dynasty
| # | Ruler's name | kor. | Birth Name | kor. | Lifetime | Reign | comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
Taejo | 태조 | Yi Seong-gye | 이 성계 | 1335-1408 |
1392-1398 |
Founder of the Joseon Dynasty, abdicated in 1398 |
2 |
Jeongjong | 정종 | Yi Bang-gwa | 이방 과 | 1357-1419 |
1398-1400 |
second son of King Taejo, abdicated in 1400 under pressure from his brother, who succeeded him on the throne |
3 |
Taejong | 태종 | Yi Bang-won | 이방원 | 1367-1422 |
1400-1418 |
fifth son of King Taejo and brother of King Jeongjong, abdicated in 1418 |
4th |
Sejong | 세종 | Yi Do | 이도 | 1397-1450 |
1418-1450 |
Sejong the Great, son of King Taejong and his wife Wongyeong, inventor of the Korean alphabet |
5 |
Munjong | 문종 | Yi Hyang | 이향 | 1414-1452 |
1450-1452 |
first son of King Sejong and his wife Soheon |
6th |
Danjong | 단종 | Yi Hongwi | 이홍 위 | 1441-1457 |
1452-1455 |
Son of King Munjong, gave power to his uncle in 1455, formally remained king, but without any power |
7th |
Sejo | 세조 | Yi Yu | 이유 | 1417-1468 |
1455-1468 |
second son of King Sejong and his wife Soheon, brother of King Munjong and uncle of King Danjong |
8th |
Yejong | 예종 | Yi Hwang | 이황 | 1450-1469 |
1468-1469 |
Son of King Sejo |
9 |
Seongjong | 성종 | Yi Hyeol | 이혈 | 1457-1494 |
1469-1494 |
Nephew of King Yejong, son of the brother Deokjong, who was posthumously made king by Yejongs |
10 |
Yeonsangun | 연산군 | Yi Yung | 이융 | 1476-1506 |
1494-1506 |
eldest son of King Seongjong and his wife Yun, deposed in 1506 and demoted to prince |
11 |
Jungjong | 중종 | Yi Yeok | 이역 | 1488-1544 |
1506-1544 |
Son of King Seongjong and his third wife Jeonghyeon, half-brother of King Yeonsangun |
12 |
Injong | 인종 | Yi Ho | 이호 | 1515-1545 |
1544-1545 |
Son of King Jungjong and his first wife Gangyeong, died without a child |
13 |
Myeongjong | 명종 | Yi Hwan | 이환 | 1534-1567 |
1545-1567 |
Son of King Jungjong and his second wife Jangyeong, half-brother of King Injong |
14th |
Seonjo | 선조 | Yi Yeon | 이연 | 1552-1608 |
1567-1608 |
Grandson of King Jungjong and his third wife Queen Munjeong , nephew of Kings Injong and Myeongjong |
15th |
Gwanghaegun | 광해군 | Yi Hon | 이혼 | 1575-1641 |
1608-1623 |
Son of King Seonjo and his third wife Gongbin, deposed in 1623 and demoted to prince |
16 |
Injo | 인조 | Yi Jong | 이종 | 1595-1649 |
1623-1649 |
Nephew of King Gwanghaegun, son of the half-brother Wonjong, who was posthumously appointed king by Gwanghaeguns |
17th |
Hyojong | 효종 | Yi Ho | 이호 | 1619-1659 |
1649-1659 |
Son of king Injo |
18th |
Hyeonjong | 현종 | Yi Yeon | 이연 | 1641-1674 |
1659-1674 |
Son of King Hyojong |
19th |
Sukjong | 숙종 | Yi Sun | 이순 | 1661-1720 |
1674-1720 |
Son of King Hyeonjong |
20th |
Gyeongjong | 경종 | Yi Yun | 이윤 | 1688-1724 |
1720-1724 |
Son of King Sukjong and his concubine Huibin, died without a child |
21st |
Yeongjo | 영조 | Yi Geum | 이금 | 1694-1776 |
1724-1776 |
Son of King Sukjong and his third wife Inwong, half-brother of King Gyeongjong |
22nd |
Jeongjo | 정조 | Yi San | 이산 | 1752-1800 |
1776-1800 |
Grandson of King Yeongjo and son of Prince Sado , who was posthumously appointed King Jangjo and whom Yeongjo had killed. |
23 |
Sunjo | 순조 | Yi Hong | 이홍 | 1790-1834 |
1800-1834 |
Son of King Jeongjo |
24 |
Heonjong | 헌종 | Yi Hwan | 이환 | 1827-1849 |
1834-1849 |
The grandson of King Sunjo and son of Prince Munjo, who was posthumously appointed King Ikjong, died without a child |
25th |
Cheoljong | 철종 | Yi Byeon | 이변 | 1831-1863 |
1849-1864 |
Great-great-grandson of King Yeongjo and great-grandson of Prince Sado, died without offspring |
| 26th | Gojong | 고종 | Yi Myeong-bok | 이명복 | 1852-1919 | 1864-1897 |
Son of Heungseon Daewongun , a descendant of King Injo |
| Gwangmu | 광무 | 1897-1907 |
Gojong proclaimed the Korean Empire in 1897 and made himself emperor under the name Gwangmu | ||||
27 |
Sunjong | 순종 | Yi Cheok | 이척 | 1874-1926 |
1907-1910 |
fourth son of King Gojong / Emperor Gwangmu, second and last emperor of the Korean Empire |
Source: Han Young Woo , 2010
See also
literature
- Marion Eggert, Jörg Plassen: Small history of Korea . Verlag CHBeck, Munich 2005, ISBN 3-406-52841-4 .
- 류재택 (Ed.): 한국 위 역사 . 국제 교육 진흥원 , 2007, ISBN 89-8472-715-6 (Korean).
- 신형식 : Korean history . Ed .: Accociation for Overseas Korean Education Development . Seoul 2009, ISBN 978-89-962593-0-5 (Korean-German).
- Han Young Woo : Joseon Era . In: A Review of Korean History . Volume 2 . Kyongsaewon Publishing Company , Pajubookcity, Gyeonggi-do 2010, ISBN 978-89-8341-092-4 (English).
