Taejong of Joseon

Taejong of Joseon
Statutes at Royal Tomb of King Taejong of Joseon
Reign	November 28, 1400 – September 9, 1418
Predecessor	Jeongjong of Joseon
Successor	Sejong of Joseon
Born	(1367-06-13)June 13, 1367 Hamheung
Died	May 30, 1422(1422-05-30) (aged 55) Changgyeonggung
Burial	Heonilleung, Seoul
Spouse	Queen Wongyeong
Issue	Sejong of Joseon
House	House of Yi
Father	Taejo of Joseon
Mother	Queen Sinui

King Taejong (June 13, 1367 — May 30, 1422, r. 1400–1418) was the third king of the Joseon dynasty in Korea and the father of King Sejong the Great.

Life

Founding of Joseon

He was born as Lee Bang-won in 1367 as the fifth son of King Taejo, and was qualified as an official of Goryeo Dynasty in 1382. During his early days, he helped his father to extend his support with the citizens and many influential figures of the government. Taejong helped his father found a new dynasty by assassinating powerful officials such as Jeong Mong-ju, who remained loyal to the Goryeo dynasty.

Strife of princes

In 1392 he helped his father to overthrow Goryeo and establish a new dynasty, Joseon. He expected to be appointed as the successor to the throne for he contributed most to the founding of Joseon, but his father, Taejo, and prime minister Jeong Do-jeon favored Taejo's eighth son and Lee Bangwon's half-brother (second son of Queen Sindeok), Lee Bangseok, as the crown prince. This conflict arose chiefly because Jeong Dojeon, who shaped and laid down ideological, institutional and legal foundations of the new dynasty more than anyone else, saw Joseon as a kingdom led by ministers appointed by the king while Lee Bangwon wanted to establish the absolute monarchy ruled directly by the king. Both sides were well aware of each other's great animosity and were getting ready to strike first. After the sudden death of Queen Sindeok, and while King Taejo was still in mourning for his second wife, Lee Bang-won struck first by raiding the palace and killed Jeong Do-jeon and his supporters, as well as Queen Sindeok's two sons including the crown prince in 1398. This incident became known as the First Strife of Princes.

Aghast at the fact that his sons were willing to kill each other for the crown, and psychologically exhausted from the death of his second wife, King Taejo abdicated and immediately crowned his second son Lee Bang-gwa, or King Jeongjong, as the new ruler. One of King Jeongjong's first acts as monarch was to revert the capital to Gaeseong, where he is believed to have been considerably more comfortable. Yet Lee Bangwon retained real power and was soon in conflict with his disgruntled older brother Lee Bang-gan, who also yearned for power. In 1400, General Bak Po, who was disappointed by Lee Bangwon for not rewarding him enough for his action in the First Strife of Princes, allied with Bangwon's older brother Lee Bang-gan (Prince Hoean) and rebelled against him in what came to be known as the Second Strife of Princes. Lee Bangwon successfully defeated his brother's forces, then executed Bak Po and sent Lee Bang-gan into exile. King Jeongjong, who was afraid of his powerful brother, named Lee Bangwon as crown prince and abdicated in the same year. Lee Bangwon assumed the throne of Joseon at long last as King Taejong, the third king of Joseon.

Consolidation of royal power

sign of Taejong of Joseon

In the beginning of Taejong's reign, the Grand King Former, Taejo, refused to relinquish the royal seal that signified the legitimacy of any king's rule. Taejong began to initiate policies he believed would prove his qualification to rule. One of his first acts as king was to abolish the privilege enjoyed by the upper echelons of government and the aristocracy to maintain private armies. His revoking of such rights to field independent forces effectively severed their ability to muster large-scale revolts, and drastically increased the number of men employed in the national military. Taejong's next act as king was to revise the existing legislation concerning the taxation of land ownership and the recording of state of subjects. With the discovery of previously hidden land, national income increased twofold.

He also initiated the system of hopae, an early form of identification recording the bearer's name and residence, used to control the movement of people.^[1] He also set a big drum in front of his court, so that the common people, when they had some problems, could come to the palace and consult the king.

Absolute monarchy

In addition, he created a strong central government and an absolute monarchy. In 1399, Taejong had played an influential role in scrapping the Dopyeong Assembly, a council of the old government administration that held a monopoly in court power during the waning years of the Goryeo dynasty, in favor of the State Council of Joseon (의정부), a new branch of central administration that revolved around the king and his edicts. After passing the subject documentation and taxation legislation, King Taejong issued a new decree in which all decisions passed by the State Council could only come into effect with the approval of the king. This ended the custom of court ministers and advisors making decisions through debate and negotiations amongst themselves, and thus brought the royal power to new heights. Shortly thereafter, Taejong installed an office, known as the Sinmun Office, to hear cases in which aggrieved subjects felt that they had been exploited or treated unjustly by government officials or aristocrats.

