Gogugwon of Goguryeo

Summary

King Gogugwon of Goguryeo (?–371, r. 331–371)[2] was the 16th king of Goguryeo, the northernmost of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. He was the son of King Micheon and Lady Ju.[2]

Gogugwon of Goguryeo
Man from Anak Tomb No.3, presumed to be a depiction of king Gogugwon in North Korean academia.
Korean name
Hangul
고국원왕, 국강상왕[1]
Hanja
故國原王, 國岡上王
Revised RomanizationGogugwon-wang, Gukgangsang-wang
McCune–ReischauerKogugwŏn-wang, Kukkangsang-wang
Birth name
Hangul
고사유, 유, or 쇠
Hanja
高斯由, 劉, or 釗
Revised RomanizationGo Sayu, Yu, or Soe
McCune–ReischauerKo Sayu, Yu, or Soe

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.[3]

The reign of Gogukwon suffered severely from continuous foreign invasions, not only those of Chinese forces including Xianbei but also of Baekje, southwestern part of Korean peninsula. Particularly, the Xianbei state of Former Yan invaded the capital in 342, capturing Queen Ju, the mother of Gogukwon and his concubines and also digging up the corpse of his father, Micheon. Since the capital was thoroughly destroyed, Gogukwon firstly constructed Guknae seong as an alternative fortress in northern sphere[4] and temporarily moved the capital to Pyongyang, present-day capital of North Korea.[5] While he could get back the corpse of his father, it took about 13 years for his mother to return to Goguryeo.[2]

In 369, Gogukwon personally led expedition of more than 20,000 troops.[6] Without success, Geunchogo's son Geungusu overtook, counterattacked and killed Gogugwon in battle, at Pyongyang Castle, the only ruler of Goguryeo to die on a battlefield.[2] He was buried in Gogugwon.

Family edit

  • Father: King Micheon (미천왕, 美川王)
    • Grandfather: Prince Dolgo (돌고, 咄固)
  • Mother: Queen, of the Ju clan (왕후 주씨, 王后 周氏)
  • Wife: unknown queen

Depiction in arts and media edit

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "고국원왕" (in Korean). Doopedia. Retrieved 2016-06-08.
  2. ^ a b c d "King Gogukwon". KBS Radio. Korean Broadcasting System. Retrieved 1 February 2016.
  3. ^ Chun, Ho-tae (2007). Koguryŏ = Koguryo, the origin of Korean power & pride. Sŏul-si: Tongbuga Yŏksa Chaedan. pp. 19–21. ISBN 9788991448834.
  4. ^ Kim, Bushik (1145). Samguk Sagi. Retrieved 1 February 2016.
  5. ^ Kim, Bushik (1145). Samguk Sagi. Retrieved 1 February 2016.
  6. ^ Yoon, Nae-hyun; Lee, Hyun-hee; Park, Sung-soo (2005). New history of Korea. Paju: Jimoondang. p. 150. ISBN 9788988095850.
  7. ^ "King Geunchogo". HanCinema. Retrieved 2016-06-13.
Gogugwon of Goguryeo
 Died: 371
Regnal titles
Preceded by King of Goguryeo
331–371
Succeeded by