Gojong of Goryeo (3 February 1192 – 21 July 1259), sometimes spelled Ko-tjong, was the twenty-third ruler 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 ...

in present-day

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 ...

from 1213–1259. Gojong's reign was marked by prolonged conflict with the

Mongol Empire The Mongol Empire of the 13th and 14th centuries was the largest contiguous land empire in history. Originating in present-day Mongolia in East Asia, the Mongol Empire at its height stretched from the Sea of Japan to parts of Eastern Europe, ...

, which sought to conquer Goryeo, ending only to settle peace in 1259. During his reign actual power rested with the Choe family of military dictators.

Biography

Although ascending to the throne in 1213, Gojong did not wield much power until powerful advisors were killed off. In 1216, the Khitan invaded but was defeated. In August 1232, Gojong moved the capital of Goryeo from Songdo to the island of Ganghwa and started the construction of significant defenses there, in order to better defend from the Mongol threat. Gojong resisted the Mongol invasion for nearly thirty years before the kingdom was forced to make peace with the Mongols in 1259; Gojong died soon after. In 1251, the carving of the

Tripitaka Koreana The (lit. ) or ("Eighty-Thousand ''Tripiṭaka''") is a Korean collection of the (Buddhist scriptures, and the Sanskrit word for "three baskets"), carved onto 81,258 wooden printing blocks in the 13th century. It is the oldest intact vers ...

, a collection of

Buddhist Buddhism ( , ), also known as Buddha Dharma and Dharmavinaya (), is an Indian religion or philosophical tradition based on teachings attributed to the Buddha. It originated in northern India as a -movement in the 5th century BCE, and ...

scriptures Religious texts, including scripture, are texts which various religions consider to be of central importance to their religious tradition. They differ from literature by being a compilation or discussion of beliefs, mythologies, ritual pra ...

recorded on some 81,000 wooden blocks, was completed. The work was perhaps motivated by Gojong's hopes to change fortunes through the act of religious devotion; however the originals were later destroyed by the Mongols — the existing Tripitaka is a replica of Gojong's original, and was commissioned around one hundred years after the originals were lost. Gojong was married to Queen Anhye, daughter of Huijong, the twenty-first king of Goryeo. His tomb is located near the city of

Incheon Incheon (; ; or Inch'ŏn; literally "kind river"), formerly Jemulpo or Chemulp'o (제물포) until the period after 1910, officially the Incheon Metropolitan City (인천광역시, 仁川廣域市), is a city located in northwestern South Kore ...

Family

*Father: Gangjong of Goryeo (고려강종, 10 May 1152–26 August 1213) **Grandfather:

Myeongjong of Goryeo Myeongjong of Goryeo (8 November 1131 – 3 December 1202) (r. 1170–1197) was 19th monarch of the Goryeo dynasty of Korea. He was the third son of King Injong. Although it was intended that Injong's second son should succeed his father,It wa ...

(고려 명종) **Grandmother: Queen Uijeong of the Gim clan (의정왕후 김씨) *Mother:

Queen Wondeok Queen Wondeok of the Yu clan (Hangul: 원덕왕후 유씨, Hanja: 元德王后柳氏; d. 1239) was a Goryeo royal family member as the descendant of King Munjong who became a queen consort through her marriage with her fourth cousin once removed ...

of the Gaeseong Wang clan (원덕왕후 왕씨; d. 1239 **Grandfather: Wang Seong, Marquess Sinan (신안후왕성) **Grandmother: Princess Changrak (창락궁주, d.1216) *Consorts and their Respective issue(s): #

Queen Anhye Queen Anhye of the Yu clan (; d. 1232) or formally called as Grand Queen Mother Anhye () was a Goryeo princess as the first and oldest daughter of King Huijong and Queen Seongpyeong who became a queen consort through her marriage with her second ...

of the Yu clan (안혜왕후유씨, d.1233), his second cousin ##

Wonjong of Goryeo Wonjong of Goryeo (5 April 1219 – 23 July 1274) was the 24th ruler of the Goryeo dynasty of Korea from 1260 to 1274. Biography He ascended the throne with the help of Kublai Khan. During his reign, Goryeo became a vassal of the Mongol-found ...

(고려원종, 5 April 1219 – 23 July 1274), first son ##

Yeongjong of Goryeo Yeongjong of Goryeo (August 1223 – October ?) was a temporary king of the Korean Goryeo dynasty. He was the second son of King Gojong and the only full younger brother of King Wonjong. He was known before as Marquess Angyeong and Duke Angyeon ...

(고려 영종, August 1223 ), second son ##Princess Suheung (수흥궁주), first daughter ##

In popular culture

* Portrayed by Oh Hyeon-cheol in the 2003-2004 KBS TV series ''

Age of Warriors ''Age of Warriors'' () is a South Korean historical television series. It aired on KBS1 from February 8, 2003, to August 15, 2004, every Saturday and Sunday at 21:45 ( KST) for 158 episodes. The series is set during the military rule over Goryeo ...

''. * Portrayed by

Lee Seung-hyo Lee Seung Hyo (; born 5 May 1980), is a South Korean actor. He debuted as an actor in 2006. He rose to fame as Kim Alcheon in '' Queen Seon Deok''. Biography He had military service as a sniper in Joint Security Area (JSA) from December 2000 u ...

in the 2012 MBC TV series ''

God of War A war god in mythology associated with war, combat, or bloodshed. They occur commonly in both monotheistic and polytheistic religions. Unlike most gods and goddesses in polytheistic religions, monotheistic deities have traditionally been po ...

''.

References

* {{Authority control 1192 births 1259 deaths 13th-century Korean monarchs Korean Buddhist monarchs People from Kaesong

Biography

Family

In popular culture

See also

References