Mokjong of Goryeo explained

Mokjong of Goryeo
Korean: 고려 목종
Korean: 高麗 穆宗
Succession:King of Goryeo
Reign:997 – 2 March 1009
Coronation:997
Gaegyeong, Goryeo
Predecessor:Seongjong of Goryeo
Successor:Hyeonjong of Goryeo
Spouse:Queen Seonjeong
Spouse-Type:Queen Consort
Spouses:Lady Yoseok
Spouses-Type:Concubine
House:Wang
Dynasty:Goryeo
Father:Gyeongjong of Goryeo
Mother:Queen Heonae
Birth Name:Wang Song
Birth Date:5 July 980
Birth Place:Gaegyeong, Goryeo
Death Date:2 March 1009 (aged 28)
Death Place:Jeokseong-hyeon, Gaeseong-bu, Gaegyeong, Goryeo
Place Of Burial:Gongneung (공릉, 恭陵) → Uireung (의릉, 義陵)
Posthumous Name:Great King Hyosa Wihye Geukyeong Jeonggong Seonyang
효사위혜극영정공선양대왕
(孝思威惠克英定恭宣讓大王)
Temple Name:Minjong (민종, 愍宗) → Mokjong (목종, 穆宗)
Korean name
Hangul:목종
Rr:Mokjong
Mr:Mokchong
Hangulph:선양
Rrph:Seonyang Daewang
Mrph:Sŏnyang Taewang
Hangulborn:왕송
Rrborn:Wang Song
Mrborn:Wang Song
Hangulja:효신
Rrja:Hyosin
Mrja:Hyosin

Mokjong of Goryeo (5 July 980 – 2 March 1009), personal name Wang Song, was the seventh ruler of the Goryeo dynasty of Korea.

Reign

Born as Wang Song, Mokjong was the only son of King Gyeongjong; however, when his father died, he was too young to become king, so it was his uncle, prince Gaeryeong Wang Chi, who succeeded to the throne as King Seongjong.[1] Mokjong eventually became king after his uncle's death in 997 and chose his mother, Queen Honae, as regent.

Mokjong is known for his reform of the Jeonsigwa (land-allotment system) as well as his various efforts to reorganize the military system and rebuild Pyongyang's castle to strengthen Goryeo's northern defenses early in his reign.[2] He is also remembered for a plot by his mother, Queen Honae and her lover Kim Ch'i-yang to overthrow him.[3] Queen Honae and Kim sought to replace Mokjong with their child, whom they had presented as a son of Mokjong's father, Gyeongjong of Goryeo, which Mokjong sought to prevent as it would have meant the end of the Wang Clan's rule over Goryeo.[3] [2] Further complicating the situation was Mokjong's homosexuality, which led to his lack of heirs, and his sexuality would be used as an excuse for his eventual overthrow.[2] Mokjong called in General Kang to stop Queen Honae and Kim's coup, but in the process, Mokjong himself was dethroned by general Kang Cho on charges that he had neglected the defense of the country which was in imminent danger from an invasion by the Khitan Liao as well as allegations that his homosexuality was a "sickness" and was forcefully sent into exile in Chungju.[4] [2] However, he was slain before he arrived there.

Mokjong's tomb was known as Gongneung, but its present location is not known.

Family

  1. Queen Seonjeong of the Chungju Yu clan ; maternal first cousin or paternal second cousin – No issue.
  2. Palace Lady Yoseoktaek, of the Kim clan – No issue.

Mokjong is on record as having kept several wonchung ("male lovers") in their courts as “little-brother attendants” (chajewhi) who served as sexual partners.[5]

In popular culture

See also

References

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 목종[穆宗] - 비극적 결말에 가려진 12년의 치세 ]. 2022-11-07 . contents.history.go.kr . ko.
  2. News: 김 . 경순 . 고려 : 7대 목종, 게이의 슬픔 . 23 January 2024 . 수완뉴스 . February 25, 2020.
  3. News: [Why] [이한우의 역사속의 Why] 고려 목종을 폐립시킨 강조 ]. 23 January 2024 . Chosun Ilbo . January 31, 2009.
  4. News: Choe . Chong Dae . Patriotism of Goryeo General Ha Gong-jin . 23 January 2024 . Korea Times . February 19, 2013.
  5. Encyclopedia: South Korea (Taehan Min'guk). International Encyclopedia of Sexuality. Continuum Publishing Company. Hyung-Ki Choi. 2007-01-01. etal. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20070110230319/http://www2.hu-berlin.de/sexology/IES/southkorea.html#6. 2007-01-10.