Anjang of Goguryeo (died 531, r. 519–531)
was the 22nd ruler of
Goguryeo
Goguryeo (37 BC–668 AD) ( ) also called Goryeo (), was a Korean kingdom located in the northern and central parts of the Korean Peninsula and the southern and central parts of Northeast China. At its peak of power, Goguryeo controlled most ...
, the northernmost of the
Three Kingdoms of Korea
Samhan or the Three Kingdoms of Korea () refers to the three kingdoms of Goguryeo (고구려, 高句麗), Baekje (백제, 百濟), and Silla (신라, 新羅). Goguryeo was later known as Goryeo (고려, 高麗), from which the modern name ''Kor ...
. With his original name of Heung-an, he was the eldest son of
Munjamyeong. He was named Crown Prince in the seventh year of Munjamyeong's reign (498),
and assumed the throne when his father died in 519. He was supposedly assassinated in 531 without heir, When Anjang died without heir, and was succeeded by his younger brother,
Anwon.
Under Anjang, Goguryeo continued to maintain close relations with the Chinese dynasties, notably
Wei and
Liang with constant 'tribute missions',
to counterbalance the volatile relationship with the southerly Korean kingdoms of
Baekje
Baekje or Paekche (, ) was a Korean kingdom located in southwestern Korea from 18 BC to 660 AD. It was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, together with Goguryeo and Silla.
Baekje was founded by Onjo, the third son of Goguryeo's founder Jum ...
and
Silla
Silla or Shilla (57 BCE – 935 CE) ( , Old Korean: Syera, Old Japanese: Siraki2) was a Korean kingdom located on the southern and central parts of the Korean Peninsula. Silla, along with Baekje and Goguryeo, formed the Three Kingdoms of K ...
. He attacked Baekje in 523 and 529, slaying more than 2,000 Baekje soldiers.
Historical records during the reign of Anjang are rarely found throughout East Asia with some erroneous marks on his death: the
Book of Liang
The ''Book of Liang'' (''Liáng Shū''), was compiled under Yao Silian and completed in 635. Yao heavily relied on an original manuscript by his father Yao Cha, which has not independently survived, although Yao Cha's comments are quoted in seve ...
completed in 635 says Anjang died in 526 but it was about five or six years later; The Japanese chronicle
Nihon Shoki quoting Baekje Bongi says Anjang was killed amid bloody chaos, which implies the final years of his reign were not fairly stabilized. Since series of chaos also sparked at the end of his brother, Anwon’s reign, it is speculated the succession issue had already been entrenched as extreme affair of Goguryeo court among the aristocracy.
Family
*Father:
King Munja (문자명왕, 文咨明王)
**Grandfather: Prince Joda/Juda (조다, 助多)
*Unknown wife
**Son: Lord Bokgwi (복귀군, 福貴君) – married a
Japanese
Japanese may refer to:
* Something from or related to Japan, an island country in East Asia
* Japanese language, spoken mainly in Japan
* Japanese people, the ethnic group that identifies with Japan through ancestry or culture
** Japanese diaspor ...
woman and had a son named Go Bu-ryeon (고부련, 高夫連).
The Love story of Go Heung-an and Lady Han
Among the numerous historical Korean stories, there is the Love story of a
Baekje
Baekje or Paekche (, ) was a Korean kingdom located in southwestern Korea from 18 BC to 660 AD. It was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, together with Goguryeo and Silla.
Baekje was founded by Onjo, the third son of Goguryeo's founder Jum ...
woman and the 22nd Great King of
Goguryeo
Goguryeo (37 BC–668 AD) ( ) also called Goryeo (), was a Korean kingdom located in the northern and central parts of the Korean Peninsula and the southern and central parts of Northeast China. At its peak of power, Goguryeo controlled most ...
. It shows many parallels to the Western culture's
Shakespeare
William Shakespeare ( 26 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's nation ...
's
Romeo and Juliet
''Romeo and Juliet'' is a Shakespearean tragedy, tragedy written by William Shakespeare early in his career about the romance between two Italian youths from feuding families. It was among Shakespeare's most popular plays during his lifetim ...
, and also the story of Prince Hodong and Princess Nangnang, who also had a forbidden love.
See also
*
History of Korea
The Lower Paleolithic era in the Korean Peninsula and Manchuria began roughly half a million years ago.
Christopher J. Norton, "The Current State of Korean Paleoanthropology", (2000), ''Journal of Human Evolution'', 38: 803–825.
The earlies ...
*
Three Kingdoms of Korea
Samhan or the Three Kingdoms of Korea () refers to the three kingdoms of Goguryeo (고구려, 高句麗), Baekje (백제, 百濟), and Silla (신라, 新羅). Goguryeo was later known as Goryeo (고려, 高麗), from which the modern name ''Kor ...
*
List of Korean monarchs
This is a list of monarchs of Korea, arranged by dynasty. Names are romanized according to the South Korean Revised Romanization of Korean. McCune–Reischauer romanizations may be found at the articles about the individual monarchs.
Gojoseon
G ...
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Anjang Of Goguryeo
Goguryeo rulers
531 deaths
6th-century monarchs in Asia
Year of birth unknown
6th-century Korean people