However, Taejong kept Jeong Do-jeon's reforms intact for the most part. He promoted Confucianism, which was more like political philosophy rather than a religion, thus demoting Buddhism, which was far from daily living and decayed from the power given by Goryeo kings back then. He closed many temples that were established by Goryeo kings, and seized their large possessions and added them to the national treasury. Meanwhile, he honored Jeong Mong-ju with the posthumous title of Chief State Councillor (equivalent to Prime Minister), even though it was he who assassinated Jeong — leading to an irony of history, in which Jeong Do-jeon was vilified throughout the Joseon dynasty while Jeong Mong-ju was honored despite his opposition to its birth.

In foreign policy, he was a straight hardliner — he attacked the Jurchens on the northern border and Japanese pirates on the southern coast. Taejong is also known for being responsible for the Ōei Invasion of Tsushima Island in 1419. He also promoted publications, commerce and education. He also founded and encouraged Uigeumbu, the royal guard and secret police at the same time. In 1418, he abdicated and gave the throne to Sejong the Great of Joseon, but continued to rule with an iron fist, deciding important matters and executing Sejong's father-in-law Shim On and Shim's brother.

Taejong executed or exiled many of his supporters who helped him ascend to the throne in order to strengthen the royal authority. To limit influence of in-laws, he also killed all four brothers of his Queen Won-gyeong and his son Sejong's in-laws. Taejong remains a controversial figure who killed many of his rivals (including Jeong Mong-ju and Jeong Do-jeon) and relatives to gain power and yet ruled effectively to improve the populace's lives, strengthen national defense, and lay down a solid foundation for his successor Sejong's rule. Taejong was known for his passion for hunting, considered unseemly in a ruler.

Genealogy

Ancestors

Family

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• Father: King Taejo (태조)
• Mother: Queen Shinui of the Anbyeon Han clan (신의왕후 한씨, September 1337-September 12, 1391)
• Consorts and their Respective Issue:

