Bojang of Goguryeo

Bojang of Goguryeo (died 682) (r. 642–668) was the 28th and last monarch of Goguryeo the northernmost of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. He was placed on the throne by the military leader Yeon Gaesomun. His reign ended when Goguryeo fell to the allied forces of the southern Korean kingdom of Silla and the Chinese Tang Dynasty.

Bojang of Goguryeo
Hangul
보장왕
Hanja
寶藏王
Revised RomanizationBojang-wang
McCune–ReischauerPojang-wang
Birth name
Hangul
장, 보장
Hanja
臧, 寶臧
Revised RomanizationJang, Bojang
McCune–ReischauerChang, Pojang
Monarchs of Korea
Goguryeo
  1. Chumo 37–19 BCE
  2. Yuri 19 BCE–18 CE
  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 413–490
  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

Background

The period of his rule over Goguryeo is recounted in the final two books of the annals of Goguryeo in the Samguk Sagi. Bojang’s given name was Jang, though he was also known as Bojang. Bojang was son of the younger brother of the previous monarch, Yeongnyu. In 642, the general Yeon Gaesomun carried out a coup d'etat and killed Yeongnyu and many of his supporters. Bojang was then placed on the throne.

With the aim of inducing Goguryeo to join an expedition against Baekje, Silla dispatched Kim Chun-chu to request the commitment of troops but Goguryeo did not consent.

For most of his reign, Bojang was a puppet, giving a veneer of legitimacy to Yeon Gaesomun's military rule. For example, at Yeon's instigation he supported Taoism and issued edicts repressing Buddhism in the country, which had formerly been officially Buddhist.

Goguryeo experienced many natural disasters during his reign.[1]

Reign
See also: Goguryeo–Tang War

Goguryeo continued battle against the southern Korean kingdom of Silla, in alliance with the third of the Three Kingdoms, Baekje. Silla was further isolated by Goguryeo's restored relations with the Wa of Japan. In 642, Silla sent Kim Chun-chu to negotiate a treaty, but when Yeon Gaesomun demanded the return of the Seoul region, talks broke down, leading Silla to eventually ally with the Tang Dynasty.[2]

In 645, the Emperor Taizong of Tang led a major expedition against Goguryeo by land and sea, but Yeon Gaesomun and Yang Manchun repelled the invasion, as well as subsequent smaller attacks by the Tang. In 654, Goguryeo attacked the Khitans, who were allied with the Tang. In 655, Goguryeo and Baekje attacked Silla.[3]

The Baekje kingdom finally fell to Silla-Tang in 660. Yeon Gaesomun defeated major invasions of Pyongyang in 661 and Sasu River in 662, but Silla and Tang were now free to focus and intensify their attacks against Goguryeo. In 663, the Baekje revival movement ended as its leader Buyeo Pung retreated to Goguryeo.[4]

After the death of Yeon Gaesomun in 666, Bojang was unable to gain control over the country, which instead was wracked by a succession struggle between Yeon's sons.[5]

Fall of Goguryeo and after

As internal struggles continued in Goguryeo, Yeon Namsaeng defected and 40 castles near the border surrendered to the Tang, while Yeon Jeong-to, Yeon Gaesomun's brother, defected to Silla.

The Goguryeo capital fell to Silla-Tang forces in the ninth lunar month of 668, and King Bojang was captured. He was appointed to the minister of public works (工部尚書) by Tang Gaozong.

Tang faced increasing problems ruling the former inhabitants of Goguryeo, as well as Silla's resistance to Tang's remaining presence on the Korean Peninsula. In 677, the Tang insisted on crowning Bojang as the "King of Joseon" and put him in charge of the Liaodong Commandery (Hangul : 요동주도독 조선왕 Hanja:遼東州都督朝鮮王) of the Protectorate General to Pacify the East.

However, Bojang continued to foment rebellions against Tang in an attempt to revive Goguryeo, organizing Goguryeo refugees and allying with the Malgal tribes. He was eventually banished to Sichuan in 681, and died the following year.

Because Bojang was the last ruler of Goguryeo, he did not receive a temple name after his death. There was a brief attempt at Goguryeo restoration made by Anseung, who ultimately surrendered to Silla.[6]

One of his sons Go Yak-gwang settled in Japan in 666 where he founded the Koma clan and became known as Koma no Koshiki Jakkō.[7]

Go Deokmu was a prince of Goguryeo and founded Lesser Goguryeo. He was the third son of King Bojang.

Family
  • Sons from first wife:[8]
    • Go Bok-nam (고복남) - last Crown Prince of Goguryeo.
    • Go Im-mu (고임무) - last Magniji of Goguryeo.
    • Go Ryeon (고련)
    • Go Deokmu (고덕무)
    • Go Yak-gwang (고약광, 高若光) "Jakkō" - ancestor of the Koma clan in Japan.[9]
  • Son from second wife:[8]
    • Anseung (안승, 安勝)
    • Inseung (인승, 仁承) - ancestor of the Hoengseong Go clan (also known Goguryeo Go Clan) Royal Family of Goguryeo in Korea.
  • Grandsons:
    • Go Bowon (고보원)- Go Bok-nam's son.
    • Go Jin (고진) - Go Ryeon's son.
    • Koma no Ieshige (高麗家重) - Go Yak-gwang's son in Japan.

See also

References
  1. Samguk Sagi
  2. Samguk Sagi
  3. Samguk Yusa
  4. Samguk Yusa
  5. Samguk Sagi
  6. Jinwung Kim (2012). A History of Korea: From "Land of the Morning Calm" to States in Conflict (e-book via Scribd). Indiana University Press. p. 112. ISBN 9780253000781.
  7. Nihon Shoki
  8. "보장왕" (in Korean). Doopedia. Retrieved 2016-10-07.
  9. Nihon Shoki. Japan. 720.
Bojang of Goguryeo
 Died: 682
Regnal titles
Preceded by
Yeongnyu		 Monarch of Goguryeo
642–668		 Succeeded by
Anseung
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