There Is No Sejong In My Joseon [EN]: Chapter 467

468. [Tree Encyclopedia] “Sejong (Joseon)”

Sejong (Joseon)

“Sejong” redirects here. For other meanings of Sejong, please refer to the Sejong (disambiguation) document.

Successive Monarchs of Joseon

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Sejong-related Templates

Joseon Crown Prince, Crown Grandson, Imperial Crown Prince, Imperial Crown Grandson

Bukhansan National Memorial Site “Four Great Founders”

100 Great Koreans Chosen by Koreans

Cultural Figure of the Month
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The 4th King of Joseon

Sejong Taehwangje (Grand Emperor Sejong) | 世宗 太皇帝

Born: 3rd year of Gaeguk (founding of the dynasty), private residence of Prince Jeongan in Hanseong

Ascended: 23rd year of Gaeguk, Geunjeongjeon Hall in Gyeongbokgung Palace, Hanseong

Died: 74th year of Gaeguk (aged 71), old Donggung (Eastern Palace) in Changdeokgung Palace, Hanseong

Given Name: Je (禔)

Clan: Jeonju Yi Clan

Parents: Taejong Munhwangje (Emperor Taejong) Yi Bang-won / Queen Wongyeong Min Clan

Siblings: Eldest of 12 sons and 17 daughters

Consort: Queen Munhyo Ju So-hwa

Children: 2 sons, 2 daughters

Religion: Neo-Confucianism [1]

[1] As the document shows, he wasn’t really interested in Neo-Confucianism. However, he never officially denied being a Confucian scholar, so it is noted.

Posthumous Name: Sejong (世宗)

Full Posthumous Name: Seongsingeoneopyeongmusunhyohongbangjeseongmunchitaehwangje (聖神建業英武純孝弘邦濟生文治太皇帝)

Regnal Era: Geonmu (建武)

Table of Contents

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∨ 1. Overview

The 4th King of Joseon, as well as an inventor, scientist, novelist, and cook.

Myoho (temple name) is Sejong. Siho (posthumous name) is Taehwangje (Grand Emperor). His given name was Je, and his pen name was Hanseong Geosa.

A wise ruler who ushered in the golden age of Joseon and a great figure in human history, he is regarded as the de facto founder of the Empire of Joseon.

∨ 2. Life

∨ 2.1. Before Ascension

Born in the 3rd year of Gaeguk [founding of the dynasty] at the private residence of Prince Jeongan in Hanseong. His father, Taejong, was the fifth son of Taejo, but in the year when Taehwangje turned five, he instigated the Musin Jeongsa (Strife of Musin), enthroned his brother Jeongjong, and seized control of the court. Later, when Taejong inherited the throne, he became the heir apparent.

Meanwhile, Taejo, who opposed Taejong’s rise to power, drew in Jo Sa-ui and started a rebellion in his base, the Northeast region. Crown Prince Yi Je, despite being only nine years old at the time, suggested a plan [2] to capture Taejo, marking his first notable achievement.

[2] Known as Taejopochaek (Taejo Capture Plan). Some later generations suspect embellishment due to the Crown Prince being less than ten years old, but considering that Taehwangje’s major achievements were built up from his childhood, it seems to be true.

Above all, considering that Taehwangje consistently emphasized that he was Taejo’s successor, it is unlikely that this anecdote, which could be seen as a bad relationship, would have been deliberately created.

The Crown Prince, who captured Taejo, then led the development of the matchlock and the construction of Hanyang, quickly gaining Taejong’s trust.

With this trust, the Crown Prince was able to exert great influence on state affairs, and Taejong also delegated many national affairs to the Crown Prince, in addition to formal regency.

As a result, a significant portion of Taejong’s reign is effectively classified as a period of co-rule with the Crown Prince.
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∨ 3. Achievements

∧ 3.1. Internal Affairs

∧ 3.2. External Affairs

∨ 3.3. Various Inventions

For details, see Sejong/Inventions, Jang Yeong-sil, and Biak.

The reason why Taehwangje is respected as a global figure, not just in Joseon, is his technological development and inventions.

Various inventions, including electricity, are credited with advancing human progress by hundreds of years, and the smallpox vaccination and public health he developed saved countless lives from disease.

Not only in the field of technology, but also the foundation for scientific and empirical research was laid during his reign, and even after his death, the numerous records he left behind, coupled with explosive population growth and economic growth, drove technological development.

The improvement of gunpowder promoted the development of firearms, while leading to the development of Biak, which greatly expanded Joseon’s influence and finances, and led to his name being known as the ‘Biak King’ in Europe.
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∨ 8. Evaluation

Manggo Ilje (The Eternal Emperor).

A wise ruler who left outstanding achievements in both foreign and domestic affairs, and who had no flaws in his personal life.

His reign was a period of the most brilliant achievements in history.

