Emperor of Korea
Former Monarchy
Imperial
Imperial Seal of the Korean Empire
Sunjong, the last Emperor of Korea
First monarch	Dangun (disputed)
Last monarch	Sunjong (as emperor)
Style	His Imperial and Royal Majesty
Official residence	Changdeokgung, Korea
Monarchy started	2333 BC (disputed)
Monarchy ended	August 29, 1910
Current pretender	Disputed Yi Won Yi Haewŏn

History of Korea
This article is part of a series
Prehistory
Jeulmun period
Mumun period
Gojoseon ?–108 BC
Wiman Joseon 194 BC–108 BC
Proto–Three Kingdoms 300–57 BC
Buyeo, Goguryeo, Okjeo, Dongye
Jin state, Samhan (Ma, Byeon, Jin)
Four Commanderies of Han
Three Kingdoms 57 BC–668
Goguryeo 37 BC–668
Baekje 18 BC–660
Silla 57 BC–935
Gaya 42–562
North and South States 698–926
Unified Silla 668–935
Balhae 698–926
Later Three Kingdoms 892–936
Taebong, Hubaekje, Silla
Goryeo 918–1392
Joseon 1392–1897
Korean Empire 1897–1910
Colonial Korea 1910–1945
Provisional Gov't 1919–1948
Division of Korea 1945–present
North Korea 1948–present
South Korea 1948–present
By topic
Timeline
List of monarchs
Linguistic history
Science and technology history
Art history
Military history
Naval history
Korea Portal v t e

The Korean dynasties are listed in the order of their fall.

This list includes the monarchs' Romanized posthumous or temple names and reign dates. Names are romanized according to the South Korean Revised Romanization of Korean. McCune-Reischauer romanizations may be found at the articles about the individual monarchs.

Gojoseon[link]

Gojoseon (c. 2333 – 237 BCE) was the first Korean kingdom. It is said to have been founded by Dangun Wanggeom in 2333 BCE, although the foundation year is disputed among historians.^[1] Bronze age archaeological evidence of Gojoseon culture is found in northern Korea and Liaoning. By the 9th to 4th century BCE, various historical and archaeological evidence shows Gojoseon was a flourishing state and a self-declared kingdom.

Gojoseon - Songhwagang Period[link]

Uhyeonwang(右賢王) Godeung(高登)'s grandson Saekbulu made a cou de'tat and became 22th dangun

Gojoseon - Baekaksan Period[link]

Gojoseon - Jangdanggyeong Period[link]

Notes: [1] Whether Gija Joseon and Wiman Joseon actually existed is a matter of controversy. Korean scholars deny its existence for various reasons.

Buyeo[link]

Buyeo (2nd century BC – 494 CE) ruled in modern-day Northeast China. The rulers continued to use the titles of Dangun.^[2] Some records refer to Bukbuyeo (North Buyeo) and Dongbuyeo (East Buyeo). It was absorbed into Goguryeo.

Eastern Buyeo[link]

(c.86 BCE–22 CE) The rulers of Dongbuyeo submitted to Bukbuyeo in 86 BC, and thus used the title Wang ("King").

Galsa Buyeo

Later Buyeo[link]

Goguryeo[link]

Goguryeo (37 BC – 668 CE) was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. Goguryeo rulers may have used the title of Taewang (太王, "Greatest King"). [1]

Notes: [1] Some of Goguryeo's own records of individual kings, especially of the 19th (Gwanggaeto), use the title "Taewang" or "Hotaewang", roughly meaning Greatest King or Very Greatest King. Some argue that the title should be translated as "Emperor," equivalent of the Chinese title 皇帝, but this is not widely accepted. The most complete and oldest existing Korean history text, the Samguk Sagi and the Samguk Yusa, written centuries after Goguryeo was defeated, uses the title "Wang", meaning King.

[2] The king names generally derive from the location of the king's burial, and do not necessarily correspond to the Chinese concept of 諡號.

[3] Goguryeo kings had the surname Go, except for the second (Yuri) through fifth (Mobon), whose surnames are recorded as Hae. All of the kings are recorded to belong to the same patrilineal bloodline. It is not clear whether the two surnames are different transcription of the same name, or evidence of a power struggle.

[4] The Samguk Sagi and Samguk Yusa, and sometimes other records mention "other names," "birth names," "childhood names," or "personal names."

