Gogugwon of Goguryeo

Gogugwon of Goguryeo
Hangul 고국원왕, 국원왕, 국강상왕
Hanja 故國原王, 國原王, 國岡上王
Revised Romanization Gogugwon-wang, Gugwon-wang, Gukgangsang-wang
McCune–Reischauer Kogugwŏn-wang, Kugwŏn-wang, Kukkangsang-wang
Birth name
Hangul 고사유 or 유 or 쇠
Hanja 高斯由 or 劉 or 釗
Revised Romanization Go Sayu or Yu or Soe
McCune–Reischauer Ko Sayu or Yu or Soe
Monarchs of Korea
Goguryeo
  1. King Chumo 37-19 BCE
  2. King Yuri 19 BCE-18 CE
  3. King Daemusin 18-44
  4. King Minjung 44-48
  5. King Mobon 48-53
  6. King Taejodae 53-146
  7. King Chadae 146-165
  8. King Sindae 165-179
  9. King Gogukcheon 179-197
  10. King Sansang 197-227
  11. King Dongcheon 227-248
  12. King Jungcheon 248-270
  13. King Seocheon 270-292
  14. King Bongsang 292-300
  15. King Micheon 300-331
  16. King Gogug-won 331-371
  17. King Sosurim 371-384
  18. King Gogug-yang 384-391
  19. King Gwanggaeto 391-413
  20. King Jangsu 413-490
  21. King Munja 491-519
  22. King Anjang 519-531
  23. King An-won 531-545
  24. King Yang-won 545-559
  25. King Pyeong-won 559-590
  26. King Yeong-yang 590-618
  27. King Yeong-nyu 618-642
  28. King Bojang 642-668

King Gogugwon of Goguryeo (?-371, r. 331-371) was the 16th king of Goguryeo, the northernmost of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. He was the son of King Micheon and Lady Ju. He's birth name is Sayu. He was made crown prince in 314 and became king upon his father's death. He was called Emperor Soyeol (Soyeol-je, 소열제, 昭烈帝) in the Chinese history text Suishu, but this appears to be a mistaken transcription of the earlier Weishu.[1] Because, at the same time, Tuoba Yihuai was the Lie Emperor (烈帝)of Dai State.

Goguryeo faced devastation by the Murong Xianbei people who attacked Goguryeo. Hwando was destroyed again by them in 341. Buyeo was also destroyed by the Xianbei in 346.

He ruled at a time when the kingdom was quite weak, and had an ill-fated reign. He sent tribute to the Xianbei state of Former Yan after they invaded the capital in 342 and held the queen and royal concubines captive, in order to secure the return the corpse of King Micheon.

The capital was temporarily moved to Pyongyang, present-day capital of North Korea. In response to the expansion of the southern Korean kingdom Baekje, Gogugwon led an unsuccessful attack in 369. Baekje's king Geunchogo invaded in 371 and Geunchogo's son Geungusu killed Gogugwon in battle at Pyongyang Castle. He was buried in Gogugwon.

Depiction in arts and media

in the South Korean drama The King of Legend, actor Lee Jongwon portrays King Sayu or Gogugwon of Goguryeo (16th Taewang of Goguryeo). He is primarily portrayed as an open antagonist against Baekja and its leadership on many different levels.

Notes

  1. ↑ (Korean) SBS 대하사극 [연개소문]-김용만칼럼

See also