Temple Names and Reign Order at a Glance

Conquered Okjeo and established hereditary kingship of the Gyeru Go clan, laying the foundation of centralized rule.

Reorganized the tribal five bu into administrative districts, secured father-to-son succession, and enacted the Jindaebeop relief law.

Expelled the Chinese Lelang and Daifang commanderies, securing the Daedong River basin and driving Chinese power from the peninsula.

Adopted Buddhism, founded the Taehak national academy, and promulgated a legal code, laying the framework of a centralized state.

Conquered Manchuria, pressured Baekje, rescued Silla, expanded to the greatest territory, and used the era name Yeongnak.

Moved the capital to Pyongyang, drove south to capture Baekje's Hanseong and seize the Han River basin, and erected the Gwanggaeto Stele.

Repelled repeated Sui invasions, crowned by Eulji Mundeok's victory at the Salsu River, and had Yi Mun-jin compile the five-volume Sinjip.

Enthroned under Yeon Gaesomun's regency, he held Ansiseong against Tang Taizong, but Goguryeo fell when Silla-Tang forces took Pyongyang.

Organized the six jwapyeong ministers and sixteen official ranks, set official robes, and issued laws to build a centralized state.

Absorbed Mahan and attacked Pyongyang, killing Goguryeo's King Gogugwon, and led Baekje's golden age.

Adopted Buddhism through the monk Marananta from Eastern Jin, laying a basis for ideological unity.

Sent royal kin to the 22 damno provinces to tighten local control and revived the state through ties with Southern China and Wa.

Moved the capital to Sabi, renamed the state Nambuyeo, and reformed governance to revive Baekje.

Captured over 40 Silla fortresses including Daeyaseong, but Baekje fell as the Silla–Tang forces took Sabi.

Fixed Kim-clan royal succession, adopted the title Maripgan, and repelled Wa raiders with Gwanggaeto's aid.

Fixed the name Silla and the title 'king,' subjugated Usanguk, banned live burials, and promoted ox plowing.

Promulgated a legal code, recognized Buddhism, created the war ministry, annexed Geumgwan Gaya, and used the era name Geonwon.

Reorganized the Hwarang, seized the Han River basin, and conquered Dae Gaya, leading Silla's golden age.

Korea's first queen regnant, who fostered Buddhist culture, building Cheomseongdae and the nine-story wooden pagoda of Hwangnyongsa.

The first true-bone king, who forged the Silla–Tang alliance and destroyed Baekje, laying the basis for unification.

Destroyed Goguryeo and expelled Tang in the Silla–Tang War, completing the unification of the Three Kingdoms.

Crushed Kim Heum-dol's revolt to purge the aristocracy, set up nine provinces and five small capitals, the Gukhak academy, and stipend land.

Granted jeongjeon land to commoners and restored relations with Tang, laying the base for unified Silla’s golden age.

Enthroned as a child, he faced repeated aristocratic revolts and completed the Divine Bell of King Seongdeok before being killed.

Created the Dokseo Sampumgwa to select officials by Confucian learning, though aristocratic resistance kept it from working.

Let Jang Bogo establish Cheonghaejin to command maritime trade, and issued an edict banning luxury.

Had the hyangga anthology Samdaemok compiled, but the tax system collapsed and peasant risings broke out nationwide.

Founder of Geumgwan Gaya who led the early Gaya confederacy and developed lower Nakdong maritime trade.

The last king of Geumgwan Gaya, who surrendered to Silla's King Beopheung, ending the kingdom by annexation.

Rallied Goguryeo refugees and Mohe to found Balhae at Dongmosan (698), establishing the state of Jin.

Expanded territory, attacked Tang's Shandong (Jang Mun-hyu), and used the era name Inan in an assertive foreign policy.

Cultivated ties with Tang, moved the capital to Sanggyeong, founded the Jujagam academy, and used the era name Daeheung.

Organized the five capitals, fifteen prefectures, and sixty-two counties, reaching the greatest extent as the 'Flourishing Land of the East.'

Founded Goryeo and reunified the Later Three Kingdoms; northern-expansion policy, Sasimgwan and Giin systems, and the Ten Injunctions (Hunyo sipjo).

Taejo's eldest son; reigned amid succession struggles such as the Wang Gyu revolt and died of illness.

Suppressed the Wang Gyu revolt, pushed to move the capital to Seogyeong, and organized the Gwanggun army against the Khitan.

Enacted the Slave Review Law and civil-service exams, established official robe ranks, and asserted imperial titles and reign eras to strengthen royal power.

First established the Jeonsigwa land system, granting land and fuel-woodland to officials.

Adopted Choe Seung-no's 28-point memorial, organized the 2-Department 6-Board system, dispatched officials to 12 mok provinces, and reformed the Gukjagam academy.

Reorganized the revised Jeonsigwa land system; deposed and killed in the coup of Gang Jo.

Repelled Khitan invasions (Battle of Gwiju), began the first Tripitaka carving, built the Gaegyeong Naseong wall, and organized the 5 Provinces and 2 Frontier Districts.

Began building the Cheolli Jangseong (Thousand-li Wall) to defend against the Khitan and Jurchen.

Completed the Thousand-li Wall and reinforced defenses; established laws such as slave-status inheritance through the mother.

Reorganized the final Jeonsigwa land system, established Namgyeong, saw the rise of private academies (Choe Chung's Nine Halls), and led Goryeo's aristocratic golden age.

Munjong's eldest son; died of illness only three months after his accession.