[5] The Legendary line names and dates are from the Samguk Sagi. The Wei shu (History of the Wei dynasty) gives the following names: 朱蒙 Jumong, 閭達 Yeodal, 始閭諧 Shiryeohae, 如栗 Yeoyul, and 莫來 Mangnae. The legendary line had already been formed with some variants in the early 5th century when king Jangsu built a monument for his father and Goguryeo made contact with the Northern Wei. The inscription of that monument gives these names: 鄒牟 Chumo, 儒留 Yuryu, and 大朱留 Daejuryu. The connections between those names are not clear.

Sources: http://kdaq.empas.com/koreandb/history/koreanking/html/person/koguryeo_king.html (The Academy of Korean Studies) and http://enc.daum.net/dic100//topView.do (Korea Britannica Corp.)

Baekje[link]

Baekje (18 BC – AD 660) was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. Temple names were the same as personal names, unless noted otherwise.

*Source: [1]

Silla[link]

Silla (57 BC – 935 CE) was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. In the early years, Silla was ruled by the Pak, Seok, and Kim families. Rulers of Silla had various titles, including Isageum, Maripgan, and Daewang. Like some Baekje kings, some declared themselves emperor.

1. Hyeokgeose Geoseogan 혁거세 거서간 朴赫居世居西干 (57 BCE – 4 CE)
2. Namhae Chachaung 남해 차차웅 南解次次雄 (4–24)
3. Yuri Yisageum (24–57) 유리이사금 儒理尼師今 (Kings Yuri to Heurhae bore the Korean title Isageum, an old word for "ruler")
4. Talhae Isageum 탈해이사금 脫解尼師今 (57–80)
5. Pasa Isageum 파사이사금 婆娑尼師今 (80–112)
6. Jima Isageum 지마이사금 祗摩尼師今 (112–134)
7. Ilseong Isageum 일성이사금 逸聖尼師今 (134–154)
8. Adalla Isageum 아달라이사금 阿達羅尼師今 (154–184)
9. Beolhyu Isageum 벌휴이사금 伐休尼師今 (184–196)
10. Naehae Isageum 내해이사금 奈解尼師今 (196–230)
11. Jobun Isageum 조분이사금 助賁尼師今 (230–247)
12. Cheomhae Isageum 첨해이사금 沾解尼師今 (247–261)
13. Michu Isageum 미추이사금 味鄒尼師今 (262–284)
14. Yurye Isageum 유례이사금 儒禮尼師今 (284–298)
15. Girim Isageum 기림이사금 基臨尼師今 (298–310)
16. Heulhae Isageum 흘해이사금 訖解尼師今 (310–356)
17. Naemul Maripgan 내물마립간 奈勿麻立干 (356–402) (Kings Naemul to Soji bore the Korean title Maripgan, an old word for "ruler")
18. Silseong Maripgan 실성마립간 實聖麻立干 (402–417)
19. Nulji Maripgan 눌지마립간 訥祗麻立干 (417–458)
20. Jabi Maripgan 자비마립간 慈悲麻立干 (458–479)
21. Soji Maripgan 소지마립간 炤智麻立干 (479–500)
22. King Jijeung 지증왕 智證王 (500–514) (Kings Jijeung to Gyeongsun bore the title Wang (the modern Korean word for "king"), with the exceptions noted below)
23. King Beopheung the Great 법흥태왕 法興太王 (514–540) ("King Beopheung the Great" is a translation of Beopheung Taewang, "Taewang" meaning "great king")
24. King Jinheung the Great 진흥태왕 眞興太王 (540–576) ("King Jinheung the Great" is a translation of Jinheung Taewang, "Taewang" meaning "great king")
25. King Jinji 진지왕 眞智王 (576–579)
26. King Jinpyeong 진평왕 眞平王 (579–632)
27. Queen Seondeok 선덕왕 善德王 (632–647)
28. Queen Jindeok 진덕왕 眞德王 (647–654)
29. King Taejong Muyeol the Great 태종무열왕 太宗武烈王 (654–661) ("King Muyeol the Great" is a translation of Muyeol Daewang, "Daewang" meaning "great king")

Unified Silla[link]

