Bongsang of Goguryeo

Bongsang of Goguryeo
Hangul
봉상왕, 치갈왕
Hanja
烽上王, 雉葛王
Revised RomanizationBongsang-wang, Chigal-wang
McCune–ReischauerPongsang-wang, Ch'igal-wang
Birth name
Hangul
고상부 or 삽시루
Hanja
高相夫 or 歃矢婁
Revised RomanizationGo Sangbu or Sapsiru
McCune–ReischauerKo Sangbu or Sapsiru
Monarchs of Korea
Goguryeo
  1. Chumo c. 37–19 BC
  2. Yuri 19 BC–18 AD
  3. Daemusin 18–44
  4. Minjung 44–48
  5. Mobon 48–53
  6. Taejodae 53–146
  7. Chadae 146–165
  8. Sindae 165–179
  9. Gogukcheon 179–197
  10. Sansang 197–227
  11. Dongcheon 227–248
  12. Jungcheon 248–270
  13. Seocheon 270–292
  14. Bongsang 292–300
  15. Micheon 300–331
  16. Gogugwon 331–371
  17. Sosurim 371–384
  18. Gogugyang 384–391
  19. Gwanggaeto the Great 391–413
  20. Jangsu 413–491
  21. Munja 491–519
  22. Anjang 519–531
  23. Anwon 531–545
  24. Yangwon 545–559
  25. Pyeongwon 559–590
  26. Yeongyang 590–618
  27. Yeongnyu 618–642
  28. Bojang 642–668

Bongsang (died 300, r. 292–300)[1] was the 14th king of Goguryeo, the northernmost of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. He was the eldest son of King Seocheon.[2]

From his youth, he is said to have been arrogant and dissolute, full of mistrust and envy.[1] As soon as he was crowned, Bongsang charged his popular uncle Go Dal-ga (Prince An-guk) with treason and had him slain, upsetting his people.[2]

In the eighth lunar month of 293 the Xianbei chieftain Murong Hui invaded. Bongsang fled to the mountain of Sinseong. The sohyeong of the north, Go No-ja, led five hundred cavalry out to meet the king, and went on to defeat the Xianbei forces. King Bongsang promoted Go No-ja to daehyeong, a position of the 5th rank, giving him Gongnim as stipend land.[2][3][4]

The following month, the king feared that his younger brother Go Dol-go was plotting against him, and forced him to commit suicide. Dol-go's son, the subsequent king Micheon fled and preserved his own life. In the eighth month of 296, Murong Hui invaded once more, but was repelled.[2]

The following month, a heavy frost and hail fell and destroyed the crops, but the king carried on with reconstructing the palace with gaining massive complaints from his people.[5] In spite of continuous resentment, King didn't listen to the counsels of his ministers, while some of Goguryeo people chose to flee away from forced labor.[2]

In the end, his ministers carried out a coup in the eighth lunar month of 300.[6] Bongsang and his two sons committed suicide. He was buried in Bongsan-won. The ministers found the escaped prince, and set him on the throne as King Micheon.[2]

  1. ^ a b Kim, Bushik (1145). Samguk sagi (三國史記 卷第十七 髙句麗本紀 第五 ed.). 烽上王 一云雉葛., 諱相夫 或云歃矢婁., 西川王之太子也. 㓜驕逸多疑忌. 西川王二十三年薨, 太子即位.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "King Bongsang". KBS Radio. Korean Broadcasting System. Archived from the original on 12 April 2018. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
  3. ^ Kim, Bushik (1145). Samguk sagi (三國史記 卷第十七 髙句麗本紀 第五 ed.). Retrieved 31 January 2016.二年, 秋八月慕容廆來侵. 王欲徃新城避賊. 行至鵠林, 慕容廆知王出, 引兵追之. 將及王懼. 時新城宰北部小兄髙奴子, 領五百騎迎王, 逢賊奮擊之, 廆軍敗退. 王喜, 加髙奴子爵爲大兄, 兼賜鵠林爲食邑.
  4. ^ Yi, Hun-gu (1929). A History of Land Systems and Policies in Korea. University of Wisconsin. p. 36. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
  5. ^ p'yŏn, Paeksanhakhoe (2005). Koguryŏsa yŏn'guŭi chemunje. Seoul: Paeksan charyowŏn. p. 204. ISBN 9788988435724. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
  6. ^ Kim, Bushik (1145). Samguk sagi. Archived from the original on 4 October 2015. Retrieved 31 January 2016. 助利知王之不悛, 退與羣臣, 謀廢之.