The Goryeo Dynasty (918–1392)

The founding of Goryeo

By the end of the 9th century the old kingdom of Silla was weak. Local strongmen took power, and by about 900 the land was split into three: Silla, Later Baekje and Later Goguryeo (also called Taebong).

Wang Geon was a general from a rich trading family in the north-west. In 918 he took the throne and named his state Goryeo, to link it to the proud northern kingdom of Goguryeo. In 935 the last Silla king gave up peacefully, and in 936 Wang Geon beat Later Baekje. The land was one again.

How did he reorganise the state?

• He moved the capital to his home region, Gaegyeong.
• He won over powerful local families with marriage ties, gifts and titles, rather than crushing them.
• He treated the old Silla elite kindly, so they would help rule.
• He used Buddhism for unity, and left advice for his heirs (the Ten Injunctions).

Government and ruling groups

At first the king was only first among strong families. Over the next 100 years kings built a proper government, copying the Tang Chinese model in a Korean way.

• The king sat on top.
• Central councils advised the king and made big decisions. A watchdog office (the Censorate) could criticise officials.
• Six boards looked after jobs such as civil office, revenue, rites, war, justice and public works.
• Local officers were sent to the provinces. Some places stayed under local leaders at first.

The exam: in 958 King Gwangjong started a civil service exam (gwageo). It tested writing and knowledge of the classics. Because of it, talented people could enter government, not only those born to power.

Who ruled? In practice a small group of noble families filled the top jobs. Sons of high officials could enter office by family privilege without an exam. They married each other and the royal family, so these families held power for generations. Ordinary farmers and slaves had little say.

Foreign relations: Song, Khitan and Jurchen

Goryeo sat between big powers, so its safety depended on clever diplomacy.

• Song (China, south): A friendly trading partner. Ships carried books, medicine, silk and tea to Goryeo, and paper, ginseng and celadon to Song. They shared ideas, but Goryeo did not send armies for Song.
• Khitan (Liao, north): A strong horse-riding empire. Goryeo saw them as a danger. They invaded three times, in 993, 1010 and 1018. In 993 the diplomat Seo Hui talked them out of attacking and even won new land. In 1010 the capital was burned. In 1019 General Gang Gam-chan crushed the invaders, and peace followed.
• Jurchen (north-east): People of the forests and valleys, once smaller than Goryeo. They grew in power, set up the Jin state in 1115, and Goryeo finally accepted them as senior partners in 1126 to keep the peace.

The trick: Goryeo kept a high title ("emperor") at home, but in foreign dealings it accepted tribute-style ties when it was the safest choice.

Military rule and the Mongol wars

Civil officials looked down on soldiers. In 1170 angry generals took over, and for about 100 years strong men (like the Choe family) ruled while the king was only a figurehead.

In 1231 the Mongols invaded. The Choe rulers moved the court to Ganghwa Island in 1232, because Mongol horsemen were weak at sea. Farmers on the mainland suffered badly. After about 30 years of war, Goryeo made peace in 1259, and the court returned to Gaegyeong in 1270.

Goryeo under Yuan influence and reforms

The Mongols later called their dynasty Yuan. Goryeo kept its own kings, but under Yuan pressure:

• Crown princes lived in the Yuan capital and married Yuan princesses.
• Kings got names with the word "loyalty" (chung) and some offices were lowered in rank.
• Goryeo had to give soldiers, ships and supplies, for example for the attempts to invade Japan (1274, 1281).
• New families close to the Yuan court grew rich, like the Ki family.

Reforms. When the Yuan weakened, King Gongmin (reigned 1351–1374) acted. In 1356 he removed pro-Yuan families, took back land lost in the north and ended Yuan offices in Goryeo. He tried to return land to farmers, but powerful families resisted. After him, General Yi Seong-gye took power, and in 1392 Goryeo ended and Joseon began.

Try it: walk through Goryeo

Try it in 3D: drag the year slider. Before you press the next year, guess which colour era you are in. Then check the sentence below the slider.

Try it at home: draw a line on paper from 918 to 1392. Mark 936, 958, 1019, 1170, 1231, 1259, 1356 and 1392. Add one word under each.

Key formulas and definitions

• 918: Wang Geon founds Goryeo; 936: land reunited
• 958: civil service exam (gwageo) begins
• 993, 1010, 1018: Khitan invasions; 1019: Gang Gam-chan's victory
• 1170: generals seize power; military rule until about 1270
• 1231–1259: Mongol wars; 1232: court moves to Ganghwa Island
• About 1270–1356: Yuan influence; 1356: Gongmin's reforms
• 1392: Yi Seong-gye ends Goryeo; Joseon begins

Worked examples

Common mistakes

• Mixing up Goryeo (918–1392) and Joseon (1392–1897). Goryeo came first, and Joseon replaced it.
• Thinking Goryeo copied everything from China. It copied the Tang model but fitted it to Korean life, with strong noble families.
• Thinking the Mongols ended Goryeo. Goryeo survived and kept its kings; it was Yi Seong-gye who ended it in 1392.
• Saying all Goryeo neighbours were enemies. Song was mainly a trade and ideas partner.