Hyeonjong of Goryeo


Hyeonjong, personal name Wang Sun, was the 8th ruler of the Goryeo dynasty of Korea. He was a grandson of the dynastic founder King Taejo. He was appointed by the military leader Kang Cho, whom the King Mokjong had called upon to destroy a plot by Kim Ch'i-yang. During his reign, the Goryeo dynasty fought two wars against the Khitan Liao dynasty. Today Hyeonjong is considered to be among the greatest leaders in Korean history.

Biography

Wang Sun was born On 1 August 992 from an affair between Prince Wang Uk and his widowed niece, Queen Heonjeong. As a result of the affair, his father, Wang Uk, was exiled and his mother died in childbirth.
Wang Sun was the heir to the childless King Mokjong, however the queen dowager, Queen Dowager Cheonchu, sought to have her child with her lover, Kim Ch'i-yang, as the next king. He was forced to become a monk. Queen Dowager Cheonchu attempted to send assassins to kill Wang Sun, however, the abbot of his temple managed to foil the attempts.
In 1009, the military inspector of Seobukmyeon, Kang Cho, overthrew King Mokjong and installed Wang Sun as the next king of Goryeo. In 1010, the Khitan attacked Goryeo, using the deposition of King Mokjong as a casus belli. Hyeonjong was forced to flee the capital temporarily and with the help of General Kang Kam-ch'an directed the court to move far south to the port city of Naju. Kang Cho attempted to stop the foreign invaders but was defeated in battle and captured. While escaping from the Khitan invasion, Hyeonjong met Kim Un-bu in Gongju, and married his daughter, Queen Wonseong. In the end, Goryeo repulsed the Khitan and forced them to withdraw from the Korean land.
In 1019, when Goryeo continued to refuse to submit or return the northern territories, the Khitan attacked once more. Goryeo generals, including Kang Kam-ch'an, were able to inflict heavy losses on the Khitan army in the Battle of Kwiju. The Khitan withdrew without achieving their demands and never again invaded Goryeo. Both the Liao Dynasty and Goryeo enjoyed a time of peace, and their cultures were at their height.
Meantime, Hyeonjong ordered the compilation of the Tripitaka Koreana, which was 6,000 volumes. It is the act of carving the woodblocks that was considered to be a way of bringing about a change in fortune by invoking the Buddha's help.

Family

  1. Queen Wonjeong of the Seonsan Kim clan ; half first cousin once removed – No issue.
  2. Queen Wonhwa of the Gyeongju Ch'oe clan ; half first cousin once removed.
  3. #Princess Hyojeong, 1st daughter
  4. #Princess Cheonsu, 3rd daughter
  5. #Wang Su, 2nd son
  6. Queen Wonseong of the Ansan Kim clan
  7. #Crown Prince Wang Hŭm, 1st son
  8. #Wang Hyŏng, Prince Pyeongnyang, 3rd son
  9. #Queen Inpyeong, 5th daughter
  10. #Princess Gyeongsuk, 6th daughter
  11. Queen Wonhye of the Ansan Kim clan
  12. #Wang Hwi, Prince Nakrang, 4th son
  13. #Wang Ki, Duke Pyeongnyang, 5th son
  14. #Queen Hyosa, 4th daughter
  15. Queen Wonyong of the Chŏngju Yu clan ; half first cousin once removed – No issue.
  16. Queen Wonmok of the Icheon Sŏ clan – No issue.
  17. Queen Wonpyeong of the Ansan Kim clan
  18. #Princess Hyogyeong, 8th daughter
  19. Pure Consort Wonsun of the Gyeongju Kim clan
  20. #Queen Gyeongseong, 2nd daughter
  21. Noble Consort Wonjil of the Kaeseong Wang clan – No issue.
  22. Noble Consort, of the Yu clan – No issue.
  23. Palace Lady Hwon-yeong of the Yangju Han clan
  24. #Wang Ch'ung, 6th son – became a monk.
  25. Palace Lady Yi — No issue.
  26. Palace Lady Park
  27. #Lady Aji, 7th daughter
  28. Han Sang-sik — No issue.

    In popular culture

  • Portrayed by Kim Ji-hoon in the 2009 KBS2 TV series Empress Cheonchu.
  • Portrayed by Kim Dong-jun in the 2023 KBS2 TV series Korea–Khitan War.