1. Queen Wongyeong of the Yeoheung Min clan (원경왕후 민씨, July 11, 1365 – July 10, 1420)^[2]
   1. 3 unnamed sons (infant death)
   2. Yi Je, the Grand Prince Yangnyeong (이제 양녕대군, 1394-September 7, 1462), 4th son^[3]
   3. Yi Bo, the Grand Prince Hyoryeong (이보 효령대군, 1396–1486), 5th son
   4. Yi Do, the Grand Prince Chungnyeong (이도 충녕대군), 6th son - Sejong the Great of Joseon
   5. Yi Jong, the Grand Prince Seongnyeong (이종 성녕대군, July 9, 1405 – February 4, 1418), 7th son
      1. Yi Yong, the Grand Prince Anpyeong (이용 안평대군, 1418–October 18, 1453), 1st adopted son; his older brother Sejong's 3rd son
      2. Yi Ui, the Prince Woncheon (이의 원천군, 1423-1476), 2nd adopted son; his older brother Prince Hyoryeong's 6th son
   6. Princess Jeongsun (정순공주, 1385–1460), 1st daughter^[4]
   7. Princess Gyeongjeong (경정공주, ?–1455),^[5] 2nd daughter^[6]
   8. Princess Gyeongan (경안공주, 1393–1415), 3rd daughter^[7]
   9. Princess Jeongseon (정선공주, 1404–January 25, 1424), 4th daughter^[8]
2. Royal Concubine Hyo of the Cheongpung Kim clan (효빈 김씨, ?–1454)^[9][10]
   1. Yi Bi, the Prince Gyeongnyeong (이비 경녕군, 1395(?)–1458), Only son
3. Royal Councubine Shin of the Yeongwol Shin clan (신빈 신씨, ?–1453)^[11][12][13]
   1. Yi In, Prince Hamnyeong (이인 함녕군, ?–1467), 1st son
   2. Yi Jeong, Prince Onnyeong (이정 온녕군, 1407–1453), 2nd son
   3. Princess Jeongshin (정신옹주, dates unknown), 1st daughter^[14]
   4. Princess Jeongjeong (정정옹주, dates unknown), 2nd daughter^[15]
   5. Princess Sukjeong (숙정옹주, dates unknown), 3rd daughter^[16]
   6. Princess Suknyeong (숙녕옹주, dates unknown), 4th daughter^[17]
   7. Princess Sukgyeong (숙경옹주, dates unknown), 5th daughter^[18]
   8. Princess Sukgeun (숙근옹주, ?–1450), 6th daughter^[19]
   9. Princess Soshin (소신옹주), 7th daughter^[20]
4. Royal Concubine Seon of the Ahn clan (선빈 안씨, ?–1468)^[21][22]
   1. Yi Chi, Prince Ik-nyeong (이치 익녕군, 1422–1464), Only and youngest son
   2. Princess Sosuk (소숙옹주, ?-1456), 1st daughter^[23]
   3. Princess Gyeongshin (경신옹주, dates unknown), 2nd daughter^[24]
   4. An unknown 3rd daughter
5. Royal Concubine Ui of the Kwon clan (의빈 권씨, dates unknown)^[25][26][27]
   1. Princess Jeonghye (정혜옹주, ?-1424), Only daughter^[28]
6. Royal Concubine So of the No clan (소빈 노씨, ?–1479)^[29][30]
   1. Princess Sukhye (숙혜옹주, ?–1464), Only daughter^[31]
7. Royal Concubine Myeong of the Andong Kim clan (명빈 김씨)
   1. Princess Sukan (숙안옹주, ?-1464), Only daughter^[32]
8. Royal Concubine Jeong of the Go clan (정빈 고씨, ?–1426)^[33]
   1. Yi Nong, Prince Geunnyeong (이농 근녕군, 1411-1462), Only son^[34]
9. Decent Beauty Lady Choi (숙의 최씨, dates unknown)
   1. Yi Ta, Prince Huiryeong (이타 희령군, ?-1465), Only son
   2. An unnamed daughter
10. Princess Deoksuk of the Yi clan (덕숙옹주 이씨)
    1. Yi Gan, Prince Huryeong (이간 후령군, ?-1465), Only son
    2. Princess Suksun (숙순옹주, dates unknown), Only daughter^[35]
11. Lady Ahn (안씨)
    1. Yi Ji, Prince Hyeryeong (이지 혜령군, 1407–1440), Only son
12. Lady Sukgong of the Kim clan (숙공궁주 김씨)
    1. No issue
13. Lady Uijeong of the Jo clan (의정궁주 조씨)
    1. No issue
14. Lady Hyesun of the Yi clan (혜순궁주 이씨)
    1. No issue
15. Lady Shinsun of the Yi clan (신순궁주 이씨)
    1. No issue
16. Princess Hyeseon of the Hong clan (혜선옹주 홍씨)
    1. No issue
17. Princess Sunhye of the Jang clan (순혜옹주 장씨)
    1. No issue
18. Geum Yeong, Princess Seogyeong (금영 서경옹주)
    1. No issue

His full posthumous name

• King Taejong Gongjeong Seongdeok Sin-gong Geoncheon Chegeuk Daejeong Gye-u Munmu Yecheol Seongnyeol Gwanghyo the Great
• 태종공정성덕신공건천체극대정계우문무예철성렬광효대왕
• 太宗恭定聖德神功建天體極大正啓佑文武叡哲成烈光孝大王

Modern depictions

Tears of the Dragon, a popular KBS television historical drama that aired from 1996–8, portrayed Taejong's life. It depicts him as being committed to the stability of the kingdom, a commitment that translated into affection and devotion towards his father and heir (originally Taejong's firstborn son), although these feelings were not reciprocated due to anger about the 1398 assassinations. The anger culminated in the retired Taejo's efforts to remove Taejong by backing the Jo Sawi's rebellion and personally shooting an arrow at him during a reconciliation meeting. According to the series, Taejong grew to become perpetually suspicious of others around him (especially his in-laws), resulting in purges, a typical example being his execution of the queen's influence-peddling-but-loyal oldest brothers and naїvely-innocent youngest brothers. In disgusted response, his Crown Prince rejected the throne to become a playboy and his second-born son joined the Buddhist priesthood, deferring the position to the third-born son.

King Taejong is also depicted in the 2008 KBS historical drama King Sejong the Great about his third son and successor, King Sejong; the 2011 SBS drama Deep Rooted Tree; the 2014 KBS drama Jeong Do-jeon (TV series) ; the 2015 SBS drama Six Flying Dragons ; the 2016 KBS historical science drama Jang Yeong-sil

See also

• List of Korea-related topics
• Rulers of Korea
• Cheonsang Yeolcha Bunyajido

Notes