Park Bul-hwa or Piao Buhua (; ;

Mongolian Script The classical or traditional Mongolian script, also known as the , was the first writing system created specifically for the Mongolian language, and was the most widespread until the introduction of Cyrillic in 1946. It is traditionally writte ...

: ᠪᠤᠬ᠎ᠠ; ?－1364) was a Korean

eunuch A eunuch ( ) is a male who has been castrated. Throughout history, castration often served a specific social function. The earliest records for intentional castration to produce eunuchs are from the Sumerian city of Lagash in the 2nd millennium ...

serving

Empress Gi Empress Gi or Empress Ki (Hangul: 기황후, Hanja: 奇皇后; 1315–1370(?)), also known as Empress Qi () or Öljei Khutuk (Mongolian language, Mongolian: Өлзийхутаг; ), was one of the Khatun, primary empresses of Toghon Temür (Empero ...

of the

Yuan dynasty The Yuan dynasty (), officially the Great Yuan (; xng, , , literally "Great Yuan State"), was a Mongol-led imperial dynasty of China and a successor state to the Mongol Empire after its division. It was established by Kublai, the fifth ...

. He was the first ethnic Korean eunuch in Chinese history. Bak assisted Empress Gi's campaign to force

Toghon Temür Toghon Temür ( mn, Тогоонтөмөр; Mongolian script: ; ; 25 May 1320 – 23 May 1370), also known by his temple name as the Emperor Huizong of Yuan () bestowed by the Northern Yuan dynasty and by his posthumous ...

(Emperor Huizong of Yuan) to pass the imperial throne to her son, Ayushiridara (Emperor Zhaozong of Northern Yuan).

Biography

Park Bul-hwa was born into the Haeju Park clan (해주 박씨, 海州朴氏) during the reigns of King Chungsuk and King Chunghye of

Goryeo Goryeo (; ) was a Korean kingdom founded in 918, during a time of national division called the Later Three Kingdoms period, that unified and ruled the Korean Peninsula until 1392. Goryeo achieved what has been called a "true national unificati ...

. During the reign of Emperor Wenzong of Yuan (1328-1332), Bak Bulhwa was sent to the court of the

to become a junior eunuch at the age of seven. In 1333, one of Bul-hwa's close friend, Lady Ki of the Haengju Ki clan, was among the concubines sent to Yuan by the Goryeo kings, who had to provide a certain number of beautiful teenage girls to serve as concubines of the Yuan emperors once every three years. She eventually became the favored concubine of the prince

, and was admitted to his mansion. When Lady Ki became empress consort, Bulhwa was transferred to Xingsheng Palace to take care of her son Biligtü Khan. Taking advantage of the fact that he and Empress Ki were close friends, Bulhwa went through various posts and eventually ascended to ''Tongzhi Shumi-yuanshi'' (同知樞密院事) with the authority to lead the Yuan army, and after that, ''Ronglu-dafu Zhizheng-yuanshi'' (荣禄大夫資正院使). He was given the Mongolian name Buka ( Mongolian: ᠪᠤᠬ᠎ᠠ). Later, he was appointed as the envoy of the imperial court. Bulhwa also assumed an important post in charge of finances. He used his power to interfere with the appointment and removal of officials. With the support of Empress Ki, Bak Bulhwa conspired to abdicate Ayurshiridara, the son and crown prince of Empress Ki, but failed. In 1351,

King Gongmin Gongmin of Goryeo (23 May 1330 – 27 October 1374), also known by his Mongolian name, Bayan Temür., was 31st ruler of Goryeo from 1351 to 1374. He was the second son of King Chungsuk. Biography Early life Goryeo had been a semi-autonomou ...

, who ascended the throne of Goryeo and implemented the anti-circle policy, eliminating supporters of the Yuan dynasty such as Ki Cheol, who tyrannized the palace with Empress Ki's authority. In response, Bulhwa conspired with Empress Ki and Choi Yu to dethrone King Gongmin, and attempted to appoint

Prince Deokheung Prince Deokheung (Hangul: 덕흥군, Hanja: 德興君), personal name Wang Hye () was the third son of Chungseon of Goryeo who became a Mongolian-backed pretender to the throne of Goryeo. After the ascension of King Gongmin, his half-nephew, to t ...

, the illegitimate son of King Chungseon, instead. In 1364, Choi Yu-ga and Prince Deokheung led an invasion in Goryeo with 10,000 Yuan soldiers, but the Goryeo army defeated this army and the attempt to depose was thwarted. After this plan was thwarted, Bulhwa became involved in a fight between the Crown Prince Ayurshiridara faction and the anti-crowned faction, and along with Saksagam faction. Bulhwa was then killed by the chieftain Bolud Temur (孛羅帖木兒), the father of Empress Bayan Khutugh, in 1364. Four years later in 1368, the Yuan dynasty was overthrown by the

Ming dynasty The Ming dynasty (), officially the Great Ming, was an Dynasties in Chinese history, imperial dynasty of China, ruling from 1368 to 1644 following the collapse of the Mongol Empire, Mongol-led Yuan dynasty. The Ming dynasty was the last ort ...

In Popular culture

* Portrayed by Nam Young-jin in the 2005 - 2006 MBC TV series ''

Shin Don Sin Don (신돈, 辛旽; 21 January 1322 – 21 August 1371) was a Korean Buddhist monk and scholar during the Goryeo Dynasty; His Dharma name was Pyeonjo and became a teacher and advisor of Gongmin of Goryeo. Summary He was a Buddhist monk. H ...

''. * Portrayed by

Choi Moo-sung Choi Myung-soo (born January 12, 1968), better known by his stage name Choi Moo-sung, is a South Korean actor. Filmography Film Television series Awards and nominations References External links * {{DEFAULTSORT:Choi, Moo-su ...

in the 2013 - 2014 MBC TV series '' Empress Ki''.

References

{{reflist Chinese eunuchs 1328 births 1364 deaths Yuan dynasty politicians Korean emigrants to China