Taejo of Goryeo (31 January 877 – 4 July 943), also known as Taejo Wang Geon (; ), was the founder of the

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 ...

dynasty, which ruled

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 the 10th to the 14th century. Taejo ruled from 918 to 943, achieving unification of the

Later Three Kingdoms The Later Three Kingdoms period (889-935 AD) of ancient Korea saw a partial revival of the old three kingdoms which had dominated the peninsula from the 1st century BC to the 7th century AD. After the Unified Silla kingdom had ruled Korea alone ...

in 936.

Background

Wang Geon was born in 877 to a powerful maritime merchant family based in Songak (modern

Kaesong Kaesong (, ) is a special city in the southern part of North Korea (formerly in North Hwanghae Province), and the capital of Korea during the Taebong kingdom and subsequent Goryeo dynasty. The city is near the Kaesong Industrial Region close t ...

) as the eldest son of

Wang Ryung Wang Ryung (died May 897), more commonly known by his Temple name of Sejo or Posthumous name of King Wimu the Great. He was a general and politician during the Later Goguryeo periods who would become the father of Wang Geon, founder of the Goryeo ...

(). According to the ''Pyeonnyeon tongnok'' (편년통록; 編年通錄), quoted in the ''Goryeosa'', Wang Geon's grandfather Jakjegeon was the son of

Emperor Suzong of Tang Emperor Suzong of Tang (''yihai'' day, 711 – 16 May 762; r. 756 – 762), personal name Li Heng, né Li Sisheng (), known as Li Jun () from 725 to 736, known as Li Yu () from 736 to 738, known briefly as Li Shao () in 738, was an emperor of t ...

. According to the ''

Encyclopedia of Korean Culture The ''Encyclopedia of Korean Culture'' is a Korean language encyclopedia published by the Academy of Korean Studies and DongBang Media Co. The articles in the encyclopedia are aimed at readers who want to learn about Korean culture and histor ...

'' and the ''

Doosan Encyclopedia ''Doosan Encyclopedia'' is a Korean language encyclopedia published by Doosan Donga (두산동아). The encyclopedia is based on the ''Dong-A Color Encyclopedia'' (동아원색세계대백과사전), which comprises 30 volumes and began to be p ...

'', this is hagiographical. The ''Pyeonnyeon tongnok'' (c. late 12th century) said: While on a sea voyage to meet his father, Emperor Suzong of the Tang dynasty, 16-year-old Jakjegeon encountered a dragon king, slayed a shape-shifting fox, and married a dragon woman; the dragon woman later transformed into a dragon and went away. According to the ''Seongwollok'' (성원록; 聖源錄), quoted in the ''Goryeosa'', the "dragon woman" was a daughter of Dueunjeomgakgan from Pyeongju (

Pyongsan County P‘yŏngsan County is a county in North Hwanghae Province, North Korea. Administrative divisions P'yŏngsan county is divided into 1 '' ŭp'' (town), 2 '' rodongjagu'' (workers' districts) and 20 '' ri'' (villages): History Pyongsan County wa ...

). Modern historians believe that Wang Geon's ancestors were a powerful clan that conducted maritime trade with China for generations. According to the ''Gaoli tujing'' (c. early 12th century) by the

Song dynasty The Song dynasty (; ; 960–1279) was an imperial dynasty of China that began in 960 and lasted until 1279. The dynasty was founded by Emperor Taizu of Song following his usurpation of the throne of the Later Zhou. The Song conquered the rest ...

envoy Xu Jing, Wang Geon's ancestors were Goguryeo nobility. According to Jang Deokho: His ancestors were Goguryeo refugees who settled around Songak, accumulating great wealth through maritime trade and gaining control of the region, including the

Ryesong River The Ryesŏng River is a river of North Korea. It flows from north to south, emptying into the Yellow Sea by Ganghwa Island, just west of the mouth of the River Imjin. See also *Rivers of Korea *Yellow Sea The Yellow Sea is a marginal sea ...

