Sejong the Great

Sejong the Great
세종대왕
世宗大王
Posthumous portrait, 1973
King of Joseon
Reign9 September 1418 – 30 March 1450
EnthronementGeunjeongjeon Hall, Gyeongbokgung, Hanseong
PredecessorTaejong
SuccessorMunjong
RegentCrown Prince Yi Hyang (1439–1450)
Crown Prince of Joseon
Tenure8 July 1418 – 9 September 1418
PredecessorCrown Prince Yi Je
SuccessorCrown Prince Yi Hyang
BornYi To
(1397-05-15)15 May 1397
Junsu-bang, Hanseong, Joseon
Died30 March 1450(1450-03-30) (aged 52)
Grand Prince Yeongeung's Mansion,[a] Hanseong, Joseon
Burial
Spouse(s)
(m. 1408; died 1446)
Issue
among others...
Names
Yi To (이도; 李祹)
Era name and dates
Adopted the era name of the Ming dynasty:
  • Yeongnak (Yongle) (영락; 永樂): 1418–1424
  • Honghui (Hongxi) (홍희; 洪熙): 1425
  • Seondeok (Xuande) (선덕; 宣德): 1426–1435
  • Jeongtong (Zhengtong) (정통; 正統): 1436–1449
  • Gyeongtae (Jingtai) (경태; 景泰): 1450
Posthumous name
  • Joseon: Great King Jangheon with Cultured Sagacity, Martial Wisdom, Excellent Benevolence,and Brilliant Filial Piety (장헌영문예무인성명효대왕; 莊憲英文睿武仁聖明孝大王)[1]
  • Ming dynasty: Jangheon (장헌; 莊憲)
Temple name
Sejong (세종; 世宗)
ClanJeonju Yi
DynastyYi
FatherTaejong of Joseon
MotherQueen Wongyeong
ReligionKorean Confucianism (Neo-Confucianism)Korean Buddhism
Korean name
Hangul
세종
Hanja
世宗
Revised RomanizationSejong
McCune–ReischauerSejong
Birth name
Hangul
이도
Hanja
李祹
Revised RomanizationI Do
McCune–ReischauerI To
Childhood name
Hangul
막동
Hanja
莫同
Revised RomanizationMakdong
McCune–ReischauerMaktong
Courtesy name
Hangul
원정
Hanja
元正
Revised RomanizationWonjeong
McCune–ReischauerWŏnjŏng

Sejong (Korean세종; Hanja世宗; 15 May 1397 – 30 March 1450), personal name Yi To (이도; 李祹), commonly known as Sejong the Great (세종대왕; 世宗大王), was the fourth monarch of the Joseon dynasty of Korea. He is regarded as one of the greatest rulers in Korean history, and is remembered as the inventor of Hangul, the native alphabet of the Korean language.

Initially titled Grand Prince Chungnyeong (충녕대군; 忠寧大君), he was the third son of King Taejong and Queen Wongyeong. In 1418, Sejong replaced his eldest brother, Yi Je, as crown prince; a few months later, Taejong voluntarily abdicated the throne in Sejong's favor. In the early years of Sejong's reign, King Emeritus Taejong retained vast powers, most notably absolute executive and military power, and continued to govern until his death in 1422.[1]

Sejong reinforced Korean Confucian and Neo-Confucian policies, and enacted major legal amendments (공법; 貢法). He personally created and promulgated the Korean alphabet,[2][3] encouraged advancements in science and technology, and introduced measures to stimulate economic growth. He launched military campaigns to the north and implemented a relocation policy (사민정책; 徙民政策), establishing settlements in the newly conquered areas. He also ordered the Occupation of Tsushima island.[4][5]

From 1439, he became increasingly ill[6] and his eldest son, Crown Prince Yi Hyang, acted as regent. Sejong died on March 1450.


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  1. ^ a b 세종실록 1권, 총서.
  2. ^ Kim-Renaud (2021), p. 15.
  3. ^ 알고 싶은 한글 [The Korean language I want to know]. National Institute of Korean Language (in Korean). Retrieved 4 December 2017.
  4. ^ 세종실록 4권, 세종 1년 7월 9일 임자 5번째기사.
  5. ^ 세종실록 4권, 세종 1년 7월 22일 계해 6번째기사.
  6. ^ 세종실록 85권, 세종 21년 6월 21일 정유 3번째기사.