Yuri of Goguryeo

Not to be confused with Yuri of Silla.
Yuri of Goguryeo
Hangul
유리왕 or 유리명왕
Hanja
Revised RomanizationYuri-wang or Yurimyeong-wang
McCune–ReischauerYuri-wang or Yurimyŏng-wang
Birth name
Hangul
해유리 or 유류 or 누리
Hanja
Revised RomanizationHae Yuri or Yuryu or Nuri
McCune–ReischauerHae Yuri or Yuryu or Nuri
Monarchs of Korea
Goguryeo
  1. Chumo c. 37–19 BC
  2. Yuri 19 BC–18 AD
  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 413–491
  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

King Yuri (38 BC – 18 AD, r. 19 BC – 18 AD)[1] was the second ruler of Goguryeo, the northernmost of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. He was the eldest son of the kingdom's founder Jumong. As with many other early Korean rulers, the events of his life are known largely from the Samguk Sagi.

Reign[edit]

Yuri is described as a powerful and militarily successful king. He conquered a Xianbei tribe in 9 BC with the help of Bu Bun-no.[2] In 3 BC, Yuri moved the capital from Jolbon to Gungnae. The Han dynasty was overthrown by Wang Mang, who established the Xin dynasty. In 12 AD Wang Mang sent a messenger to Goguryeo to ask for troops to assist in the conquest of the Xiongnu. Yuri rejected the request and instead attacked Xin.[3]

He had six sons and among them were Haemyeong and Muhyul. Haemyeong was proclaimed the crown prince of Goguryeo after the death of Dojeol, who was King Yuri's eldest son. But Yuri found Haemyeong to be too reckless and disobedient. Yuri replaced him with the younger son Muhyul in 14 AD. Muhyul was Yuri's son with the daughter of Songyang. Muhyul ruled later as King Daemusin of Goguryeo.

A poem Yuri was said to have written for his favoured concubine Chihui has survived. It is titled the Hwangjoga (Hanja: 黃鳥歌 "Song of the Yellow Bird").

Succession[edit]

King Yuri died in 18 AD, after ruling for 37 years. He was succeeded by his youngest remaining son, Muhyul, who became King Daemusin.

Family[edit]

  • Father: King Dongmyeong of Goguryeo (동명성왕; 東明聖王)
    • Grandmother: Lady Ha Yuhwa (하유화; 河柳花)
  • Mother: Lady Ye (예씨 부인; 禮氏 夫人)
  • Consorts and their respective issue(s):
  1. Queen, of the Song clan (왕후 송씨; 王后 松氏); daughter of Song Yang, Marquis Damul (송양 다물후; 松讓 多勿侯).
    1. Prince Dojeol (도절, 都切; d. 1 AD)
    2. Prince Haemyeong (해명, 解明; 12 BC – 9 AD)
    3. Prince Muhyul (무휼, 無恤; 4–44 AD)
    4. Prince Yeojin (여진, 如津; d. 18 AD)[4]
    5. Prince Saekju (색주, 色朱; d. 48 AD)
    6. Prince Jaesa (재사; 再思)
    7. Prince Yeoyul (여율; 如栗)[5]
  2. Lady Hwahui (화희; 禾姬)
  3. Lady Chihui (치희; 雉姬)

Theories regarding King Yuri[edit]

Usurpation theory and responses[edit]

Recently, some historians have interpreted historical evidence as indicating that Yuri may not have been the son of Jumong, but rather was a usurper. However, due to the lack of conclusive evidence either way, it is only speculation.

Yuri's surname was Hae (解), while Jumong's surname was Go (高). According to the Samguk Sagi, Jumong is said to have been the son of Hae Mosu born in Buyeo. Later, Jumong is said to have fled Buyeo, leaving Yuri behind before he was born. Jumong may have changed his surname name from Hae to Go when he founded Goguryeo after leaving Buyeo, while Yuri kept the Hae surname. However, alternative theories suggest that their surnames are different because Yuri was a usurper from a different family, with the above story being created after the fact.

There is also record of one of Jumong's friends and most trusted subjects, Hyeob-bo, being dismissed by Yuri. According to the first Goguryeo volume of the Samguk Sagi, Hyeob-bo disagreed with Yuri constantly leaving the palace to go on hunting trips, urging Yuri to focus on governance. Yuri, angered by this, then forced Hyub-bo [ko](陜父) to resign from his office. Hyeob-bo subsequently left Goguryeo. This is interpreted by those suggesting usurpation as implying a removal of Jumong loyalists from Yuri's government. Not all of Jumong's subjects were removed. General Bu Bun-no(扶芬奴) and Oi served Goguryeo through most of King Yuri's reign and played active roles in the kingdom.

Another piece of evidence tied to the usurpation theory is the story of Jumong's broken sword. According to the Samguk Sagi, Yuri found a piece of Jumong's broken sword was appointed as crown prince when he showed it to Jumong. However, his possession of Jumong's broken sword is interpreted alternatively as evidence of victory over Jumong. Jumong also died very shortly after Yuri's arrival, at the relatively young at the age of 40.

Surname differences[edit]

Although the 2nd through 5th monarchs of Goguryeo kept the Hae surname, the sixth monarch Taejodae later adopted the Go surname again. To those that suspect Yuri usurped the throne, this is evidence of a restoration of the Go family line. However, another common hypothesis is that Goguryeo's royal surname was a word, and Hae (解) is a Chinese character transcription of the sound of that word in the Goguryeo language, and Go (高) is a Chinese character transcription of that word's meaning.

Popular culture[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Korean dynasties". www.sizes.com. Retrieved 2019-11-14.
  2. ^ Samguk sagi,Book 13, "十一年，夏四月，王謂群臣曰：「鮮卑恃險，不我和親，利則出抄，不利則入守，為國之患。若有人能折此者，我將重賞之。」扶芬奴進曰：「鮮卑險固之國，人勇而愚，難以力鬪，易以謀屈。」王曰：「然則為之奈何？」答曰：「宜使人反間入彼，僞說：『我國小而兵弱，怯而難動。』則鮮卑必易我，不為之備。臣俟其隙，率精兵從間路，依山林以望其城。王使以羸兵出其城南，彼必空城而遠追之。臣以精兵走入其城，王親率勇騎挾擊之，則可克矣。」王從之。鮮卑果開門出兵追之。扶芬奴將兵走入其城，鮮卑望之，大驚還奔。扶芬奴當關拒戰，斬殺甚多。王擧旗鳴鼓而前，鮮卑首尾受敵，計窮力屈，降為屬國。王念扶芬奴功，賞以食邑，辭曰：「此王之德也。臣何功焉。」遂不受，王乃賜黃金三十斤、良馬一十匹。"
  3. ^ 《三国史记》：“三十三年　春正月　立王子无恤为太子　委以军国之事　秋八月　王命乌伊・摩离　领兵二万　西伐梁貊　灭其国　进兵袭取汉高句丽县”
  4. ^ He drowned in the summer of 18 AD and upon hearing this, his father was said to be very sad and will reward the man who found his body with 10 pieces of gold and 10 gyeong [99,170 m2] of land.
  5. ^ In the Books of the Three Kingdoms of China, Yeoyul was recorded as King Taejo's father, but based on Samguk Sagi or Samguk Yusa, King Taejo's father was Jaesa, Yeoyul's 6th older brother and Yeoyul was Taejo's youngest uncle.
Yuri of Goguryeo
Born: 38 BC Died: 18
Regnal titles
Preceded by King of Goguryeo
19 BC – 18 		Succeeded by
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