. During the

Later Silla Unified Silla, or Late Silla (, ), is the name often applied to the Korean kingdom of Silla, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, after 668 CE. In the 7th century, a Silla–Tang alliance conquered Baekje and the southern part of Goguryeo in the ...

period, the northern regions, including Songak, were the strongholds of Goguryeo refugees, and Wang Geon's hometown of Songak would become the original capital of

Later Goguryeo Taebong (; ) was a state established by Gung Ye () on the Korean Peninsula in 901 during the Later Three Kingdoms. Name The state's initial name was Goryeo, after the official name of Goguryeo, a previous state in Manchuria and the northern K ...

in 901.

Rise to power

Taejo began his career in the turbulent

(). In the later years of

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 ...

, many local leaders and bandits rebelled against the rule of Queen Jinseong, who did not have strong enough leadership or policies to improve the condition of the people. Among those rebels,

Gung Ye Gung Ye ( – 24 July 918, r. July 901 – 24 July 918) was the king of the short-lived state of Taebong (901–918), one of the Later Three Kingdoms of Korea. Although he was a member of the Silla royal family, he became a victim of the power st ...

(궁예; 弓裔) of the northwestern region and

Gyeon Hwon Gyeon Hwon (; 867 – 27 September 936, r. 892 – March 934) was the king and founder of Later Baekje, one of the Later Three Kingdoms of Korea, and reigned from 892 to 935. Some records render his name as "Jin Hwon" (진훤). He was also the prog ...

(견훤; 甄萱) of the southwest gained more power. They defeated and absorbed many of the other rebel groups as their troops marched against local Silla officials and bandits. In 895, Gung Ye led his forces into the far northwestern part of Silla, where Songdo was located. Taejo's father, Wang Yung (later

Sejo of Goryeo Wang Ryung (died May 897), more commonly known by his Temple name of Sejo or Posthumous name of King Wimu the Great. He was a general and politician during the Later Goguryeo periods who would become the father of Wang Geon, founder of the Goryeo ...

), along with many local clans, quickly surrendered to Gung Ye. Wang Geon followed his father into service under

, the future leader of

Taebong Taebong (; ) was a state established by Gung Ye () on the Korean Peninsula in 901 during the Later Three Kingdoms. Name The state's initial name was Goryeo, after the official name of Goguryeo, a previous state in Manchuria and the northern K ...

, and he began his service under Gungye's command. Wang Geon's ability as a military commander was soon recognized by Gung Ye, who promoted him to general and even regarded him as his brother. In 900, he led a successful campaign against local clans and the army of

Later Baekje Hubaekje or Later Baekje (, ) was one of the Later Three Kingdoms of Korea, along with Taebong and Silla. Later Baekje was a Korean dynastic kingdom founded by the disaffected Silla general Gyeon Hwon in 900, whom led the local gentry and popul ...

in the

Chungju Chungju (충주시) is a city in North Chungcheong province, South Korea. Uamsan is a mountain located within the outskirts of the city. The city is famous for the annual martial arts festival held in October. Also of note, former UN Secretary-G ...

area, gaining more fame and recognition from the king. In 903, he led a famous naval campaign against the southwestern coastline of Hubaekje (Keumsung, later Naju), while Gyeon Hwon was at war against Silla. He led several more military campaigns, and also helped conquered people who lived in poverty under Silla rule. The public favored him due to his leadership and generosity. In 913, he was appointed as prime minister of the newly renamed Taebong. Its king, Gung Ye, whose leadership helped found the kingdom but who began to refer to himself as the Buddha, began to persecute people who expressed their opposition against his religious arguments. He executed many monks, then later even his own wife and two sons, and the public began to turn away from him. His costly rituals and harsh rule caused even more opposition.

Rise to the throne and founding of Goryeo

In 918, four top-ranked generals of Taebong— Hong Yu (홍유; 洪儒),

Bae Hyeongyeong BAE Systems plc (BAE) is a British multinational arms, security, and aerospace company based in London, England. It is the largest defence contractor in Europe, and ranked the seventh-largest in the world based on applicable 2021 revenues. ...

