Hwanung – legendary god, considered the father of Tan’gun

Tan’gun – born from the union of Hwanung and a she-bear; considered the progenitor of the Korean people; birth attributed to 2333 BC; considered founder of the Old Choson state.

Wiman Choson, ca. 190 BC - 109 BC

Two of the most important Han commanderies on the Korean peninsula: Lelang/Nangnang & Xuantu/Hwando
Xianbei, northern steppe peoples fighting for territory in Manchuria; one branch of this tribe is influential in founding the N. Wei during the N/S Dyansties period in China.

King Kwangeat’o (391-413), consolidator of Koguryo territory

King Changsu (413-491), rules over vastest expanse of Koguryo territory in the 5th c.

Ich’adon (501-527), official advisor to the kingdom of Silla; a martyr for the cause of Buddhism; after Ich’adon’s death, Buddhism is adopted as the stat religion in Silla.

Wonhyo (617-686); locally trained Buddhist monk; tried to synthesize the various Buddhist sects within Silla; broke with the Buddhist vows of celibacy & fathered a son with a Silla princess.

Sol Ch’ong (c. 660-730); out of wedlock son of Wonhyo and a widowed Silla princess; reputed creator of the idu script for adapting Chinese characters to Korean grammar & syntax.

King Kyongdok (r. 742-765); promoted reforming state administration in accordance with Chinese models.

King Hyegong (r. 765-780); killed in palace coup by aristocrats opposed to expansion of royal prerogative.

King Sondok (r. 780-785); sided with nativist aristocrats in struggles over court vs. aristocratic power.

Chang Pogo (d. 846); merchant and military garrison commissioner commanding the island of Ch’onghae (modern Wando) from 828 to 846; controlled seas between China, Korea & Japan and cleared them of pirates; assassinated in 846 after becoming embroiled in court succession politics.

Kungye (d. 918); a young aristocrat who rebelled against Silla in late ninth century; set up his own capital at Kaesong and proclaimed himself ruler of the kingdom of Later Koguryo; losses thrown to his first minister, Wang Kon, in 918.

Kyon Hwon (867?-936); peasant rebellion leader who declared himself ruler of Later Paekche in 900; losses his power to one of his sons; goes over to the side of Wang Kon in 935.

Wang Kon (reigned as King T’aejo, 918-43); founder of Koryo dynasty.

King Kwangjong (r. 949-975); noted for attempting to break stranglehold of old aristocracy on court by adopting Chinese & Confucian models of administration; launches a Koryo civil service examination (only open to aristocrats).

Khitan: steppe inhabitants of southeast Manchuria; overthrew Parhae in 926 and established their own Liao dynasty; at times engaged in battle with the Northern Song, at times with Koryo; eventually defeated by the Jurchen Jin in early 12th century.

Tan’gun – born from the union of Hwanung and a she-bear; considered the progenitor of the Korean people; birth attributed to 2333 BC; mythological founder of the Old Choson state.

Yi Chayon (ca. early 12th c); via royal consorts managed to control the Koryo kings.

Yi Chagyom (d. 1127); son of Yi Chayon; inherits political power built up by his father; wealth and authority rivals that of his son-in-law, King Injong. When Yi’s power is threatened by King Injong, Yi sacks the palace in 1126.

Myoch’ong (d. 1136); leads a rebellion against King Injong in 1135-36; tries to move the capital to P’yongyang and set himself up as a new ruler; anti-appeasement with the Jurchen Jin; rebellion crushed by Kim Pusik in 1136.

Ch’oe military dictatorship; period of rule under General Ch’oe Ch’unghon and his clan from 1196-1258

Ch’oe Ch’onghon (d. 1218)

Ch’oe U; son of Ch’oe Ch’onghon

Ch’oe Ui; grandson of Ch’oe U

Zhu Xi; Southern Song Neo-Confucian scholar; synthesizes Song-era Neo-Confucian thought; his commentaries to the Four Books become the standard curriculum for the Chinese civil service system in the 14th century in China. His corpus of writing, and especially his ritual handbook entitled Family Rituals, becomes extremely influential in Choson Korea.

Red Turbans; rebellious branch of White Lotus believers active in China during the transition between the Yuan and the Ming dynasties; responsible for the success of the Ming; groups of Red Turban rebels were also active in parts of northern Korea in the early to mid-14th century.

Some Choson kings:

• Yi Songgye (1335-1408; ruled as King T’aejo, 1392-98); founder of the Yi/Choson dynasty
• King T’aejong (r. 1400-1418)
• King Sejong (r. 1418-1450); considered the greatest Choson ruler; reigned during a highpoint of peace and prosperity; creator of the Korean script (precursor of the Han’gul alphabet).
• King Sejo (r. 1455-1468), Prince Suyang before he seizes power from his nephew.
• King Songjong (r. 1469-1494)
• Hideyoshi Toyotomi (1536-98)

Yi Sunsin (1545-1598); Korean general considered responsible for saving the Choson dynasty from the late 16th-century Japanese invasions; made use of “turtle ships” to defeat the Japanese at sea; embroiled in factional politics at the Choson court; demoted after first invasion but then reinstated to lead the defense forces after the second invasion; killed by a stray bullet from remnant Japanese forces at sea.