1General Introduction (Ch’ongsŏ)
Grand Progenitor, Strong, Dedicated, Humane, Destiny-Opening, Holy, Cul-
tivated, and Divinely Martial Great King (T’aejo kanghŏn chiin kyeun
sŏngmun sinmu taewang):^1 His family name is Yi, and his personal name
Tan, and his courtesy name Kunjin. His former name [before he ascended
the throne] is Sŏnggye, and his pen name Songhŏn. He came from the illus-
trious Yi lineage of Chŏnju.Yi Han, who served as minister of works (sagong)
in the kingdom of Silla, married a daughter of Prefect (kunyun) Kim Ŭnŭi, a
tenth-generation descendant of King T’aejong^2 and sired Chancellor (sijung)
Chayŏn. The chancellor sired Chief Administrator (pogya) Ch’ŏnsang, who
in turn sired Kwanghŭi, official of the head rank six (agan). Kwanghŭi was
the father of Ipchŏn, minister of education (sado) and prime minister pleni-
potentiary (samjung taegwang), who, in turn, begot Kŭnghyu. Kŭnghyu was
the father of Yŏmsun, who begot Sŭngsak. Sŭngsak was the father of
Ch’unggyŏng, who, in turn, begot Kyŏngyŏng. Kyŏngyŏng was the father of
Ch’ungmin, the father of Hwa. Hwa then begot Chinyu, who was the father
of Kungjin. Kungjin was the father of General-in-Chief (tae changgun)
Yongbu. The general-in-chief was the father of Supervisor of Palace
Attendants (naesi chipchu) In.^3 The director of palace at tendants mar r ied the
- This is the full posthumous name of T’aejo, the founder king of the Chosŏn dynasty.
This name being long, he is normally referred to by his temple name, T’aejo, which means
“grand progenitor” or “grand ancestor.” - Muyŏl Wang (654–661), the 29th king of Silla.
- Yi In is the younger brother of Yi Ŭibang, a military general who led the military
revolt together with Chŏng Chungbu and Yi Ko in 1170, the 24th year of Ŭijong’s reign. Due