(배현경; 裵玄慶), Shin Sung-gyeom (신숭겸; 申崇謙) and Bok Jigyeom (복지겸; 卜智謙)—met secretly and agreed to overthrow Gung Ye's rule and crown Wang Geon as their new king. Wang Geon first opposed the idea but later agreed to their plan. The same year Gung Ye was overthrown and killed near the capital,

Cheorwon Cheorwon County (''Cheorwon-gun'' ), also spelled Chorwon, is a county in Gangwon Province, South Korea. It is located right next to the border with North Korea. History *Goguryeo - First named ''Moeuldongbi''. *Silla Dynasty - name changed to ...

. The generals installed Wang Geon as the new king of this short-lived state. He renamed the kingdom

, thus beginning the Goryeo Dynasty. The next year he moved the capital back to his hometown, Gaegyeong. He promoted Buddhism as Goryeo's national religion, and laid claim to the northern parts of the Korean Peninsula and Manchuria, which he considered his rightful legacy as the successor of Goguryeo. According to the

Goryeosa The ''Goryeosa'' (), or ''History of Goryeo'', is the main surviving historical record of Korea's Goryeo dynasty. It was composed nearly a century after the fall of Goryeo, during the reign of King Sejong, undergoing repeated revisions between ...

, in 918, the ancient capital of

Pyongyang Pyongyang (, , ) is the capital and largest city of North Korea, where it is known as the "Capital of the Revolution". Pyongyang is located on the Taedong River about upstream from its mouth on the Yellow Sea. According to the 2008 populatio ...

had been in ruins for a long time and foreign barbarians were using the surrounding lands as hunting grounds and occasionally raiding the borders of Goryeo; therefore, in his first year as king, Wang Geon ordered his subjects to repopulate the ancient capital, and soon sent his cousin Wang Sik-ryeom to defend it. Afterward, he decreed Pyongyang as the Western Capital. He also sought alliances and cooperation with local clans rather than trying to conquer and bring them under his direct control.

The War of the Later Three Kingdoms

In 927, Gyeon Hwon of Hubaekje led forces into Silla's capital,

Gyeongju Gyeongju ( ko, 경주, ), historically known as ''Seorabeol'' ( ko, 서라벌, ), is a coastal city in the far southeastern corner of North Gyeongsang Province in South Korea. It is the second largest city by area in the province after Andong, ...

, capturing and executing its king,

King Gyeongae Gyeongae of Silla (died 927) (r. 924–927) was the 55th ruler of the Korean kingdom of Silla. Biography He was the son of King Sindeok by Queen Uiseong, and was the younger brother of King Gyeongmyeong, who preceded him to the throne. ...

. Then he established King Gyeongsun as his puppet monarch before he turned his army toward Goryeo. Hearing of the news, Taejo planned a strike with 5,000 cavalrymen to attack Gyeon's troops on the way back home at Gongsan near

Daegu Daegu (, , literally 'large hill', 대구광역시), formerly spelled Taegu and officially known as the Daegu Metropolitan City, is a city in South Korea. It is the third-largest urban agglomeration in South Korea after Seoul and Busan; it is ...

. He met Hubaekje forces and suffered disastrous defeat, losing most of his army including his generals

Kim Nak Kim or KIM may refer to: Names * Kim (given name) * Kim (surname) ** Kim (Korean surname) *** Kim family (disambiguation), several dynasties **** Kim family (North Korea), the rulers of North Korea since Kim Il-sung in 1948 ** Kim, Vietnamese ...

and Shin Sung-gyeom, the very same man who crowned Wang as a king. However, Goryeo quickly recovered from defeat and successfully defended Hubaekje's attack on its front. In 935, the last king of Silla, King Gyeongsun, felt there was no way to revive his kingdom and surrendered his entire land to Taejo. Taejo gladly accepted his surrender and gave him the title of prince, and accepted his daughter as one of his wives (Wang had six queens, and many more wives as he married daughters of every single local leader). It caused much disgust to Gyeon Hwon. Gyeon's father, who held his own claim to the

Sangju Sangju () is a city in North Gyeongsang Province, central South Korea. Although Sangju is rather rural, it is very old and was once a key city. Along with Gyeongju, it gives rise to half of the name of the Gyeongsang provinces. Sangju is nickna ...

region, also defected and surrendered to Goryeo and was received as the father of a king. In the same year, Gyeon Hwon's oldest son,

Gyeon Singeom Gyeon Singeom (; ? – September 936, r. 15 November 935 – 936) was the second and final king of Hubaekje, one of the Later Three Kingdoms of Korea. He came to the throne after conspiring with his two brothers, Yanggeom and Yonggeom, to overthr ...