1. King Munmu 문무대왕 文武大王 (661–681)
2. King Sinmun 신문왕 神文王 (681–691)
3. King Hyoso 효소왕 孝昭王 (692–702)
4. King Seongdeok the Great 성덕대왕 聖德大王 (702–737) ("King Seongdeok the Great" is a translation of Seongdeok Daewang, "Daewang" meaning "great king")
5. King Hyoseong 효성왕 孝成王 (737–742)
6. King Gyeongdeok 경덕왕 景德王 (742–765)
7. King Hyegong 혜공왕 惠恭王 (765–780)
8. King Seondeok 선덕왕 宣德王 (780–785)
9. King Wonseong 원성왕 元聖王 (785–798)
10. King Soseong 소성왕 昭聖王 (798–800)
11. King Aejang 애장왕 哀莊王 (800–809)
12. King Heondeok 헌덕왕 憲德王 (809–826)
13. King Heungdeok 흥덕왕 興德王 (826–836)
14. King Huigang 희강왕 僖康王 (836–838)
15. King Minae 민애왕 閔哀王 (838–839)
16. King Sinmu 신무왕 神武王 (839)
17. King Munseong 문성왕 文聖王 (839–857)
18. King Heonan 헌안왕 憲安王 (857–861)
19. King Gyeongmun 경문왕 景文王 (861–875)
20. King Heongang 헌강왕 憲康王 (875–886)
21. King Jeonggang 정강왕 定康王 (886–887)
22. Queen Jinseong 진성왕 眞聖王 (887–897)
23. King Hyogong 효공왕 孝恭王 (897–912)
24. King Sindeok 신덕왕 神德王 (913–917)
25. King Gyeongmyeong 경명왕 景明王 (917–924)
26. King Gyeongae 경애왕 景哀王 (924–927)
27. King Gyeongsun 경순왕 敬順王 (927–935)

Gaya confederacy[link]

The Gaya confederacy (42–562) consisted of several small statelets. All rulers of Gaya bore the title Wang ("King").

Geumgwan Gaya[link]

Geumgwan Gaya (42–532) was one of the Gaya confederacy.

Daegaya[link]

Daegaya (42–562) was one of the Gaya confederacy.

Balhae[link]

Balhae (698–926) was an ancient Korean kingdom established after the fall of Goguryeo. Balhae occupied southern parts of Northeast China and Primorsky Krai, and the northern part of the Korean peninsula.

Later Baekje[link]

Hubaekje (900–936) was founded by Gyeon Hwon, who was a general during Later Silla's period of decline. Thus began the Later Three Kingdoms period. Hubaekje met its downfall at the hands of Gyeon Hwon himself, who later led the Goryeo armies alongside Taejo of Goryeo to capture Singeom, the prince of Hubaekje, who had betrayed Gyeon Hwon.

Later Goguryeo[link]

Later Goguryeo (901–918), also known as Ma-jin or Taebong, was established by Gung-ye, an outcast prince of Silla. Gung-Ye joined General Yang-Gil's rebellion, and rose through the ranks. He eventually assassinated Yang-Gil and established a new kingdom, naming it Later Goguryeo. Gung-Ye turned out to be a tyrant, and was overthrown by his generals, opening the way for General Wang Geon, who established Goryeo.

Goryeo[link]

Goryeo (918–1392) was ruled by the Wang Dynasty. The first ruler 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. Starting with Gwangjong, rulers of Goryeo styled themselves emperors, with the first three rulers elevated to that title posthumously. With the Mongol conquest, however, the title of the ruler was demoted to a king, or "Wang."

The next twenty-three kings (until Wonjong) are also referred to by their temple names, ending in jong. Beginning with Chungnyeol (the twenty-fifth king), all the remaining kings of Goryeo had the title Wang ("King") as part of their temple names. Era names are in bracket where available

Joseon[link]

Joseon (1392–1897) followed Goryeo. In 1897, when Joseon became the Korean Empire, some of the Joseon kings were posthumously raised to the rank of emperors.

Joseon monarchs 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 not given temple names after their reigns ended.

Each monarch had a posthumous 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.

