Chang of Goryeo

Chang (6 September 1380 – 31 December 1389) was the 33rd and youngest ruler of the Goryeo Dynasty of Korea. His life and death is often compared with Grand Prince Yeongchang.^[2]

Chang 창 昌
King of Goryeo
Reign	1388–1389
Coronation	1388
Predecessor	U of Goryeo
Successor	Gongyang of Goryeo
Born	Wang Chang (1380-09-06)6 September 1380[1] Gaegyeong, Goryeo
Died	31 December 1389(1389-12-31) (aged 9) Ganghwa-do, Goryeo
House	Wang
Father	U of Goryeo
Mother	Royal Consort Geun of the Goseong Yi clan
Religion	Buddhism

Chang of Goryeo
Hangul	창왕
Hanja	昌王
Revised Romanization	Chang-wang
McCune–Reischauer	Ch'ang-wang
Birth name
Hangul	왕창
Hanja	王昌
Revised Romanization	Wang Chang
McCune–Reischauer	Wang Ch'ang

Biography

Prince Chang Sung Woo was the only son of King U and Royal Consort Geun of the Goseong Yi clan, daughter of Yi Rim.^[3] King U was forced from power after Yi Sŏnggye mutinied in 1388, and King Chang was put on the throne in his stead.^[4]

During his reign from June 1388 to November 1389, Chang experienced a great chaos of reforms. There were two factions: one wanted a conservational reform, and the other wanted a radical reform. The former was led by Cho Min-su [ko] (曺敏修), and Yi Saek, and the latter was led by Yi Sŏnggye, and Chŏng Tojŏn. King Chang tried to arbitrate the two fractions. However, as Yi Saek lost his political power following the impeachment of Yi Sung-in, King Chang lost his authority, making Yi Sŏnggye the most powerful man in Goryeo.^[3]

In November 1389, there was a rumor that former King U tried to assassinate Yi Sŏnggye.^[5] This provided the reason for abdication of King Chang.^[3]

King Chang was assassinated, together with his father, shortly after the ascension of Gongyang, whilst in exile.^[6] King Chang was 9 years of age.^[7]

Family

• Father: U of Goryeo
  • Grandfather: Gongmin of Goryeo
  • Grandmother:
    • Biological: Lady Ban-Ya
    • Adoptive: Queen Sunjeong of the Goksan Han clan
• Mother: Royal Consort Geun of the Goseong Yi clan
  • Grandfather: Yi Rim
  • Grandmother: Lady of Byeonhan State of the Hong clan (변한국부인 홍씨)

In popular culture

• Portrayed by Kim A-reum in the 1983 KBS1 TV series Foundation of the Kingdom.
• Portrayed by Jeon Hyeon in the 1983 MBC TV series The King of Chudong Palace.
• Portrayed by Yun Dong-won in the 1996–1998 KBS TV series Tears of the Dragon.
• Portrayed by Kim Jun-seong in the 2014 KBS TV series Jeong Do-jeon.
• Portrayed by Hwang Jae-won in the 2015–2016 SBS TV series Six Flying Dragons.

See also

• List of monarchs of Korea
• Goryeo