Maintained exchanges with Song and Liao, refined institutions, and supported the Buddhist reform activities of Uicheon.

Enthroned as a boy of eleven; abdicated to Sukjong after the Yi Ja-ui revolt.

Established a mint to issue coins such as the Haedong Tongbo, created the Byeolmuban army, and promoted the development of Namgyeong.

Conquered the Jurchen with Yun Gwan's Byeolmuban, built the Nine Forts of the Northeast, and set up the Seven Halls and Yanghyeongo scholarship fund at the national academy.

Endured the Yi Ja-gyeom rebellion and Myocheong's Seogyeong capital-transfer movement; commissioned Kim Bu-sik's Samguk Sagi.

His indulgence and favoritism toward civil officials deepened discrimination against the military, triggering the military coup of 1170 and his deposition.

A puppet king installed by the military coup; reigned amid power struggles among generals and popular revolts (Mangi and Mangso-i).

Enthroned by Choe Chung-heon; his reign saw slave-liberation movements such as the revolt of Manjeok.

Deposed after a failed attempt to remove Choe Chung-heon, confirming the absolute power of the Choe regime.

Son of Myeongjong, enthroned by Choe Chung-heon; died of illness after only two years.

Moved the capital to Ganghwa Island to resist the Mongol invasions and had the Palman Daejanggyeong (Tripitaka Koreana) carved.

Made peace with the Mongols and returned the capital to Gaegyeong, prompting the Sambyeolcho to rise in resistance.

Became a Yuan son-in-law state, joined the Yuan expeditions against Japan, saw the Jeongdong Haengseong established, and had its government titles downgraded.

Attempted reform politics and founded the Man'gwondang academy in the Yuan capital to foster scholarly exchange.

Set up a reform office to correct abuses but was frustrated by Yuan interference and attempts to install the rival Sim king.

Enthroned and deposed twice; his misrule led the Yuan to seize him, and he died in exile.

Enthroned at age eight; set up a reform bureau but died after only four years while still a child.

Enthroned at twelve amid frequent Japanese pirate raids; deposed, with the throne passing to Gongmin.

Pursued anti-Yuan independence, recovered the Ssangseong Commandery, abolished the Jeongdong Haengseong, and reformed land and slaves via the Jeonmin Byeonjeong office (Sin Don).

Repelled Japanese pirates and Red Turbans (Choe Yeong, Yi Seong-gye); deposed after the Wihwado turnaround during the Liaodong campaign.

Uwang's son, enthroned at age nine; deposed after one year by Yi Seong-gye's faction.

The last king of Goryeo; after the Gwajeon land law he yielded the throne to Yi Seong-gye, ending Goryeo and founding Joseon.

Founded Joseon, moved the capital to Hanyang, and appointed Jeong Do-jeon

Enthroned after the first Strife of Princes; abdicated to Taejong after moving the capital back to Gaegyeong

Strengthened royal authority via direct control of the Six Ministries, abolished private armies, and instituted the hopae identity-tag system

Created Hunminjeongeum (Korean alphabet), founded the Hall of Worthies, secured the northern frontier, and advanced science

Long served as regent crown prince before his reign; died of illness after little over two years

Enthroned as a child but deposed by his uncle Sejo in a coup and later put to death

Seized the throne via coup, restored direct control of the Six Ministries, enacted the jikjeon land law, and began compiling the Gyeongguk daejeon

Short-lived king who reigned little over a year, continuing the Gyeongguk daejeon compilation

Completed and promulgated the Gyeongguk daejeon, established the Office of Special Advisors, and recruited the Sarim faction

Purged scholars in the Muo and Gapja literati purges; deposed by the Jungjong coup after tyrannical rule

Enthroned by coup; promoted Jo Gwang-jo's reforms but reversed them in the Gimyo purge

Reigned only about eight months before dying of illness; rehabilitated scholars purged in the Gimyo affair

Reign marked by the Eulsa purge, Queen Munjeong's regency, in-law dominance, and Im Kkeok-jeong's rebellion

Reign of the Imjin War and Jeongyu invasion; the rise of factional politics (Easterners and Westerners)

Enacted the Daedong law, pursued neutral diplomacy between Ming and Later Jin; deposed in the Injo coup

Enthroned by coup; suffered the Later Jin and Qing invasions, surrendering at Samjeondo

Advocated a northern expedition against the Qing and dispatched troops in the Naseon (Amur) campaigns

Reign consumed by the two Ritual Controversies, sharpening the Westerner–Southerner conflict

Ruled through factional 'hwan-guk' reversals, extended the Daedong law nationwide, and circulated the sangpyeong tongbo coin

Son of Jang Hui-bin; sickly and short-lived, his reign saw the Sinim purge intensify the Noron–Soron feud

Instituted the tangpyeong impartiality policy, the gyunyeok military-tax reform, and compiled the Sokdaejeon

Founded the Kyujanggak library, built Hwaseong Fortress, created the Jangyongyeong guard, and enacted the Sinhae free-trade decree

Onset of Andong Kim in-law rule; saw the Sinyu persecution of Catholics and Hong Gyeong-nae's rebellion

Enthroned at age eight; his reign saw Pungyang Jo in-law rule and the Gihae persecution before he died heirless

The 'Ganghwa farmer' king; his reign marked the height of Andong Kim rule and the 1862 peasant uprisings

Reigned under the Daewongun's regency, opened Korea via the Ganghwa Treaty, and proclaimed the Korean Empire

Last emperor of the Korean Empire; the 1910 Japan–Korea annexation ended the Joseon dynasty