JUMONG

Dongmyeongseong of Goguryeo

"Jumong" or "Chumong" redirects here. For the historical drama, see Jumong (TV series).
Dongmyeongseong of Goguryeo
Posthumous name
Hangul: 동명성왕 or 동명왕
Hanja: 東明聖王 or 東明王
Revised Romanization: Dongmyeong-seongwang or Dongmyeong-wang
McCune-Reischauer: Tongmyŏng-sŏngwang or Tongmyŏng-wang
Birth name
Hangul: 고주몽 or 추모
Hanja: 高朱蒙 or 鄒牟
Revised Romanization: Go Jumong or Chumo
McCune-Reischauer: Ko Chumong or Ch'umo

Monarchs of Korea
Goguryeo

1. Dongmyeongseong 37-19 BCE
2. Yurimyeong 19 BCE-18 CE
3. Daemusin 18-44
4. Minjung 44-48
5. Mobon 48-53
6. Taejo 53-146
7. Chadae 146-165
8. Sindae 165-179
9. Gogukcheon 179-197
10. Sansang 197-227
11. Dongcheon 227-248
12. Jungcheon 248-270
13. Seocheon 270-292
14. Bongsang 292-300
15. Micheon 300-331
16. Gogugwon 331-371
17. Sosurim 371-384
18. Gogugyang 384-391
19. Gwanggaeto the Great 391-413
20. Jangsu 413-490
21. Munjamyeong 491-519
22. Anjang 519-531
23. Anwon 531-545
24. Yangwon 545-559
25. Pyeongwon 559-590
26. Yeongyang 590-618
27. Yeongnyu 618-642
28. Bojang 642-668

King Dongmyeongseong of Goguryeo (58 - 19 BCE, r. 37 – 19 BCE), also known by his birth name Jumong (주몽, 朱蒙), was the founding monarch of Goguryeo, the northernmost of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. In the Gwanggaeto Stele, he is called Chumo-wang (King Chumo). In the Samguk Sagi and the Samguk Yusa, he is recorded as Jumong, with the surname Go. The Samguk Sagi states that he was also known as Chumo or Sanghae (상해, 象解). The name is also transcribed in other records as Chumong (추몽, 鄒蒙), Jungmo (중모, 中牟 or 仲牟), or Domo (도모, 都牟).
Contents


Birth

The founding myth of Goguryeo are related in ancient Korean and Chinese texts, including the Gwanggaeto stele. The best known version is found, with slight variations, in the Samguk Sagi, Samguk Yusa, and the Dongmyeongwangpyeon of the Dongguk Isanggukjip.

Jumong is described as the son of Hae Mosu (解慕漱：the son of heaven) and Yuhwa (柳花：daughter of the river god Habaek (河伯)). Hae Mosu met Yuhwa by a river where she was bathing, but the river god disapproved of Hae Mosu, who returned to heaven. The river god chased Yuhwa away to Ubalsu(優渤水), where she met and became the concubine of King Geumwa of Dongbuyeo.

Yuwha was impregnated by sunlight and gave birth to an egg. Geumwa tried to destroy the egg, and tried to feed it to animals, who instead protected the egg from harm. Geumwa returned it to Yuhwa. From the egg hatched a baby boy, who was named Jumong, meaning "skilled archer."

Leaving Dongbuyeo

Jumong married Ye Soya, who was the daughter of a merchant, at the age of 20. Together they had a son. Jumong was known for his exceptional skill at archery. Eventually, Geumwa's sons became jealous of him, and Jumong was forced to leave Dongbuyeo. According to legend, as he fled on his horse, he approached a fast-running river. Turtles and creatures of the water rose up and formed a bridge. When he entered the land south of the river, he was greeted by Go Museo Dangun, who was the ruler of Jolbon buyeo, which was Bukbuyeo under a changed state-name. Go Museo knew that Jumong was not an ordinary man and gave his daughter Soseuno in marriage. After the death of his father-in-law in 58 BC, Jumong became the 7th Dangun of Bukbuyeo, and reunited all of the five tribes of Jolbon buyeo into one centralized kingdom.

The first King of Goguryeo

In 37 BC, Jumong established Goguryeo, and became its first Taewang ("Supreme King"). During that same year, King Songyang of Biryu surrendered to him after receiving assistance in defeating the Malgal tribe that had invaded. In 34 BC, Jolbon-Seong, Goguryeo's first capital city, was completed, along with the royal palace. Two years later, in 32 BC, Jumong sent his generals Oh-I, and Bu Bun-No to conquer Haeng-In Kingdom, which was south of the Taebaek mountains. Four years later, in 28 BC, Jumong sent General Bu Wi-Yeom to conquer the kingdom of Okjeo. During that same year, Jumong's mother, Yuhwa, died in the palace of Dongbuyeo, and was given the burial ceremony of a Royal Queen even though she was a Royal Wife. Jumong sent a messenger and numerous gifts to King Geumwa in gratitude of his generous act. In 19 BC, Jumong's first wife Ye Soya fled Dongbuyeo with their son, Yuri, and entered Goguryeo. Ye became the empress, causing tension as Jumong's second wife, Soseuno, feared for her sons' positions in the future of Goguryeo. Soseuno left Goguryeo with her two sons and some of the people and headed south into the Korean peninsula. Jumong named his first son Yuri as the crown prince and successor to the throne.

Death and Succession

During the same year, Jumong died at the age of 40. Crown Prince Yuri buried his father in a pyramid tomb, and gave him the posthumous name of King Dongmyeongseong.

Legacy

Jumong's kingdom of Goguryeo eventually grew into a great regional power. Goguryeo stood for 705 years and was ruled by a total of 28 kings until it was conquered by the Silla-Tang alliance. Balhae and Goryeo succeeded it, and the modern descendants of Jumong still bear his family name 'Go.' The Go Royal Family exercised great power over its kingdom and continued to do so until the reign of its last king, thus continuing on a major legacy of its ancestor and founder, Jumong.

In 2006-2007, the South Korean television network MBC aired a highly popular 81-episode drama, Jumong (TV series).

Family

* Father: Hae Mosu
* Mother: Lady Yuhwa
* Foster Father: Geumwa, the second king of Dongbuyeo

* 1st Wife: Queen Consort Ye So-ya

1. Yuri (Yuri of Goguryeo), son of Jumong and Ye So-ya

* 2nd Wife: Queen Consort So Seo-no

1. Biryu
2. Onjo (Onjo of Baekje)