King Chang of Goryeo (6 September 1380 – 31 December 1389) was the 33rd and youngest ruler of the
Goryeo Dynasty
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 ...
of
Korea
Korea ( ko, 한국, or , ) is a peninsular region in East Asia. Since 1945, it has been divided at or near the 38th parallel, with North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) comprising its northern half and South Korea (Republic o ...
. His life and death is often compared with
Grand Prince Yeongchang
Grand Prince Yeongchang (12 April 1606 – 19 March 1614, personal name Yi Ui) was a Joseon royal prince as the only legitimate son of King Seonjo, from Queen Inmok who was born when his father was already 55 years old. Due to this, Yeonguijeong ...
.
Biography
Prince Chang was the only son of
King U
U of Goryeo (25 July 1365 – 31 December 1389) ruled Goryeo (Korea) as the 32nd king from 1374 until 1388. He was the only son of King Gongmin.
Cultural background
In the thirteenth century, Mongol forces had invaded China and established the ...
and
Royal Consort Geun of the Goseong Yi clan, daughter of Yi Rim.
King U was forced from power after
Yi Seong-gye
Taejo of Joseon (4 November 1335 – 27 June 1408), born Yi Seong-gye (), was the founder and first ruler of the Joseon dynasty of Korea. After ascending to the throne, he changed his name to Yi Dan (), and reigned from 1392 to 1398. He was ...
mutinied in 1388, and King Chang was put on the throne in his stead.
During his reign from June 1388 to November 1389, Chang experienced a great chaos of reforms. There were two factions: one wanted a conservational reform, and the other wanted a radical reform. The former was led by
Cho Min-soo, and
Yi Saek
Yi Saek (Korean language, Korean: 이색, Hanja: 李穡, 17 June 1328 – 17 June 1396), also known by his pen name Mogeun (Korean language, Korean: 목은), was a Korean people, Korean writer and poet. His family belonged to the Hansan Yi clan ...
, and the latter was led by
Yi Seong-gye
Taejo of Joseon (4 November 1335 – 27 June 1408), born Yi Seong-gye (), was the founder and first ruler of the Joseon dynasty of Korea. After ascending to the throne, he changed his name to Yi Dan (), and reigned from 1392 to 1398. He was ...
, and
Jeong Do-jeon
Jeong Dojeon (Korean: 정도전, Hanja: 鄭道傳, 1342 – October 6, 1398), also known by his pen name Sambong (Korean: 삼봉), was a prominent Korean scholar-official during the late Goryeo to the early Joseon periods. He served as the first ...
. King Chang tried to arbitrate the two fractions. However, as Yi Saek lost his political power following the impeachment of Yi Sung-yin, King Chang lost his authority, bringing Yi Seong-gye to the greatest power.
In November 1389, there was a rumor that
former King U tried to assassinate Yi Seong-gye. This provided the reason for abdication of King Chang.
King Chang was assassinated, together with his father, shortly after the ascension of
Gongyang
The ''Gongyang Zhuan'' (), also known as the ''Gongyang Commentary on the Spring and Autumn Annals'' or the ''Commentary of Gongyang'', is a commentary on the ''Spring and Autumn Annals'', and is thus one of the Chinese classics. Along with the '' ...
, whilst in exile. King Chang was 9 years of age.
Family
Parents
*Father:
King U of Goryeo (고려우)(25 July 1365 – 31 December 1389)
**Grandfather:
King Gongmin of Goryeo
Gongmin of Goryeo (23 May 1330 – 27 October 1374), also known by his Mongolian language, Mongolian name, Bayan Temür., was 31st ruler of Goryeo from 1351 to 1374. He was the second son of Chungsuk of Goryeo, King Chungsuk.
Biography
Early ...
(고려 공민왕)(23 May 1330 – 27 October 1374)
**Grandmother:
Banya
Banya may refer to:
Places
Australia
* Banya, Queensland, a locality in the Sunshine Coast Region, Queensland, Australia
Bulgaria
*Banya, Blagoevgrad Province, a thermal spa and mountain resort in southwest Bulgaria
*Banya, Burgas Prov ...
(반야)
*Mother:
Royal Consort Geun of the Goseong Yi clan (근비 이씨)
**Grandfather: Yi Rim (이림; d. 1391)
**Grandmother: Lady Hong of Byeonhan State (변한국부인 홍씨)
In popular culture
* Portrayed by Kim A-reum in the 1983
KBS1
The Korean Broadcasting System (KBS) () is the national broadcaster of South Korea. Founded in February 1927, it is one of the leading South Korean television and radio broadcasters.
KBS operates seven radio networks, ten television channels, a ...
TV series ''
Foundation of the Kingdom
''Foundation of the Kingdom'' () is a 1983 South Korean historical television series. It aired on KBS1 from January 2, 1983 to December 18, 1983. The series revolves around the fall of Goryeo and the foundation of Joseon.
Cast Kingdom of Goryeo ...
''.
* Portrayed by Jeon Hyeon in the 1983
MBC TV series ''
The King of Chudong Palace
''The King of Chudong Palace'' () is a 1983 South Korean historical television series, the first installment of the drama series ''500 Years of Joseon Dynasty'' by director Lee Byung-hoon and writer Shin Bong-seung. It aired on MBC from March 3 ...
''.
*Portrayed by Yun Dong-won in the 1996–1998
KBS TV series ''
Tears of the Dragon
"Tears of the Dragon" is the first single from Bruce Dickinson's second solo album, '' Balls to Picasso'', released on 28 May 1994. Allmusic called "Tears of the Dragon" a "magnificent" track, "by far the album's best song".
Track listing
CD ...
''.
* Portrayed by Kim Jun-seong in the 2014
KBS TV series ''
Jeong Do-jeon
Jeong Dojeon (Korean: 정도전, Hanja: 鄭道傳, 1342 – October 6, 1398), also known by his pen name Sambong (Korean: 삼봉), was a prominent Korean scholar-official during the late Goryeo to the early Joseon periods. He served as the first ...
''.
*Portrayed by Hwang Jae-won in the 2015–2016
SBS TV series ''
Six Flying Dragons
''Six Flying Dragons'' () is a South Korean television series starring Yoo Ah-in, Kim Myung-min, Shin Se-kyung, Byun Yo-han, Yoon Kyun-sang and Chun Ho-jin. It aired on SBS on Mondays and Tuesdays at 22:00 for 50 episodes beginning on Octobe ...
''.
See also
*
List of monarchs of Korea
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
...
*
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 ...
References
External links
*
{{authority control
1380 births
1389 deaths
Child rulers from Asia
Rulers deposed as children
14th-century Korean monarchs
Korean Buddhist monarchs
People from Kaesong
Rulers who died as children