(), led a coup with his brothers Yanggeom and Yonggeom, against their father, who favored their half-brother, Geumgang, as his successor to the throne. Gyeon Hwon was sent into exile and imprisoned in

Geumsansa Geumsansa (literally "Golden Mountain Temple") is a temple of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism standing on the slopes of Moaksan in Gimje City, Jeollabuk-do, South Korea. History The first Geumsansa was built during the reign of King Beop of Ba ...

, but escaped to Goryeo and was treated like Taejo's father, who died just before his surrender.

Goryeo victory and unification

In 936, Wang led his final campaign against Singeom of Later Baekje. Singeom fought against Taejo, but facing much disadvantage and inner conflict, he surrendered to Taejo. Wang finally occupied Hubaekje formally, and unified the nation for the second time since

Unified Silla Unified Silla, or Late Silla (, ), is the name often applied to the Korean kingdom of Silla, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, after 668 CE. In the 7th century, a Silla–Tang alliance conquered Baekje and the southern part of Goguryeo in the ...

; he ruled until 943, and died from disease. Taejo sought to bring even his enemies into his ruling coalition. He gave titles and land to rulers and nobles from the various countries he had defeated: Later Baekje, Silla, and also

Balhae Balhae ( ko, 발해, zh, c=渤海, p=Bóhǎi, russian: Бохай, translit=Bokhay, ), also rendered as Bohai, was a multi-ethnic kingdom whose land extends to what is today Northeast China, the Korean Peninsula and the Russian Far East. It wa ...

, which disintegrated around the same time. Thus he sought to secure stability and unity for his kingdom which had been lacking in the later years of Silla. After the destruction of Balhae by the Khitans in 926, Balhae's last crown prince and much of its ruling class sought refuge in Goryeo, where they were warmly welcomed and included into the ruling family by Wang Geon, thus uniting the two successor nations 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 ...

. Taejo felt a strong familial kinship with Balhae, calling it his "Relative Country" and "Married Country", and protected Balhae refugees, many of whom were also of Goguryeo origin. This was in strong contrast to Later Silla, which had endured a hostile relationship with Balhae. Taejo displayed strong animosity toward the Khitans who had destroyed Balhae. The Liao dynasty sent 30 envoys with 50 camels as a gift in 942, but Wang Geon exiled the envoys and starved the camels under a bridge in retribution for Balhae, despite the major diplomatic repercussions. Taejo proposed to Gaozu of Later Jìn that they attack the Khitans as revenge for the destruction of Balhae, according to the

Zizhi Tongjian ''Zizhi Tongjian'' () is a pioneering reference work in Chinese historiography, published in 1084 AD during the Northern Song dynasty in the form of a chronicle recording Chinese history from 403 BC to 959 AD, covering 16 dynast ...

. Furthermore, in his Ten Mandates to his descendants, he stated that the Khitans are no different from beasts and should be guarded against.

Legacy

The unification of the Later Three Kingdoms in 936 was very important in Korean history; the unification of 668 CE by Silla was only a unification of approximately half of the peoples of the

Korean Peninsula 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 ...

and its vicinity (who at the time largely considered themselves one people divided among many states), since the northern part was ruled by Balhae, which asserted itself as a reincarnation of Goguryeo. However, Wang Geon's unification in 936 was a more complete unification (in which only a single state emerged among the people, as opposed to the 7th century, when two,

and

, emerged); the people of the

thereafter remained under a single, unified state until 1948, when Korea was divided into

north North is one of the four compass points or cardinal directions. It is the opposite of south and is perpendicular to east and west. ''North'' is a noun, adjective, or adverb indicating Direction (geometry), direction or geography. Etymology T ...

