Jangsu of Goguryeo

King Jangsu
Taewang
The "Tomb of the General" in Ji'an, China, former capital of Goguryeo. Chinese scholars posit this to be the tomb of King Jangsu and his consort, though many Korean scholars argue Jangsu's tomb is in Pyongyang, where Jangsu had moved the capital in 427 (July 2010).
King of Goguryeo
Reign413–491 (78 years)
PredecessorGwanggaeto
SuccessorMunjamyeong
Born394
Died491 (aged 96–97)
IssueCrown Prince Juda
FatherGwanggaeto the Great
Jangsu of Goguryeo
Hangul
장수왕
Hanja
Revised RomanizationJangsu-wang
McCune–ReischauerChangsu-wang
Birth name
Hangul
거련 or 연
Hanja
Revised RomanizationGeoryeon or Yeon
McCune–ReischauerKŏryŏn or Yŏn

Jangsu of Goguryeo (394–491, r. 413–491)[1] was the 20th monarch of Goguryeo, the northernmost of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. He was born in 394 as the eldest son of Gwanggaeto. He became the crown prince in 408, and upon his father's death in 413, became the ruler at the age of 19.[2]

Jangsu reigned during the golden age of Goguryeo,[3][4] when it was a powerful empire and one of the great powers in East Asia.[5][6][7][8] He continued to build upon his father's territorial expansion through conquest,[9] but was also known for his diplomatic abilities.[10][11][12] Like his father, Gwanggaeto the Great, Jangsu also achieved a loose unification of the Three Kingdoms of Korea.[13] In addition, Jangsu's long reign saw the perfecting of Goguryeo's political, economic and other institutional arrangements.[14] He is also noted for building the Gwanggaeto Stele, dedicated to his father. Jangsu's posthumous name means "Long Life", based on his longstanding reign of 79 years until the age of 98,[14] the longest reign in East Asian history.[15]

During his reign, Jangsu changed the official name of Goguryeo (Koguryŏ) to the shortened Goryeo (Koryŏ), from which the name Korea originates.

  1. ^ Corfield, Justin (2014). Historical Dictionary of Pyongyang. Anthem Press. p. XV. ISBN 9781783083411. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
  2. ^ "King Jangsu". KBS Radio. Korean Broadcasting System. Archived from the original on 5 March 2017. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
  3. ^ Cohen, Warren I. (20 December 2000). East Asia at the Center: Four Thousand Years of Engagement with the World. Columbia University Press. p. 50. ISBN 9780231502511. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
  4. ^ Embree, Ainslie Thomas (1988). Encyclopedia of Asian history. Scribner. p. 324. ISBN 9780684188997. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
  5. ^ Roberts, John Morris; Westad, Odd Arne (2013). The History of the World. Oxford University Press. p. 443. ISBN 9780199936762. Retrieved 15 July 2016.
  6. ^ Gardner, Hall (27 November 2007). Averting Global War: Regional Challenges, Overextension, and Options for American Strategy. Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 158–159. ISBN 9780230608733. Retrieved 15 July 2016.[permanent dead link]
  7. ^ Laet, Sigfried J. de (1994). History of Humanity: From the seventh to the sixteenth century. UNESCO. p. 1133. ISBN 9789231028137. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
  8. ^ Walker, Hugh Dyson (20 November 2012). East Asia: A New History. AuthorHouse. pp. 6–7. ISBN 9781477265178. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
  9. ^ Bae, Kichan (2007). Korea at the crossroads : the history and future of East Asia (1st ed.). Seoul: Happyreading. p. 87. ISBN 9788989571469.
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference Lee Diplo was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ Kim, Jinwung (5 November 2012). A History of Korea: From "Land of the Morning Calm" to States in Conflict. Indiana University Press. p. 36. ISBN 978-0253000781. Retrieved 15 July 2016. "China's split into the Northern and Southern dynasties afforded him an opportunity to diplomatically maneuver these two bitterly contending forces to Koguryŏ's advantage."
  12. ^ Cohen, Warren I. (20 December 2000). East Asia at the Center: Four Thousand Years of Engagement with the World. Columbia University Press. p. 50. ISBN 9780231502511. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
  13. ^ Kim, Jinwung (2012). A History of Korea: From "Land of the Morning Calm" to States in Conflict. Bloomington, Indiana: Indiana University Press. pp. 35–36. ISBN 978-0253000781. Retrieved 11 October 2016.
  14. ^ a b Lee, Ki-Baik (1984). A New History of Korea. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press. pp. 38–40. ISBN 067461576X.
  15. ^ Walker, Hugh Dyson (November 2012). East Asia: A New History. AuthorHouse. p. 137. ISBN 9781477265161. Retrieved 29 July 2016.