Taehwangje inherited and further developed the influence in the Northeast that his predecessor Taejo had. First, he effectively subjugated the Jurchen [various Tungistic peoples who inhabited the region northeast of Korea] in the north and Tsushima Island in the south, securing the stability of the borders. This was not just a military victory, but an achievement that involved subtle economic and cultural subjugation.

More noteworthy is Taehwangje’s Great Voyage policy. He had a grand vision to develop Joseon into a maritime power. To this end, he involved Joseon people in Zheng He’s expeditions, built large fleets, and trained skilled navigators, thereby expanding Joseon’s influence overseas.

Above all, Taehwangje’s greatest achievement is the conquest of the Ming Dynasty. He repelled foreign enemies in the Jo-Ming War, which broke out due to the conquest of Liaodong and Emperor Xuanzong’s preemptive strike, and went on to conquer the Central Plains based on his outstanding strategy and strong military power.

During his reign, Joseon aimed for a world empire like the Yuan Dynasty, but its scale and stability were incomparable. The imperial Joseon thus established proves Taehwangje’s great legacy by continuing its lineage to this day.

In terms of internal affairs, Taehwangje’s achievements were also remarkable. He completed Joseon’s centralized system, greatly increasing the efficiency of national administration. He reformed the administrative system, introduced various auxiliary tools, and reorganized the bureaucracy, resulting in a dramatic development of the nation’s administrative power.

He also paid great attention to the reorganization of the legal system, starting the compilation of the Six Codes. This was an important task to systematize and modernize the nation’s legal system, and later played a decisive role in laying the foundation for the rule of law in Joseon.

In addition, Taehwangje recognized the importance of history and proceeded with the revision and compilation of the history of successive dynasties. This was not just a historical record, but played an important role in establishing the nation’s identity and setting the direction for the future.

Finally, Taehwangje laid the foundation for the industrial revolution with his foresight. He laid the groundwork for long-term national development by encouraging the development and dissemination of new technologies and expanding industrial infrastructure.

Taehwangje’s outstanding judgment shone in attracting talented people. In fact, during Taehwangje’s reign, his surroundings were full of outstanding figures, including his younger brother, Prince Jin Yi Do, as well as the great statesmen Hwang Hee, Maeng Sa-seong, and Heo Jo, who played pivotal roles in the court.

In addition, Taehwangje showed the insight to promote talent beyond the walls of status or organization. Examples include directly emancipating Jang Yeong-sil, who was born a slave, and converting and promoting Yi Cheon, who was a military officer.

Taehwangje’s achievements also shone in foreign affairs. Outstanding generals such as Kim Jong-seo and Choi Yun-deok made great contributions to pioneering territory and defending the nation by his side. Thanks to their efforts, the borders of the country were stabilized, and the people were able to live peaceful lives.

The development of learning was also a feature of the Taehwangje era. The free atmosphere established in this era led to the development of culture and learning by producing numerous scholars, including the Sarim academic lineage from Gil Jae. This was the result of Taehwangje’s policy of encouraging learning and cherishing talent.

In conclusion, the era of Taehwangje can be said to be a golden age in which remarkable developments were made in all aspects of politics, economy, military affairs, science, and culture. His wise rule, outstanding talent promotion, and the efforts of his ministers who assisted him combined to make this era the most prosperous in history.

Taehwangje’s reign has become a model for later monarchs and is still regarded as a model of ideal rule.
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∨ 10. Anecdotes

∨ 10.1. Family Affairs

For details on Taehwangje’s genealogy, see Sejong/Family Relationships.

• He was famous for having a very harmonious family relationship.

The stories of his filial piety to Taejo and his strong friendship with his brothers were widely known from that time, and he was a kind person as a husband and father.

A truly exemplary eldest son who cut off the bloody history of early Joseon and was truly devoted to filial piety, love between husband and wife, and friendship.

• He was very generous to his family, but unlike the frequent controversies over Jongchin (royal relatives) up to the present day, the Jongchin of this era surprisingly did not cause any trouble. A rare case of repaying Taehwangje’s family love.

• He is also the grandfather of not only the imperial family but also various dynasties around the world. This is because the illegitimate children of his eldest son, Emperor Mujong Seon, and their descendants spread around the world and established dynasties. More than 20 Yi dynasties, including Russia and Nangnang, all regard Sejong Taehwangje as their founder.

Meanwhile, the Ryukyu royal family also regards him as the maternal ancestor. In this case, Empress Jasun, who is virtually Taehwangje’s daughter, is treated as the second monarch, so even though she is the maternal ancestor, she is virtually revered as a direct royal ancestor.

∨ 10.2. Conspiracy Theories

[Fog was thick, and a meteor fell at night, the size of a quince.]

– Eulhae 1st entry, October 25, 2nd year of Taejong (1402)

• Due to the achievements left by Taehwangje that cannot be explained rationally, the alien theory and the ancient civilization discovery theory have emerged.

In particular, when bizarre characters were discovered in the storage room during the Seonhwang era, there was a theory that this was a character for communication with aliens.

