Daemusin of Goguryeo

Daemusin of Goguryeo
Hangul	대무신왕, 대해주류왕
Hanja	大武神王, 大解朱留王
Revised Romanization	Daemusin-wang, Daehaejuryu-wang
McCune–Reischauer	Taemusin-wang, Taehaejuryu-wang
Birth name
Hangul	해무휼
Hanja	解無恤
Revised Romanization	Hae Muhyul
McCune–Reischauer	Hae Muhyul

Monarchs of Korea Goguryeo

Dongmyeong 37-19 BCE Yuri 19 BCE-18 CE Daemusin 18-44 Minjung 44-48 Mobon 48-53 Taejo 53-146 Chadae 146-165 Sindae 165-179 Gogukcheon 179-197 Sansang 197-227 Dongcheon 227-248 Jungcheon 248-270 Seocheon 270-292 Bongsang 292-300 Micheon 300-331 Gogug-won 331-371 Sosurim 371-384 Gogug-yang 384-391 Gwanggaeto the Great 391-413 Jangsu 413-490 Munja 491-519 Anjang 519-531 An-won 531-545 Yang-won 545-559 Pyeong-won 559-590 Yeong-yang 590-618 Yeong-nyu 618-642 Bojang 642-668

King Daemusin of Goguryeo (4-44, r. 18-44) was the third ruler of Goguryeo, the northernmost of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. King Daemusin led early Goguryeo through a period of massive territorial expansion, conquering several smaller nations and the powerful kingdom of Dongbuyeo.

Background

Prince Muhyul was the third son of King Yuri, and grandson of Jumong. He was made crown prince in the year 14, at the age of 11, and became king upon his father's death four years later. He was buried in Daesuchonwon.

Daemusin strengthened central rule of Goguryeo and expanded its territory. He annexed Dongbuyeo and killed its king Daeso in 22. Along the Amnok River, he conquered Gaema-guk in 26, and later conquered Guda-guk.

After fending off China's attack in 28, he sent his son, Prince Hodong, who was about 16 at the time, to attack the Nangnang Commandery in northwestern Korea in 32. He destroyed Nangnang in 37. ^[1][2][3] The legendary love story of Prince Hodong and Princess Nangnang, recorded in the Samguk Sagi, is well known in Korea to this day. The princess is said to have torn the war drums of her castle, so that Goguryeo could attack without warning.

Modern Depiction

In recent times, Daemusin served as a model for the famous Manhwa and video game Nexus: The Kingdom of the Winds. The Korean historical drama, "The Kingdom of The Winds", began airing on September 2008. The drama is based on the manhwa mentioned above and depicts Muhyul, a prince of Goguryeo, who is born with a prophecy stating that he would destroy Goguryeo.

Significance of title

King Muhyul was given the title "Dae-musin wang", which literally means "Great Holy Warrior King". As with most Goguryeo kings, little is known about King Muhyul except for what is stated in some ancient Korean sources, such as Samguk Sagi. Some historians have inferred that the giving of such an extreme title to this man must mean that he led Goguryeo through many outstanding military accomplishment, possibly more than he is given credit for in historical text. Another school of thought declares that the destruction of East Buyeo, in itself, was an almost unthinkable feat at the time, meaning East Buyeo was a powerful kingdom according to these select scholars.

Not all Goguryeo rulers were given special titles posthumously or in their lifetime. Most Goguryeo rulers were posthumously given titles based on the place of their burial. Only a select few, such as King Gwanggaeto the Great and King Dongmyeongseong, were given such "significant" posthumous names.

References

1. ^ New History of Korea. Written by Lee Hyun Hee, Park Sung Soo, Yoon Nae Hyung, published by Jimundang, Published year 2005
2. ^ 김부식편찬, 삼국사기
3. ^ Yong-ho Ch'oe, Reinterpreting Traditional History in North Korea. The Journal of Asian Studies, 40, 503-523

See also

• List of Korea-related topics
• History of Korea
• Three Kingdoms of Korea
• List of Korean monarchs