Heongang of Silla

49th monarch of Silla (r. 875–886)

Heongang of Silla 헌강왕 憲康王
King of Silla
Reign	875-886
Coronation	875
Predecessor	Gyeongmun of Silla
Successor	Jeonggang of Silla

Born	861 Unified Silla
Died	886 Unified Silla
House	House of Kim
Father	Gyeongmun of Silla
Mother	Queen Munui
Religion	Buddhism

Korean name
Heongang of Silla
Tomb of King Heongang in Gyeongju
Hangul	헌강왕
Hanja	憲康王
Revised Romanization	Heon-gang wang
McCune–Reischauer	Hŏn'gang wang
Birth name
Hangul	김정
Hanja	金晸
Revised Romanization	Gim Jeong
McCune–Reischauer	Kim Chŏng

Silla
Monarchs of Korea
(Post-unification)
Munmu 661–681 Sinmun 681–691 Hyoso 692–702 Seongdeok 702–737 Hyoseong 737–742 Gyeongdeok 742–765 Hyegong 765–780 Seondeok 780–785 Wonseong 785–798 Soseong 798–800 Aejang 800–809 Heondeok 809–826 Heungdeok 826–836 Huigang 836–838 Minae 838–839 Sinmu 839 Munseong 839–857 Heonan 857–861 Gyeongmun 861–875 Heongang 875–886 Jeonggang 886–887 Jinseong 887–897 Hyogong 897–912 Sindeok 912–917 Gyeongmyeong 917–924 Gyeongae 924–927 Gyeongsun 927–935
v t e

Heongang of Silla (c.861–886), personal name Kim Chŏng, was the 49th to rule the Korean kingdom of Silla.^[1]

According to the Samguk Sagi, he excelled at civil affairs.^{[citation needed]} Heongang was the eldest son of King Gyeongmun; his mother was Queen Munui.^{[citation needed]} He had no legitimate heir, but did leave a son (later King Hyogong) by Lady Uimyeong.

In 879, Heongang was faced with the rebellion of a high official, his Ilgilchan Sin Hong.^{[citation needed]} He is best remembered for the legends associated with him in the Samguk Yusa, which claimed that a dancing dragon appeared before him and rewarded the king when he built a temple to pay homage to the dragon god.^[2]^[3] In 886, he sought to defuse domestic discontent with a decree of general forgiveness.^{[citation needed]}

Heongang was buried to the northeast of Borisa temple in Gyeongju.^{[citation needed]}

Family

Parents

Father: Gyeongmun of Silla
- Grandfather: Kim Kye-myŏng
- Grandmother: Madam Gwanghwa (광화부인)
Mother: Queen Munui of the Kim clan (문의왕후 김씨)
- Maternal grandfather: Heonan of Silla (헌안왕)
- Maternal grandmother: Queen Anjeong of the Kim clan (안정왕후 김씨)

Consort and their respective issue:

Queen Uimyeong (의명부인), of the Kim clan (의명왕후 김씨)
- Daughter: Princess Uiseong (의성왕후 김씨) – became the Queen Consort of Sindeok of Silla
- Daughter: Princess Gyea (계아태후) – married Kim Hyo-Jong (김효종) and became the Queen Mother of Gyeongsun of Silla
- Son: Hyogong of Silla

References

^ "헌강왕" [King Heongang]. Doosan Encyclopedia (in Korean). Retrieved 2019-05-24.
^ "Exorcism". KBS World. December 11, 2013. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
^ Im, Felix. "The Dancing Dragon: A dragon's song and dance save the day against evil spirits". Korea.net. Retrieved 15 February 2024.