Koryo Dynasty

Koryo Dynasty, Korean dynasty founded in ad 918 by Wang Kon, who established a united Korean kingdom throughout the peninsula in 935. The capital was Songdo (modern Kaesǒng). Assimilating former opponents from the former tripod of Korean kingdoms, Koryo Korea expanded north to the Yalu River and fought with the Khitan Liao dynasty in Dongbei. Fighting with the Liao went on from 993 until 1018, but after much sacrifice Koryo concluded a favourable peace treaty in 1022, being confirmed in its territory in exchange for the relinquishment of nominal alliegance to China's Song dynasty in favour of Liao suzerainty.

Koryo Korea was based on Buddhism in the religious sphere and Confucianism for adminstrative and moral principles. The two highest organs of government were the Samsong, the highest administrative body, and the Chungch'uwon, the king's secretariat. Together they formed the Supreme Council of State. Under this stable government, Korean art and architecture flourished in the 11th and 12th centuries, with the perfection of the great native tradition of grey-green celadon stoneware. There were also notable achievements in Buddhist sculpture and temple decoration in bronze, and in poetry and prose literature.

Though Koryo Korea had been united by military force, and though it was periodically threatened by invasion from the north, initially by the Liao and later by the Jurchen Jin dynasty, for the first 200 years administration was dominated by civilian aristocratic families and Buddhist priests. This provoked the military to rebel in 1170, led by General Ch'oe Ch'ung-hon, who seized power, leaving the monarch as a figurehead. A large number of civilians were executed and a military government was established which lasted for 60 years. During that time, however, it had to suppress a number of peasant uprisings protesting against inequalities.

In 1231 the Mongol empire invaded Korea, but the Koryo state resisted for 30 years. It was only because of the increasing financial pressure upon them caused by the cost of war that the people then overthrew the regime and sued for peace. The Koreans were able afterwards to preserve most of their political and cultural independence, though Koryo art never rose again to its former brilliance. Farming prospered again, especially for large landlords. In the end the latter had acquired such quantities of land that it was difficult for newcomers to obtain any. In 1392 a group of bureaucrats, frustrated in their ambition to obtain land commensurate with their status, threw in their lot with General Yi Sǒng-gye and overthrew the Koryo dynasty, replacing it with the Yi dynasty.