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Taejong (1367 – 1422, r. 1400-1418) was the third king of the Joseon Dynasty in Korea and the father of King Sejong the Great.
[edit] Early lifeHe was born as Yi Bangwon 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 citizenry and many influential figures of the government. He was sent to the Ming Dynasty of China in 1388. Taejong helped his father found a new dynasty by disposing of powerful Confucian officials such as Jeong Mong-ju, who remained loyal to the Goryeo kings. In 1392, he helped his father to overthrow Goryeo and establish a new dynasty, Joseon. He thought he would be appointed as the successor to the throne, but his younger half-brother, Yi Bangseok (Prince Uian) was favored more by Taejo and Prime Minister Jeong Dojeon, who were afraid of Taejong's strong leadership and hard-line policy against noble families. In 1398, he led a coup against Jeong Dojeon and Yi Bangseok, exterminating Jeong's faction and murdering Yi Bangseok, his siblings and the queen. He then gave a push to his older brother, Jeongjong of Joseon, as a crown prince. Disappointed, Taejo abdicated in 1399, and Jeongjong succeeded to the throne. In 1400, General Bak Po, who was disappointed by Taejong for not rewarding him for his action in the 1398 coup, allied with Bangwon's older brother Yi Banggan (Prince Hoean) and rebelled against him. Yi Bangwon successfully defeated his brother's forces, then executed Bak Po and sent Yi Banggan into exile. King Jeongjong, who was afraid of his brother's harsh action, appointed him as crown prince and abdicated in the same year, thus Taejong became the third king of Joseon Dynasty.[citation needed] [edit] ReignFirst in his reign, he banned private armies and absorbed the soldiers who were privately owned by many nobles and princes into the official army, and removed opposition from the government. He also changed the political system, creating a strong central government and an absolute monarchy. 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. 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 palace and consult the king.[citation needed] In foreign policy, he was 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 Oei 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 1404, He moved the capital back to Hanyang (Seoul), and abdicated in 1418-giving the throne to Sejong the Great of Joseon.[citation needed] Taejong was known for his passion for hunting, considered unseemly in a ruler. [edit] Family
[edit] His full posthumous name
[edit] Modern depiction"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 was also depicted in the 2008 KBS historical drama King Sejong the Great (TV series) about his third son and sucessor, King Sejong. [edit] See also[edit] References
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