and

south South is one of the cardinal directions or Points of the compass, compass points. The direction is the opposite of north and is perpendicular to both east and west. Etymology The word ''south'' comes from Old English ''sūþ'', from earlier Pro ...

by Soviets and U.S forces. The modern name of "Korea" is derived from the name "Goryeo," which itself is derived from "Goguryeo," to whose heritage (and by extension, territory) Wang Geon and his new kingdom laid claim. As the first ruler to more fully unite the people of the Korean Peninsula under a single state, many modern-day

Koreans Koreans ( South Korean: , , North Korean: , ; see names of Korea) are an East Asian ethnic group native to the Korean Peninsula. Koreans mainly live in the two Korean nation states: North Korea and South Korea (collectively and simply refe ...

look to his example for applicability to the current state of division on the Korean Peninsula. Tomb of Wang Geon - Kaesong07

During the early Goryeo dynasty, the title of

crown prince A crown prince or hereditary prince is the heir apparent to the throne in a royal or imperial monarchy. The female form of the title is crown princess, which may refer either to an heiress apparent or, especially in earlier times, to the wif ...

() was only a peerage title for sons of the king; a separate title existed for the

heir apparent An heir apparent, often shortened to heir, is a person who is first in an order of succession and cannot be displaced from inheriting by the birth of another person; a person who is first in the order of succession but can be displaced by the b ...

().

Family

*Great-grandmother:

Queen Jeonghwa Queen Jeonghwa of the Sincheon Gang clan (, personal name Gang Jin-ui, was the second daughter of Gang Bo-yuk who would become the great-grandmother of Wang Geon, founder of the Goryeo dynasty. As a figure from the Later Silla period, she is the ...

(정화왕후) **Grandfather: Uijo of Goryeo (고려 의조) **Grandmother: Queen Wonchang (원창왕후) ***Father:

(고려 세조) ***Mother: Queen Wisuk (위숙왕후) *Consorts and their Respective Issue(s): # Queen Sinhye of the Jeongju Ryu clan (신혜왕후 류씨) – No issue. # Queen Janghwa of the Naju O clan (장화왕후 오씨) ## '' Crown Prince Wang Mu'' (912 – 23 October 945) (정윤 왕무) # Queen Sinmyeongsunseong of the Chungju Yu clan (신명순성왕후 유씨) ##

Wang Tae Wang Tae () was a Korean Royal Prince as the first and oldest son of Taejo of Goryeo and Queen Sinmyeong, also the oldest brother of Yo and So. He married his half sister (only daughter of Lady Heungbok), but they had no any issue. Since his ...

(왕태) ## '' Wang Yo'' (923 – 13 April 949) (왕요) ## '' Wang So'' (925 – 4 July 975) (왕소) ## Wang Jeong, King Munwon the Great (왕정 문원대왕) ## Jeungtongguksa (증통국사) ##

Princess Nakrang Princess Nakrang (), also known as Princess Anjeong Sukui () or Lady Sinran (신란궁부인, 神鸞宮夫人; ) was a Goryeo princess as the first daughter of King Taejo and Queen Sinmyeong who became the wife of King Gyeongsun of Silla. As th ...

(낙랑공주) ##

Princess Heungbang Princess Heungbang was a 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 ...

(흥방궁주) # Queen Sinjeong of the Hwangju Hwangbo clan (900 – 19 August 983) (신정왕후 황보씨) ## Wang Uk (왕욱; d. 969) ##

Queen Daemok Queen Daemok of the Hwangju Hwangbo clan () or known as Queen Taemok () was a Goryeo princess as the only daughter of Taejo of Goryeo, King Taejo and Queen Sinjeong (Goryeo), Queen Sinjeong, also the full younger sister of Daejong of Goryeo, King ...

(대목왕후) # Queen Sinseong of the Gyeongju Gim clan (신성왕후 김씨) ## Wang Uk (왕욱; d. 996) # Queen Jeongdeok of the Jeongju Ryu clan (정덕왕후 류씨) ##

Prince Wangwi Prince Wangwi () was a Korean Royal Prince as the first and oldest son of Taejo of Goryeo and Queen Jeongdeok. He was a Buddhism. In popular culture *Portrayed by Park Sun-ho in the 2015 MBC TV series ''Shine or Go Crazy ''Shine or Go Crazy' ...