The orthodox theory is that it is an early form of Hangeul [Korean alphabet] presented by Prince Jin (then Chungnyeong Daegun), but in any case, it is an interesting setting for creators and often appears in creative works. [82]

[82] English Republic screenwriter Shakespeare added the setting that the Doctor was once Sejong in the popular series .

• Meanwhile, as the alien theory faded due to the fatal weakness that Taehwangje’s family was clearly revealed, the ancient civilization discovery theory emerged.

The theory is that Taehwangje actually discovered traces of an ancient civilization that existed in the old Chungcheong-do area, rather than the Baekje Gilt-bronze Incense Burner.

The above is a conspiracy theory to explain why he had knowledge that was impossible for people of that time to know, such as the periodic table.

However, like the famous “blank space problem” left behind to posterity, there is also a theory that this was simply a case of guessing correctly without any particular basis.

• The fact that the identity of ‘Hanseong Geosa’, a great writer who worked at Dyoheun Thoughts, was Sejong was revealed in later generations, but questions were raised as to whether one person could have created such a vast body of work.

In extreme cases, it is argued that all works are forgeries and that Hanseong Geosa ‘s’ only borrowed the names of famous people to promote their works.

However, most scholars are of the opinion that at least the ‘first generation’ Hanseong Geosa, who worked during the Queen Munhyo era, was Taehwangje.

∨ 10.3. Master of Aphorisms

He left behind numerous aphorisms that are not found in any scriptures, and his servants wrote them all down in their memo pads(…)

His aphorisms have survived to this day and are constantly being talked about.

For details, see Sejong/Sayings.
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∨ 11. Mass Media

Because he was a wise ruler who ushered in the golden age of Joseon, he has been a frequent subject in historical dramas.

In the early days, he was mainly depicted as a solemn wise ruler, but in recent years, as many personal anecdotes have been discovered, works that shed light on his various aspects have been increasing.

Taehwangje, depicted in the media, is diverse, ranging from a wise ruler who cares about the country and his family, a lover of the century, a cheerful genius inventor, a vicious boss, or an ambitious person who tries to overthrow the Ming Dynasty in accordance with Taejo’s will.

• In one of the early films, directed by Hwadam Seo Gyeong-deok and starring Hwang Jin-i, a popular actress of the time, he appeared as the husband of Queen Munhyo, the main character in . As it is an early work, he is depicted as a dignified king, but the love story between the two is well-handled based on historical facts.

• He showed off his cheerful side in the historical drama . From the scene in episode 51 of Jo Sa-ui’s Rebellion where he presents the Taejopochaek, he is virtually the main character.

• In the popular novel , he appeared as a mastermind who called for the extinction of all illegitimate children. It is said that it was easier to get permission because the publisher was directly run by the imperial family.

For other works, see Sejong/Creative Works, Byeokjokmok vs. Silver Mirror Controversy/Creative Works.
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The man rubbed his frozen hands together and slipped his phone into his pocket.

‘There’s nothing like a well-organized wiki to learn about the world that’s changing from time to time.’

‘Even though there’s some nonsense mixed in.’

One hand slipped into the man’s arm.

“Did you wait long?”

The man answered without hesitation.

“Yeah.”

“Really? Sorry. I had to fix my makeup.”

“Our family doesn’t care about that.”

“I care.”

The two naturally held hands.

“Yeah, I was nervous when I went to your house. I thought I was going to die trying to read your brother’s eyes.”

“Sorry… but your reputation wasn’t good. Even if I said you weren’t that kind of person, they didn’t believe me.”

The woman held the man’s hand tightly and said.

“Anyway, it’s okay because I got permission.”

It seems to have taken longer than when I overthrew the Ming Dynasty, but everything is good if the ending is good.

I was willing to laugh it off.

“Now all I have to do is get permission from my family.”

As the man’s hand reached for the doorbell, the woman shouted.

“Wait!”

“Why?”

The woman stood on tiptoe and looked inside over the jujube tree on the wall.

Laughter erupted from the bustling house preparing to welcome guests, but the woman asked, tapping her feet.

“Your house… I hope your mother will give her permission?”

Instead of affirming, the man answered seriously.

“I think you should worry about my father more than my mother. Habits are scarier than you think.”

“…….”

“It’s okay.”

The man pinched the woman’s face, which was full of tension, and smiled.

“We’re together.”

“That’s right. We’re together.”

So there’s nothing to be anxious about or afraid of.

The two rang the bell of the hanok [traditional Korean house] where snow was piled up.

The door opened, and only a warm warmth lingered in the place where they disappeared.

It was just another common winter night.

-The End-

Author’s Note

Hello, this is Pitkong.

has finally come to an end.

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the readers who have been with us for the 468-episode journey.

This work was also a new challenge for me personally.

There were some regrets in the process, but I am happy to have been able to successfully complete the writing for the past 21 months.

I will make up for the shortcomings in this work and return with my next work in the near future.

Thank you.