This article needs additional citations for verification. (November 2013) |
Hyeonjong of Goryeo 고려 현종 高麗 顯宗 | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
King of Goryeo | |||||||||
Reign | 1009–1031 | ||||||||
Coronation | 1009 Yeonchong Hall, Gaeju, Goryeo | ||||||||
Predecessor | Mokjong of Goryeo | ||||||||
Successor | Deokjong of Goryeo | ||||||||
Born | Wang Sun 1 August 992 Gaeseong-bu, Goryeo | ||||||||
Died | 17 June 1031 (aged 38) Junggwang Hall, Gaegyeong, Goryeo | ||||||||
Burial | Seolleung (선릉, 宣陵) | ||||||||
Queen consort |
Queen Wonhwa | ||||||||
Consort | |||||||||
Issue |
| ||||||||
| |||||||||
House | Wang | ||||||||
Dynasty | Goryeo | ||||||||
Father | Anjong of Goryeo | ||||||||
Mother | Queen Dowager Hyosuk |
Korean name | |
Hangul | 현종 |
---|---|
Hanja | |
Revised Romanization | Hyeonjong |
McCune–Reischauer | Hyŏnjong |
Birth name | |
Hangul | 왕순 |
Hanja | |
Revised Romanization | Wang Sun |
McCune–Reischauer | Wang Sun |
Courtesy name | |
Hangul | 안세 |
Hanja | |
Revised Romanization | Anse |
McCune–Reischauer | Anse |
Dharma name | |
Hangul | 선재 |
Hanja | |
Revised Romanization | Seonjae |
McCune–Reischauer | Sŏnjae |
Posthumous name | |
Hangul | 원문대왕 |
Hanja | |
Revised Romanization | Wonmun Daewang |
McCune–Reischauer | Wŏnmun Taewang |
Hyeonjong of Goryeo (1 August 992 – 17 June 1031), 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 previous 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.
On 1 August 992, Wang Sun was born from an affair between Prince Wang Uk (later posthumously given the temple name Anjong) and his widowed niece, Queen Heonjeong. As a result of the affair, his father, Wang Uk, was exiled and his mother died in childbirth.[1]
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 would attempt to send assassins to kill Wang Sun, however, the abbot of his temple managed to foil the attempts.[1]
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.[2] 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.[1]
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.[3] 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.