(왕위군) ##

Prince Inae Prince Inae () was a Korean Royal Prince as the second son of Taejo of Goryeo and Queen Jeongdeok. He was a Buddhism Buddhism ( , ), also known as Buddha Dharma and Dharmavinaya (), is an Indian religions, Indian religion or Indian philo ...

(인애군) ## Prince Wonjang (원장태자) ##

Prince Joyi Prince Joyi () was a Korean Royal Prince as the fourth and youngest son of Taejo of Goryeo and Queen Jeongdeok. He was a Buddhism. References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Joyi, Prince Korean princes Year of birth unknown Year of death unknown ...

(조이군) ##

Queen Munhye Queen Munhye of the Jeongju Ryu clan () was a Goryeo princess as the first and oldest daughter of King Taejo and Queen Jeongdeok who became the wife of her half brother, King Munwon. With this marriage, she then followed her maternal clan, the ' ...

(문혜왕후) ##

Queen Seonui Queen Seonui (14 December 1705 – 12 August 1730) of the Hamjong Eo clan, was the second wife of Yi Yun, King Gyeongjong, the 20th Joseon monarch. She was Queen of Joseon from 1720 until her husband's death in 1724, after which she was honoure ...

(선의왕후) ##Princess Wang (공주 왕씨) # Grand Lady Heonmok of the Pyeong clan (헌목대부인 평씨) ## Prince Sumyeong (수명태자) # Lady Jeongmok of the Wang clan (정목부인 왕씨) ## Grand Royal Consort Sunan (순안왕대비) # Lady Dongyangwon of the Pyeongsan Yu clan (동양원부인 유씨) ## Wang Ui, Prince Hyomok (왕의 효목태자) ## Wang Won, Prince Hyoeun (왕원 효은태자) # Lady Sukmok of the Im clan (숙목부인 임씨) ##

Prince Wonnyeong Prince Wonnyeong (Hangul: 원녕태자, Hanja: 元寧太子; d. 976) or known as Lord Jinju (Hangul: 진주낭군, Hanja: 鎭州郞君) was a Korean Royal Prince as the only son of Taejo of Goryeo and Lady Sukmok. Life After 960 (11st year reign ...

(원녕태자; d. 976) # Lady Cheonanbuwon of the Im clan (천안부원부인 임씨) ## Wang Imju, Prince Hyoseong (왕임주 효성태자; d. 976) ## Prince Hyoji (효지태자) # Lady Heungbokwon of the Hongju Hong clan (흥복원부인 홍씨) ## Wang Jik (왕직) ##Princess Wang (공주 왕씨) # Lady Daeryangwon of the Hapcheon Yi clan (대량원부인 이씨) – No issue. # Lady Hudaeryangwon of the Yi clan (후대량원부인 이씨) – No issue. # Lady Daemyeongjuwon of the Wang clan (대명주원부인 왕씨) – No issue. # Lady Gwangjuwon of the Wang clan (광주원부인 왕씨) – No issue. # Lady Sogwangjuwon of the Wang clan (소광주원부인 왕씨) ## Prince Gwangjuwon (광주원군; d. 945) # Lady Dongsanwon of the Suncheon Bak clan (동산원부인 박씨) – No issue. # Lady Yehwa of the Haeju Wang clan (예화부인 왕씨) – No issue. # Lady Daeseowon of the Dongju Gim clan (대서원부인 김씨) – No issue. # Lady Soseowon of the Dongju Gim clan (소서원부인 김씨) – No issue. # Lady Seojeonwon (서전원부인) – No issue. # Lady Sinjuwon of the Gang clan (신주원부인 강씨) – No issue. #

Lady Wolhwawon Lady Wolhwawon (; ) was the daughter of Yeong-Jang who became the 24th wife of Taejo of Goryeo. There were no much records left about her existences or personal details. References 월화원부인
on Encykorea . {{DEFAULTSORT:Wolhwawon, Lad ...