#	Portrait	Personal name		Period of reign	Korean era name		Temple name (廟號)
		Westernized	Hangul/Hanja		Westernized	Hangul/Hanja	Westernized	Hangul/Hanja
1		Yi Seong-gye	이성계/이단 李成桂/李旦	1392–1398			Taejo	태조 太祖 (T)
2		Yi Bang-gwa	이방과 李芳果	1398–1400			Jeongjong	정종 定宗 (T)
3		Yi Bang-won	이방원 李芳遠	1400–1418			Taejong	태종 太宗(T)
4		Yi Do	이도 李祹	1418–1450			Sejong the Great	세종 世宗(T)
5		Yi Hyang	이향 李珦	1450–1452			Munjong	문종 文宗 (T)
6		Yi Hong-wi	이홍위 李弘緯	1452–1455			Danjong	단종 端宗 (T)
7		Yi Yu	이유 李瑈	1455–1468			Sejo	세조 世祖 (T)
8		Yi Gwang	이광 李晄	1468–1469			Yejong	예종 睿宗 (T)
9		Yi Hyeol	이혈 李娎	1469–1494			Seongjong	성종 成宗(T)
10		Yi Yung	이융 李隆	1494–1506			Yeonsangun	연산군 燕山君
11		Yi Yeok	이역 李懌	1506–1544			Jungjong	중종 中宗 (T)
12		Yi Ho	이호 李峼	1544–1545			Injong	인종 仁宗 (T)
13		Yi Hwan	이환 李峘	1545–1567			Myeongjong	명종 明宗 (T)
14		Yi Yeon	이연 李蚣	1567–1608			Seonjo	선조 宣祖 (T)
15		Yi Hon	이혼 李琿	1608–1623			Gwanghaegun	광해군 光海君
16		Yi Jong	이종 李倧	1623–1649			Injo	인조 仁祖 (T)
17		Yi Ho	이호 李淏	1649–1659			Hyojong	효종 孝宗(T)
18		Yi Yeon	이연 李棩	1659–1674			Hyeonjong	현종 顯宗 (T)
19		Yi Sun	이순 李焞	1674–1720			Sukjong	숙종 肅宗 (T)
20		Yi Yun	이윤 李昀	1720–1724			Gyeongjong	경종 景宗 (T)
21		Yi Geum	이금 李昑	1724–1776			Yeongjo	영조 英祖 (T)
22	60px	Yi San	이산 李祘	1776–1800			Jeongjo	정조 正祖 (T)
23		Yi Gong	이공 李蚣	1800–1834			Sunjo	순조 純祖 (T)
24		Yi Hwan	이환 李奐	1834–1849			Heonjong	헌종 憲宗 (T)
25	60px	Yi Byeon	이변 李昪	1849–1863			Cheoljong	철종 哲宗 (T)
26		Yi Myeong-bok	이명복 李命福	1863–1897 (1897–1907)*	Gaeguk Geonyang Gwangmu	개국 (開國) 건양 (建陽) 광무 (光武)	Gojong*	고종 高宗 (T)
27		Yi Cheok	이척 李拓	(1907–1910)*	Yunghui	융희 (隆熙)	Sunjong*	순종 純宗 (T)

* see Korean Empire section

Korean Empire[link]

In 1897, Joseon Dynasty became Korean Empire, which was lasted until 1910. Technically, the emperors should be referred to by their era names rather than their temple names, but the latter are commonly used.

#	Portrait	Personal name		Period of reign	Korean era name		Temple name (廟號)
		Westernized	Hangul/Hanja		Westernized	Hangul/Hanja	Westernized	Hangul/Hanja
1		Yi Myeong bok	이명복 李命福	1897–1907	Gwangmu	광무 光武	Gojong	고종 高宗 (T)
2		Yi Cheok	이척 李拓	1907–1910	Yunghui	융희 隆熙	Sunjong	순종 純宗 (T)

See also[link]

• Governor-General of Korea
• Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea (1919–1948)
• North Korea (1948–present), List of heads of state of North Korea
• South Korea (1948–present), List of Presidents of South Korea
• Korean Imperial Household
• Head of government of Korea

Notes[link]

1. ^ Cumings (1997, p. 25) only indicates that Gojoseon was among the small peninsular states which emerged "by the fourth century BC." Lee (1984, p. 13) also only mentions Gojoseon as having emerged in the Liao and Taedong valleys by the 4th century. Some, like Kim (1997) do regard "Gojoseon" as having possibly existed during the Neolithic period, i.e. before the 13th century BCE; however, by the same token they reject the possibility that Gojoseon can be regarded as a "state" or even "tribal confederation" in the modern sense. Professor Yoon says that the Gojoseon had become an ancient nation at 2333 BCE(Yoon, 2002), which is most recent research
2. ^ 백산 학회, 고조선 부여사 연구
3. ^ Il-yeon: Samguk Yusa: Legends and History of the Three Kingdoms of Ancient Korea, translated by Tae-Hung Ha and Grafton K. Mintz. Epilogue, page 354. Silk Pagoda (2006). ISBN 1-59654-348-5 - note: the dates for Geojilmi's reign go there until 344

References[link]

• Yoon, N.-H.(윤내현), The Location and Transfer of GO-CHOSUN's Capital(고조선의 도읍 위치와 그 이동), 단군학연구, 7, 207 - 238 (2002)
• Byeon Tae-seop (변태섭) (1999). 韓國史通論 (Hanguksa tongnon) (Outline of Korean history), 4th ed.. ISBN 89-445-9101-6. 
• Cumings, Bruce (1997). Korea's place in the sun. New York: W.W. Norton. ISBN 0-393-31681-5. 
• Kim, Jung Bae (1997). "Formation of the ethnic Korean nation and the emergence of its ancient kingdom states". Korean history: Discovery of its characteristics and developments. Seoul: Hollym. pp. 27–36. ISBN 1-56591-177-6. 
• Nahm, Andrew C. (1988). Korea: Tradition and Transformation — A History of the Korean People. Hollym International. ISBN 0-930878-56-6. 
• http://www.rootsinfo.co.kr/index_sub02.html (in Korean only)
• http://www.rulers.org

