이성계 李成桂
King Taejo (太祖), founder of Joseon
| Life | 1335 ~ 1408 |
| Era | 고려 말~조선 초 |
| Clan | 전주 이씨 |
Life & career
Yi Seong-gye was a military commander who rose to power in late Goryeo from a base in the Hamgyeong region, gaining fame by repelling the Red Turbans and Japanese pirates. In 1388, having set out to conquer Liaodong, he turned his army back at Wihwa Island (the Wihwado Retreat, 威化島 回軍), seized power, and in 1392 received the throne from King Gongyang to found a new dynasty. He changed his name to Dan (旦), and his temple name is Taejo.
After his accession he named the country Joseon and in 1394 moved the capital to Hanyang, laying the foundations of the new dynasty. Employing Jeong Do-jeon and others, he carried out land reform and reorganization of the government system, but after experiencing a struggle among the princes over the succession (the First Strife of the Princes) he abdicated to King Jeongjong and retired as retired king and grand retired king.
Joining forces with the emerging literati of late Goryeo, he established a new state system taking Neo-Confucianism as its governing ideology, and became the progenitor of the Joseon dynasty that lasted over 500 years thereafter.
Grave
Geonwolleung (健元陵) within Donggureung, Guri, Gyeonggi Province
Descendants
The successive kings of Joseon, from his sons Jeongjong (Bang-gwa) and Taejong (Bang-won) down to King Sejong, are his direct descendants, and he became the progenitor of the Jeonju Yi royal house.