(월화원부인) – No issue. #

Lady Sohwangjuwon Lady Sohwangjuwon (; ) was the daughter of Sun-Haeng who became the 24th wife of Taejo of Goryeo. Since in her name was added "Little" (소, 小), so it seems that her relative became Taejo's wife too and the most suitable was Lady Hwangjuwon. D ...

(소황주원부인) – No issue. # Lady Seongmu of the Pyeongsan Bak clan (성무부인 박씨) ## Prince Hyoje (효제태자) ## Prince Hyomyeong (효명태자) ## Prince Beopdeung (법등군) ## Prince Jari (자리군) ##Princess Wang (공주 왕씨) # Lady Uiseongbuwon of the Uiseong Hong clan (의성부원부인 홍씨) ## Grand Prince Uiseongbuwon (의성부원대군) # Lady Wolgyeongwon of the Pyeongsan Bak clan (월경원부인 박씨) – No issue. # Lady Mongryangwon of the Pyeongsan Bak clan (몽량원부인 박씨) – No issue. # Lady Haeryangwon (해량원부인) – No issue.

Popular culture

* Portrayed by Kim Myeong-jin in the 1970 film '' Wang-geon, the Great''. * Portrayed by

Choi Soo-jong Choi Soo-jong (born December 18, 1962) is a South Korean actor. Choi made his debut in 1987 as a young actor in the TV soap opera ‘Love Tree’. He has appeared in movies, on television and as an MC for various award shows. He has received worl ...

and Oh Hyun-chul in the 2000-2002

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 ''

Taejo Wang Geon ''Taejo Wang Geon'' (; ) is a 2000 Korean historical period drama. Directed by Kim Jong-sun and starring Choi Soo-jong in the title role of Taejo of Goryeo, King Taejo. The drama aired from April 1, 2000 to February 24, 2002 in a total of 200 e ...

''. *Portrayed by

Lee Mun-soo Lee may refer to: Name Given name * Lee (given name), a given name in English Surname * Chinese surnames romanized as Li or Lee: ** Li (surname 李) or Lee (Hanzi ), a common Chinese surname ** Li (surname 利) or Lee (Hanzi ), a Chinese ...

in the 2002–2003 KBS TV series ''

The Dawn of the Empire ''The Dawn of the Empire'' () is a South Korean historical television series which aired on KBS1 from March 2, 2002 to January 26, 2003 for 94 episodes every weekend at 21:45 ( KST). It revolves around the reigns of the second, third and fourth ki ...

''. *Portrayed by Joo Myung Nam in the 2009 KBS TV series ''

Empress Cheonchu ''Empress Cheonchu'' (; also known as ''The Iron Empress'') is a 2009 South Korean period television series based on the title character, an actual historical figure and her lifelong struggle to protect the country her ancestors built. The grand ...

''. * Portrayed by Nam Kyung-eup in the 2015 MBC TV series ''

Shine or Go Crazy ''Shine or Go Crazy'' () is a 2015 South Korean television series based on the novel of the same name by Hyun Go-woon about the romance between a Goryeo prince and a Balhae princess. Starring Jang Hyuk, Oh Yeon-seo, Lee Hanee and Lim Ju-hwan, it ...

''. * Portrayed by

Jo Min-ki Jo Min-ki (November 5, 1965 – March 9, 2018) was a South Korean actor. He is best known for his roles in the television series ''Love and Ambition'', '' East of Eden'', ''Queen Seondeok'', and '' Flames of Desire''. He was also a noted photog ...

in the 2016 SBS TV series '' Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo''. *Leads the Korean civilization the games

Sid Meier's Civilization III ''Sid Meier's Civilization III'' is the third installment of the ''Civilization (series), Sid Meier's Civilization'' turn-based strategy video game series. It was released in 2001, and followed by ''Civilization IV''. Unlike the original game, ''C ...

and IV

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Taejo Of Goryeo 877 births 943 deaths Korean generals 9th-century rulers in Asia 10th-century Korean monarchs Goryeo writers People from Kaesong Founding monarchs Korean Buddhist monarchs