주몽 Jumong 朱蒙 2006 - 2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jumong (주몽 朱蒙) portrays the life of Jumong Taewang, (founder of the kingdom of Goguryeo). Because few details are found in the historical records on Jumong, much artistic license is taken. Much of the original myths surrounding Jumong have been replaced with more down-to-earth storylines, such as that concerning his birth. It is also considered a major part of the "Korean wave." (Hallyu)

 

 

King Dongmyeong of Goguryeo (58 - 19 BC, r. 37 – 19 BC), "Dongmyeongseongwang" (東明聖王) also known by his birth name Jumong, 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).

 

 

 

 

Birth

The founding myths of Goguryeo are related in ancient Korean 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 I sangguk jip (Collected Works of Minister Yi of Korea) by Yi Gyu-bo.

 

There have been disputes over who the father of Jumong really was. In some Korean texts, 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)). It is said that 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, apparently meaning "skilled archer" in the ancient Buyeo language.

 

 

Leaving Dongbuyeo

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. He entered the land south of the river. In 37 BC, Jumong became the first king of the Goguryeo, and reunited all of the five tribes of Jolbon into one kingdom and he was married to So Seo-no, who is daughter of Jolbon's chief.

 

 

The first King of Goguryeo

In 37 BC, Jumong established Goguryeo, and became its first "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 palace. Four years later, in 28 BC, Jumong sent General Bu Wiyeom 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 concubine (she was not 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, So Seo-no, feared for her sons' positions in the future of Goguryeo. So Seo-no left Goguryeo with her two sons and some of the people and headed further south into the Korean peninsula, into what is now South Korea. There she built Baekje. Jumong named his first son Yuri as the crown prince and successor to the throne.

 

 

 

Death and Succession

Jumong died in 19 BC at the age of 40. Crown Prince Yuri buried his father in a pyramid tomb, and gave him the posthumous name of Chumo-seongwang.

 

 

 

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 in the Go Royal Family 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."

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

http://www.imbc.com/broad/tv/drama/jumong

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jumong_(TV_series)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_Dongmyeong_of_Goguryeo