Kingdom of Goryeo | ||||||||||||||||
고려국 (高麗國) | ||||||||||||||||
Independent kingdom (918–1270, 1356–1392) Vassal of the Mongol Yuan dynasty (1270–1356) |
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Goryeo in 1389
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Capital |
Gaegyeong (919–1232, 1270–1392) Ganghwa (1232–1270) |
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Languages | Middle Korean | |||||||||||||||
Religion | Korean Buddhism, Korean Confucianism, Korean Taoism, Korean shamanism | |||||||||||||||
Government | Monarchy | |||||||||||||||
King | ||||||||||||||||
• | 918–943 | Taejo (first) | ||||||||||||||
• | 949–975 | Gwangjong | ||||||||||||||
• | 981–997 | Seongjong | ||||||||||||||
• | 1046–1083 | Munjong | ||||||||||||||
• | 1351–1374 | Gongmin | ||||||||||||||
• | 1389–1392 | Gongyang (last) | ||||||||||||||
Military regime leader | ||||||||||||||||
• | 1170–1171 | Jeong Jung-bu (first) | ||||||||||||||
• | 1171–1174 | Yi Ui-bang | ||||||||||||||
• | 1196–1219 | Choe Chung-heon | ||||||||||||||
• | 1270 | Im Yu-mu (last) | ||||||||||||||
History | ||||||||||||||||
• | Later Three Kingdoms rise | 900 | ||||||||||||||
• | Coronation of Taejo | 15 June, 918 | ||||||||||||||
• | Unification of the Later Three Kingdoms | 936 | ||||||||||||||
• | Goryeo–Khitan War | 993–1019 | ||||||||||||||
• | Completion of Tripitaka Koreana | 1251 | ||||||||||||||
• | Military regime | 1170–1270 | ||||||||||||||
• | Vassal of the Mongol Yuan dynasty | 1270–1356 | ||||||||||||||
• | Abdication of Gongyang | 17 July, 1392 | ||||||||||||||
Population | ||||||||||||||||
• | 1123 est. | 2,100,000 | ||||||||||||||
• | 1200 est. | 3,000,000 | ||||||||||||||
• | 1392 est. | 5,000,000 | ||||||||||||||
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Today part of |
South Korea North Korea |
Monarchs of Korea Goryeo |
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Goryeo, also spelled as Koryŏ (Hangul: 고려; Hanja: 高麗; Korean pronunciation: [ko.ɾjʌ]; 918–1392), was a Korean dynasty established in 918 by King Taejo. This kingdom later gave name to the modern exonym "Korea". It united the Later Three Kingdoms in 936 and ruled most of the Korean Peninsula until it was removed by the founder of the Joseon in 1392. Goryeo expanded Korea's borders to present-day Wonsan in the northeast (936–943), the Yalu River (993) and finally almost the whole of the Korean Peninsula (1374).
Two of this period's most notable products are celadon pottery and the Tripitaka Koreana—the Buddhist canon (Tripiṭaka) carved onto more than 80,000 woodblocks and stored (and still remaining) at Haeinsa. The people of Goryeo also created the first metal movable type that was capable of printing actual books, in 1234; the oldest surviving metal movable type book, the Jikji, was printed in 1377.
In 668, Silla conquered Baekje and Goguryeo with an alliance with Tang China, but by the late 9th century it was tottering, its monarchs being unimaginative and pressed by the power of powerful statesmen. Many robbers and outlaws agitated and in 900 Gyeon Hwon revolted from Silla control in the Jeolla region as the state of Later Baekje; the year after, Gung Ye revolted from the northern regions as Taebong (Later Goguryeo). A son of a regional lord, Wang Geon, joined Taebong as a general.