Korean era name
Korean era names were used during the period of Silla, Goguryeo, Balhae, Taebong, Goryeo, Joseon, and the Korean Empire. Dangun-giwon, the era name originating from the foundation of Gojoseon is also widely used in Korea as an indication of long civilisation of Korea.[1]
List of Korean era names
Goguryeo
- Yeongnak (永樂, 영락 "Eternal Happiness" : 391 - 413, during the reign of King Gwanggaeto the Great.)
- Note: The following era names are found on various Goguryeo artifacts, but the actual years of usage are unclear.
- Yeonsu (延壽, 연수 "Enduring Life" : 413 - 491 during the reign of King Jangsu or 270 - 292, during the reign of King Seocheon or 331 - 371, during the reign of King Gogugwon.)
- Yeon-ga (延嘉, 연가 "Enduring Excellence": 292 - 300, during the reign of King Bongsang or 531 - 545, during the reign of King Anwon.)
- Geonheung (建興, 건흥 "Establishment of Prosperity" : 413 - 491, during the reign of King Jangsu.)
- Yeonggang (永康, 영강 "Eternal Peace": 545 - 559, during the reign of King Yangwon.)
Silla
- Geon-won (건원, 建元 "First Establishment" : 536 - 551), during the reign of King Beopheung and King Jinheung)
- Gaeguk (개국, 開國 "Opening of the Country" : 551 - 567), during the reign of King Jinheung)
- Daechang (대창, 大昌 "Great Light": 568 - 572), during the reign of King Jinheung)
- Hongje (홍제, 鴻濟 "Vast Relief" : 572 - 583), during the reign of King Jinheung, King Jinji and King Jinpyeong)
- Geonbok (건복, 建福 "Establishment of Blessings" : 584 - 634), during the reign of King Jinpyeong and Queen Seondeok)
- Inpyeong (인평, 仁平 "Even Benevolence" : 634 - 647, during the reign of Queen Seondeok)
- Taehwa (태화, 太和 "Great Harmony": 647 - 650, during the reign of Queen Jindeok)
- In 650, Silla stopped using its own era names and adopted those of Tang China.
- Gyeong-un (慶雲, 경운 "Clouds of Celebration": 822 during the reign of Kim Heonchang's Jang-an state.)
Balhae
- Cheontong (天統, 천통 "Authority of Heaven": 699 - 718, during the reign of King Go.)
- Inan (仁安, 인안 "Benevolence and Good": 719 - 736, during the reign of King Mu.)
- Daeheung (大興, 대흥 "Great Prosperity": 737 - 793, during the reign of King Mun.)
- Boryeok (寶曆, 보력 "Precious Era": 774-?, at least until 781, during the reign of King Mun)
- Jungheung (中興, 중흥 "Middle Prosperity":794, during the reign of King Seong.)
- Jeongnyeok (正曆, 정력 "Justice Era": 795 - 808 during the reign of King Gang.)
- Yeongdeok (永德, 영덕 "Eternal Virtue": 809 - 812 during the reign of King Jeong.)
- Jujak (朱雀, 주작 "Sparrow Cinnabar": 813 - 817 during the reign of King Hui.)
- Taesi (太始, 태시 "Great Beginning": 817 - 818 during the reign of King Gan.)
- Geonheung (建興, 건흥 "Founding of Prosperity": 818 - 820 during the reign of King Seon.)
- Hamhwa (咸和, 함화 "United Peace": 830 - 858 during the reign of King Dae Ijin.)
- Note : King Dae Ijin, posthumous names are unknown, so usually they're called by their personal names.
Jeong-an Kingdom
- Wonheung (元興, 원흥 "First Prosperity":976 - 986 during the reign of Oh Hyeon-myeong.)
Heung-Yo Kingdom
- Cheongyeong (天慶, 천경 ("Heavenly Celebration"): 1029 - 1030 during the reign of Dae Yeon-Rim.)
