Anjang (died 531, r. 519–531)[1] was the 22nd ruler of Goguryeo, the northernmost of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. With his original name of Heung-an, he was the eldest son of Munjamyeong. He was named Crown Prince in the seventh year of Munjamyeong's reign (498),[2] and assumed the throne when his father died in 519.[3] He was supposedly assassinated in 531 without heir, and was succeeded by his younger brother, Anwon.[2][1]

Anjang
안장
Taewang
King of Goguryeo
Reign519 – May 531 A.D.
Coronation519 A.D.
PredecessorMunjamyeong
SuccessorAnwon
Crown Prince of Goguryeo
ReignJanuary 498 – 519 A.D.
CoronationJanuary 498 A.D.
PredecessorGeoryeon
SuccessorPyeongseong
BornGo Heung-an
December 498 A.D.
Pyongyang
DiedMay 531 A.D.
Pyongyang
IssueGo Bokgwi
Posthumous name
Anjang Taewang
HouseGo
DynastyGoguryeo
FatherMunjamyeong
ReligionBuddhism
OccupationKing
Anjang of Goguryeo
Hangul
안장왕
Hanja
安藏王
Revised RomanizationAnjang-wang
McCune–ReischauerAnjang-wang
Birth name
Hangul
흥안
Hanja
興安
Revised RomanizationHeung-an
McCune–ReischauerHŭngan

Reign

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Under Anjang, Goguryeo continued to maintain close relations with the Chinese dynasties, notably Wei and Liang with constant 'tribute missions',[2][4] to counterbalance the volatile relationship with the southerly Korean kingdoms of Baekje and Silla. He attacked Baekje in 523[5] and 529,[6] slaying more than 2,000 Baekje soldiers.

Historical records during the reign of Anjang are rarely found throughout East Asia with some erroneous marks on his death: the Book of Liang completed in 635 says Anjang died in 526 although the actual date is believed to be about five or six years later;[7] The Japanese chronicle Nihon Shoki quoting Baekje Bongi says Anjang was killed amid bloody chaos,[8] which implies the final years of his reign were unstable.[9][10] Since chaos also marked the end of his brother Anwon's reign, it is speculated that succession issues had already been entrenched among the Goguryeo aristocracy.[2][11]

Family

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  • Father: King Munja (문자명왕; 文咨明王)
    • Grandfather: Prince Joda/Juda (조다; 助多)
  • Unknown wife
    • Son: Lord Bokgwi (복귀군; 福貴君) – married a Japanese woman and had a son named Go Bu-ryeon (고부련; 高夫連).

The Love story of Go Heung-an and Lady Han

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Among the numerous historical Korean stories, there is the Love story of a Baekje woman and the 22nd Great King of Goguryeo. It shows many parallels to the Western culture's Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, and also the story of Prince Hodong and Princess Nangnang, who also had a forbidden love.[1]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "King Anjang". KBS Radio. Korean Broadcasting System. 2015-06-15. Archived from the original on 2017-10-04. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  2. ^ a b c d Chong-uk, Yi (2005). The history of Goguryeo (고구려의 역사) (in Korean) (1-p'an. ed.). Seoul: Kimyŏngsa. pp. 369–375. ISBN 9788934917625. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  3. ^ Kim, Bushik. "Samguk Sagi". Korea History Database (한국사데이터베이스). Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  4. ^ Yoo, Chan Yul (1990). The International Relations of Korea as a Small State. p. 67.
  5. ^ Kim, Bushik (1145). Samguk sagi (三國史記 卷第二十六 百濟本紀 第四 ed.).
  6. ^ Kim, Bushik (1145). Samguk sagi (三國史記 卷第二十六 百濟本紀 第四 ed.).
  7. ^ 《梁書》(Book of Liang) V. 54 Annal of Goguryeo: "(普通)七年 安卒 子延立 遣使貢獻 詔以延襲爵"이라고 기록되어 있다.
  8. ^ 《日本書紀》 卷第十七 男大迹天皇 繼體天皇: (廿五年) 冬十二月丙申朔庚子 葬于藍野陵; 或本云 天皇 廿八年歲次甲寅崩 而此云 廿五年歲次辛亥崩者 取百濟本記爲文 其文云 太歲辛亥三月 軍進至于安羅 營乞乇城 是月 高麗弑其王安 又聞 日本天皇及太子皇子 俱崩薨 由此而言 辛亥之歲 當廿五年矣 後勘校者 知之也
  9. ^ 정, 구복. 역주 삼국사기 3 주석편. 한국정신문화연구원. p. 400.
  10. ^ Kim, Hyŏn-suk (2005). The methodology of Goguryeo's division ruling (in Korean). Seoul: Mosinŭn Saramdŭl. p. 400. ISBN 9788990699305. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  11. ^ Lee, Yoon-seop (2014). 한나절에 읽는 백제의 역사 (History of Baekje reading in a day). p. 400. ISBN 9791155191965. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
Anjang of Goguryeo
 Died: 531
Regnal titles
Preceded by Monarch of Goguryeo
519–531
Succeeded by