Rulers of Korea
Korea has been ruled by a number of kingdoms/empires and republics over the last several millennia. Listed below are the rulers and leaders of the major Korean dynasties and states from the beginning of the recorded history to the present day.
Kingdoms/Empires are listed in the order of their fall. Thus, Baekje, Goguryeo, and Silla are listed an order that is the reverse of their traditional order of formation.
This list includes only the monarchs' romanized posthumous or temple names and reign dates. The reign dates come from http://www.rootsinfo.co.kr/index_sub02.html (in Korean only), with additional information from Rulers.org and from Nahm (1988).
Names have been romanized according to the South Korean Revised Romanization of Korean. McCune-Reischauer romanizations of names may be found at the articles about the individual rulers.
According to some history records, the first emperor of Korea moved into Korea in BC 3898 with 3000 of his people. He founded his capital on foot of Mount Paekdu (Mount Taebaek). The rulers used the title Hwanung after the name of the first emperor, and were also called Chunhwang, which means "the emperor of heaven" which can be translated emperor
There are two accounts of founding Joseon. One, a mythical story involves Hwanung, son of heaven descending to Mount Paekdu to marry a woman who was originally a bear. They had a child, who became the first emperor of Joseon, Tangun Wanggum.
Another account, according to which this list is written, is that the son of the last emperor Koubuldan of Paedal, reorganised the declining empire and renamed the country Joseon, land of morning calm.
The time for the end of Joseon is disputed. Some record records the abdication of last emperor, Emperor Koyulga, in BC 239. Other accounts record the date as BC 1137. The period of reign for each emperor is not listed as neither account currently prevails. According to one account, the dynasty's name was changed to Daebuyo in BC 425. The emperor used the title of Tanje, which literarilly means emperor under the birch.
Buyo is believed to have risen from the areas of Joseon in 2nd-3rd century BC. They claimed their inheritance of Joseon, and the rulers continued to use the titles of Tanje or the emperor.
According to some accounts, Buyo was divided into two countries, Bukbuyo and Dongbuyo, in BC 108. Bukbuyo was later succeeded by Goguryeo, but Dongbuyo, ruled by the heirs of Emperor Haemosu, was shattered by Goguryeo in 22 AD. Dongbuyo declined to meagre existence until 494, when they catipulated to Goguryeo.
Gaya (also called "Garak") was a minor state (that is, not one of the three major kingdoms) during the Three Kingdoms Period. Gaya was absorbed into Silla in 532.
All kings of Gaya had the Korean title Wang, which means "king." This list represents the Kim Dynasty of Geumgwan Gaya 금관가야.
Goguryeo is the only one of the three realms that is described as the Empire, and its vassals used the title of king. Its rulers had the title of Taewang, which when literarily translated means the the greatest of the kings or emperor. Here the rulers are all styled as the emperors, with the era name in bracket where applicable.
Jin (진), (Barhae (발해)); (Bohai in Mandarin) was an empire that occupied territory in Korea, Manchuria, and modern-day Russia during the Unified Silla period. Jin is the name of the country chosen by the rulers, and Barhae (Bohai) is what China named the empire.
The rulers of Jin used the title of Hwangje, which is translated to be emperor. They had the temple name of either -jo or -jong, though there are exceptions. Their era names are in bracket where available.
The kingdom of Goryeo was founded in 918 and defeated Silla in 935-936, making "Goryeo" the name of Korea. (Incidentally, "Goryeo" is the source of the English name "Korea.") In 1392, the kingdom fell to the Joseon Dynasty.
Goryeo was ruled by the Wang Dynasty. The first king had the temple name Taejo, which means "great progenitor" and was applied to the first kings of both Goryeo and Joseon, as they were also the founders of the Wang and Yi Dynasties respectively. The next 23 kings (until Wonjong) are also referred to by their temple names, which had the title jong in them. Beginning with Chungnyeol (the 25th king), all the remaining kings of Goryeo had the title Wang—the standard Sino-Korean word for "King"—as part of their temple names. Era names are in bracket where available
Joseon was the name of Korea during most the Joseon Dynasty, which ruled from the fall of Goryeo in 1392 until the beginning of the Japanese Colonial Period in 1910. In 1897, the country became the Korean Empire. Some of the kings were posthumously raised to the rank of emperors.
Joseon Dynasty kings had temple names ending in jo or jong. Jo was given to the first kings/emperors of new lines within the dynasty, with the first king/emperor having the special name (Taejo), which means "great progenitor" (see also Goryeo). Jong was given to all other kings/emperors. Two kings—Yeonsangun and Gwanghaegun— were so disgraced in the eyes of later official historians that they were deprived of their temple names after their reigns ended. Each king/emperor had a posthumous name—which was different from his temple name—that included either the title Wang ("King"),Hwangje ("Emperor"), Daewang ("King X the Great") or Daeje ("Emperor X the Great"). For the sake of consistency, the title "King/Emperor" has been added to each monarch's temple name in the list below.
In 1897, Korea was renamed Daehan Jeguk (Korean Empire, or literally, "Great Han Empire"). King Gojong of the Joseon Dynasty became the first emperor (Hwangje in Korean). Technically, the emperors should be referred to by their era names rather than their temple names, but the latter are commonly used.
Emperor Gojong's reign was given the era name "Gwangmu," while Sunjong's reign had the era name "Yeonghui."
The Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea was based in Shanghai, China. Although the current South Korean government insists on being its successor to assert legitimacy,and indeed some countries recognised the government, including China, the government was not internationally recognized by all great powers..
''Main Article: Presidents of South Korea
Nahm, Andrew C. (1988). Korea: Tradition and Transformation - A History of the Korean People. Elizabeth, NJ: Hollym International.Notes
Paedal (Sinshi) 배달 (신시): (?BC 3898-?BC 2333)
(Ancient) Joseon (고)조선: (?BC 2333-?BC 239)
Buyo 부여: (?BC 239-AD 494)
Bukbuyo 북부여: (?BC 108-?BC 58)
The rulers of Bukbuyo retained the use the title of Tanje, or the emperor.
Dongbuyo 동부여: (?BC 86-AD 22)
The rulers of Dongbuyo submitted to the overlordship of Bukbuyo in BC 86 and thus used tht title of Wang, which means king.
Gaya (Garak) 가야 (가락): (42-532)
Baekje 백제: (BC 18-660)
Goguryeo 고구려: (37 BCE - 668 CE)
Silla 신라: (BC 57-935)
Jin (Barhae) 진 (발해): (669-926)
Goryeo 고려: (918-1392)
Joseon 조선: (1392-1897)
Korean Empire 대한제국: (1897-1919)
Presidents of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea 대한민국임시정부: (1919-1948)
Democratic People's Republic of Korea 북한: (1948-present)
Republic of Korea 대한민국: (1948-present)
References