Daewon Kingdom
- Yeunggi (隆基, 융기 ("Prosperous Foundation") : 1116 during the reign of Go Yeong-Chang.)
Later Baekje
- Jeonggae (正開, 정개 ("Proper Opening"): 900 - 936 during the reign of Gyeon Hwon)
Taebong
All these era names were used during the reign of King Gung-ye, who ruled Taebong from 901 to 918.
- Mutae (武泰, 무태 "Exalted Military" : 904 - 905 during the reign of Gung Ye)
- Seongchaek (聖冊, 성책 "Sacred Book" : 905 - 910 during the reign of Gung Ye)
- Sudeok Manse (水德萬歲, 수덕만세 "Ten Thousand Years of Flowing Power": 911 - 914 during the reign of Gung Ye)
- Jeonggae (政開, 정개 "Opening Rule" : 914 - 918 during the reign of Gung Ye)
- Note : In 918, General Wang Geon led a revolution, became the new emperor, and changed the country's name to Goreyo.
Goryeo Dynasty
- Cheonsu (天授, 천수 "Transmission of Heaven" : 918 - 933 during the reign of King Taejo.)
- Gwangdeok (光德, 광덕 "Brilliant Power" : 950 - 951 during the reign of King Gwangjong.)
- Junpung (峻豊, 준풍 "Towering Plenty" : 960 - 963 during the reign of King Gwangjong.)
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- Cheongae (天開, 천개 "Opening of Heaven" : 1135 - 1136 during the reign of Myo Cheong's Daewi state.)
Joseon Dynasty
- Gaeguk (開國, 개국 "Nation's Opening" : used for the reign of King Gojong 1894 - 1895)
- Geonyang (建陽, 건양 "Founding Yang Principle" : used for the reign of King Gojong 1896 - 1897)
Korean Empire
- Gwangmu (광무; 光武; "Bright Valour") - used for the reign of Emperor Gojong, 1897-1907
- Yunghui (융희;隆熙; "Prosperous Brilliance") - used for the reign of Emperor Sunjong, 1907-1910
Republic of Korea
- Daehan minguk (대한민국, 大韓民國 "Great Korean Republic" : 1948)
- Dangun-giwon (단군기원, 檀君紀元 "First Age of Lord Dangun" : 1948-1962)
Democratic People's Republic of Korea
- Juche (주체, 主體 : 1912-)
Usage of Non-Korean Era names
Some Chinese era names were adopted, especially in the Joseon dynasty due to the Korean Confucian ideology. For example, in the Annals of Joseon Dynasty, years were described with Chinese era names and Sexagenary Cycle. During Colonial Korea, Imperial Japan enforced its own era system version for colonial Korea.
Juche Calendar
The North Korean government and associated organizations use a variation of the Gregorian calendar with a Juche year based on April 15, 1912 CE, the date of birth of Kim Il-sung, as year 1. There is no Juche year 0. The calendar was introduced in 1997. Months are unchanged from those in the standard Gregorian calendar. In many instances, the Juche year is given after the CE year, for example, 27 June 2007 Juche 96. But in North Korean publications, the Juche year is usually placed before the corresponding CE year, as in Juche 96 (2007).
References
Bibliography
- http://tiny.britannica.co.kr/bol/topic.asp?article_id=b15a3467a
- http://tiny.britannica.co.kr/bol/view-table.asp?med_id=b15a346701t1.html
- http://wondreams.hihome.com/temasogo_goguryeo2.htm
- http://100.empas.com/dicsearch/pentry.html?i=171244
- http://www.ikgu.com/tt/717
- A Guide to Korean Characters, 2nd Revised Edition, Bruce K. Grant, Hollym Publishing, Seoul, South Korea, 1982.
- Sources of Korean Tradition, Volume One, Peter H. Lee, Yongho Choe, Hugh H.W. Kang (Eds), Columbia University Press, 1996 (Reign Name Translations, p. 21).
See also