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Korea
Capitals		Pyongyang, Seoul
Official language(s)		Korean
Area
-	Total	219,140 km2 [1][2](84th if reunified) 84,610 sq mi
-	Water (%)	2.8
Population
-	2010 estimate	73,000,000[3] (18th if reunified)
-	Density	328.48/km2  850.7/sq mi
Currency		Won (₩) (N/S)
Time zone		KST (UTC+9)
ISO 3166 code		KR/KP

This article contains Korean text. Without proper rendering support, you may see question marks, boxes, or other symbols instead of Hangul or Hanja.

Korea (/kəˈriːə/ kə-REE-ə; Korean: 한국 Hanguk [hanɡuːk] or 조선 Joseon [tɕosʌn] – (see etymology) is an East Asian region that is divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the east by the Korea Strait and the Sea of Japan (East Sea), and separated from Taiwan to the south by the East China Sea.

Archaeological and linguistic evidence suggest the origins of the Korean people might have been Altaic language-speaking people from south-central Siberia,^{[dubious – discuss][4]} who populated ancient Korea in successive waves from the Neolithic age to the Bronze Age.^[5] The adoption of the Chinese writing system ("Hanja" in Korean) in the 2nd century BC, and Buddhism in the 4th century AD, had profound effects on the Three Kingdoms of Korea.

The Three Kingdoms of Korea was first united during the Silla dynasty under the king Munmu of Silla. The united Silla dynasty fell to Goryeo Dynasty in 935 at the end of Later Three Kingdoms of Korea era. Goryeo was a highly cultural state and created the Jikji in the 14th century, using the world's first movable metal type printing press. The Mongol invasions in the 13th century, however, greatly weakened the nation which was forced to become a tributary state. After the Mongol Empire's collapse, severe political strife followed and Goryeo was replaced by the Joseon Dynasty in 1388.

The first 200 years of Joseon were marked by relative peace and saw the creation of the Korean alphabet Hangul by King Sejong the Great in the 14th century and the rise in influence of Confucianism in the country. During the latter part of the dynasty, however, Korea's isolationist policy earned it the Western nickname the "Hermit kingdom". By the late 19th century, the country became the object of the colonial designs of Japan. In 1910, Korea was invaded by Japan and remained occupied until the end of World War II in August 1945.

In 1945, the Soviet Union and the United States agreed on the surrender of Japanese forces in Korea and Soviet troops occupied north of the 38th parallel, while U.S. troops took surrender south of it. This decision by allied armies soon became the basis for the division of Korea by the two superpowers, exacerbated by their inability to agree on the terms of Korean independence. The two Cold War rivals then established governments sympathetic to their own ideologies, leading to Korea's current division into two political entities: North Korea and South Korea. The ensuing conflict between the two was largely a proxy war.

North Korea, officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, is a single-party state with a centrally planned industrial economy. South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea, is a free market, democratic, and developed country with membership in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the Group of Twenty.

Etymology[link]

"Korea" derives from the Goryeo period of Korean history, which in turn referred to the ancient kingdom of Goguryeo, the first Korean dynasty visited by Persian merchants who referred to Koryŏ (Goryeo) (고려) as Korea.^[6] Koryŏ (Goryeo) is also the name of Goguryeo, which changed its name to Koryŏ (Goryeo) in the 5th century (during the reign of King Jangsu of Goguryeo). Korea is now commonly used in English contexts by both North and South Korea. In the Korean language, Korea as a whole is referred to as Han-guk (한국) in South Korea, and Chosŏn (조선) in North Korea. The latter name, also Romanised Joseon, is from the Joseon Dynasty and the earlier Gojoseon. "The Land of the Morning Calm" is an English language title for the country loosely derived from the hanja characters for Joseon.

History[link]

History of Korea
This article is part of a series
Prehistory
Jeulmun period
Mumun period
Gojoseon ?–108 BC
Wiman Joseon 194 BC–108 BC
Proto–Three Kingdoms 300–57 BC
Buyeo, Goguryeo, Okjeo, Dongye
Jin state, Samhan (Ma, Byeon, Jin)
Four Commanderies of Han
Three Kingdoms 57 BC–668
Goguryeo 37 BC–668
Baekje 18 BC–660
Silla 57 BC–935
Gaya 42–562
North and South States 698–926
Unified Silla 668–935
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