Goryeosa

Goryeosa
AuthorJeong In-ji, Kim Jong-seo, and others
Original title高麗史
LanguageClassical Chinese
SubjectHistory of Korea
GenreAncient history
Publication date
1451
Publication placeJoseon

Goryeosa (Korean고려사; Hanja高麗史; MRKoryŏsa), or History of Goryeo, is an extensive historical record of the Goryeo dynasty, compiled by the officials of Goryeo's successor state, Joseon. Its compilation started during the reign of Taejo (the founding monarch of Joseon), was completed under Munjong, and was first printed under Danjong.[1][2][3][4] Goryeosa consists of 139 volumes and stylistically follows Chinese historiography (기전체; 紀傳體) (cf. chronicle, 편년체; 編年體) where sections are organized by their purpose. The section compiling the annals of the kings, sega (세가; 世家) narrates the history of Goryeo kings. The monograph section, ji (; ), contains "accounts of the politics, economics, personnel (civil and military), geography, astronomy, and other topics related to Goryeo society."[5] The biographies section, yeoljeon (열전; 列傳), describes notable officials. The chronology section, yeonpyo (연표; 年表) lists the names of kings and their reigns. The listing section, mongnok (목록; 目錄), is the table of contents of the entire compilation.

In 1452, a year after the completion of Goryeosa compilation, Kim Jong-seo and 27 other historians authored a 35-volume complementary summary of Goryeosa, Goryeosajeolyo (Essentials of Goryeo History). Goryeosajeolyo is written in chronological order, deviating from Chinese historiography that divides sections into important subjects (e.g., kings, traitors, notable officials, chronology, and monographs) and thus is prone to duplicate recording of the same event.

The entire Goryeosa, in its original and in modern Korean translation, is currently available online by courtesy of the National Institute of Korean History.[6]

  1. ^ "Taejo Orders Cho Jun et al. Compilation of Goryeosa". Veritable Records of the Joseon Dynasty. National Institute of Korean History.
  2. ^ "Kim Jong-seo et al. Submit Newly Completed Goryeosa". Veritable Records of the Joseon Dynasty. National Institute of Korean History.
  3. ^ "Chunchu Office Requests Printing of Goryeosa". Veritable Records of the Joseon Dynasty. National Institute of Korean History.
  4. ^ "고려사(高麗史) History of Goryeo". Encyclopedia of Korean Culture (in Korean). Retrieved 2023-08-29.
  5. ^ Koryŏsa: the history of Koryŏ, annals of the kings, 918-1095. Honolulu: University of Hawaiʻi Press. 2024. p. 7. ISBN 0824895215.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference goryeosa was invoked but never defined (see the help page).