Gyeongmun of Silla

48th monarch of Silla (r. 861–875)
King Gyeongmun
경문왕
景文王
King of Silla
Reign861–875
PredecessorHeonan of Silla
SuccessorHeongang of Silla
Born846
Died875
Silla
IssueHeongang of Silla
Jinseong of Silla
Jeonggang of Silla
HouseKim
FatherKim Kye-myŏng
MotherLady Gwanghwa
Gyeongmun of Silla
Hangul
경문왕
Hanja
景文王
Revised RomanizationGyeongmun wang
McCune–ReischauerKyŏngmun wang
Birth name
Hangul
김응렴
Hanja
金膺廉 or 金凝廉
Revised RomanizationKim Eung-ryeom
McCune–ReischauerKim Ŭng-nyŏm
Monarchs of Korea
Silla
(Post-unification)
  1. Munmu 661–681
  2. Sinmun 681–691
  3. Hyoso 692–702
  4. Seongdeok 702–737
  5. Hyoseong 737–742
  6. Gyeongdeok 742–765
  7. Hyegong 765–780
  8. Seondeok 780–785
  9. Wonseong 785–798
  10. Soseong 798–800
  11. Aejang 800–809
  12. Heondeok 809–826
  13. Heungdeok 826–836
  14. Huigang 836–838
  15. Minae 838–839
  16. Sinmu 839
  17. Munseong 839–857
  18. Heonan 857–861
  19. Gyeongmun 861–875
  20. Heongang 875–886
  21. Jeonggang 886–887
  22. Jinseong 887–897
  23. Hyogong 897–912
  24. Sindeok 912–917
  25. Gyeongmyeong 917–924
  26. Gyeongae 924–927
  27. Gyeongsun 927–935
  • v
  • t
  • e

Gyeongmun of Silla (846–875), personal name Kim Ŭng-nyŏm, was the 48th ruler of the Korean kingdom of Silla.[1]

Biography

King Gyeongmun was the grandson of King Huigang, and the son of the ichan Kim Kye-myŏng, who was also a director of the Chancellery (집사성 시중; 執事省侍中; chipsasŏng sijung). His mother was Lady Gwanghwa, the daughter of King Sinmu.

According to the Samguk yusa, when he was eighteen, he became a kukson of the hwarang.[2] In 860, when he was 15 (according to the Samguk sagi) or 20 (according to the Samguk yusa), Gyeongmun impressed King Heonan at a banquet after making a report on his travels. King Heonan gave the young hwarang an opportunity to marry one of his two daughters. On the advice of a Buddhist monk who promised he would receive three auspicious things, Gyeongmun married Queen Munui, who was the less-attractive, elder daughter. The three auspicious benefits were that he would make King Heonan and his queen happy, that he would succeed King Heonan on the throne, and finally that he would also receive the younger daughter, Madam Jeonghwa, as a consort.[3]

Gyeongmun's reign saw intensifying internal strife and rebellion. In 866, ichan Yunhŭng (윤흥; 允興) and his brothers, Sukhŭng (숙흥; 叔興) and Kyehŭng (계흥; 季興) rebelled against Gyeongmun. Yunhŭng and his brothers supported the right of the descendants of Kim Kyun-jŏng (김균정; 金均貞) to the throne. Yunhŭng and his brothers were defeated and killed. In 868, ichan Kim Ye, the younger cousin of King Munseong and a descendant of Kim Kyun-jong, plotted rebellion along with Kim Hyŏn (김현; 金鉉) but they were caught and killed.[4][5] Gyeongmun sought to strengthen the kingdom within and without, but was generally unsuccessful. Famine was widespread. In 869, he sent the Crown Prince (who would become King Heongang) to Tang China together with Kim Yun.

The Samguk Yusa also portrays a story about King Gyeongmun which is similar to that of King Midas' ears.[6] The Samguk Yusa's mythical story claimed that King Gyeongmun had donkey-like ears, and only his crownmaker knew of the king's condition, as the king deliberately hid his ears from everyone. Unable to keep the secret, the king's crownmaker shouted the secret at a bamboo forest.[7] Following the crownmaker's death, the king noticed that when the wind blows, his secrets echo from the forest. He immediately felt unpleasant and destroyed the bamboo forest and planted dogwoods.[8]

His daughter, Jinseong, would later become Silla's 51 ruler and its 3rd and last reigning queen in 887.

Family

  1. Queen Munui of the Kim clan (문의왕후 김씨), eldest daughter of King Heonan
    1. Son: Heongang of Silla (c.861–886)
    2. Daughter: Jinseong of Silla
  2. Madam Jeonhwa (정화부인), second daughter of King Heonan
    1. Son: Jeonggang of Silla (c.863–887)

In Popular Culture

See also

References

  1. ^ Il-yeon: Samguk Yusa: Legends and History of the Three Kingdoms of Ancient Korea, translated by Tae-Hung Ha and Grafton K. Mintz. Book Two, page 104. Silk Pagoda (2006). ISBN 1-59654-348-5
  2. ^ Il-yeon: Samguk Yusa: Legends and History of the Three Kingdoms of Ancient Korea, translated by Tae-Hung Ha and Grafton K. Mintz. Book Two, page 104. Silk Pagoda (2006). ISBN 1-59654-348-5
  3. ^ McBride, Richard D. (1 January 2020). "Blaming the Victim: Reconsidering Queen Chinsŏng and the Decline of Silla". The Dong Gook Sa Hak. 69 (69): 603–649. doi:10.22912/dgsh.2020..69.603. Retrieved 25 November 2023.
  4. ^ Riotto, Maurizio (2020). "The Allegory of King Kyŏngmun in the Samguk yusa". Seoul Journal of Korean Studies. 33 (1): 127–154. doi:10.1353/seo.2020.0005. S2CID 226700388. Retrieved 25 November 2023.
  5. ^ "김예". Doopedia (in Korean). Retrieved 22 December 2023.
  6. ^ Im, Felix (November 6, 2014). "The King Has Donkey Ears!: Even bamboo trees can't keep secrets". Korea Net. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
  7. ^ Im, Felix (November 6, 2014). "The King Has Donkey Ears!: Even bamboo trees can't keep secrets". Korea Net. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
  8. ^ Im, Felix (November 6, 2014). "The King Has Donkey Ears!: Even bamboo trees can't keep secrets". Korea Net. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
Gyeongmun of Silla
Born: 841 Died: 875
Regnal titles
Preceded by King of Silla
Silla
861–875 		Succeeded by