Biography

Early life and founding of Joseon

Born in 1367 as the fifth son of Yi Sŏng-gye and his first wife Lady Han, Yi Pang-wŏn qualified as an official in 1382. He studied under Confucian scholars such as Wŏn Ch'ŏnsŏk. During his early years, he assisted his father in gathering the support of the commoners and of many influential figures in the government; Yi Pang-wŏn also helped in the founding of Joseon by assassinating powerful officials who remained loyal to Goryeo, most prominently Chŏng Mong-ju.

Strifes of Princes

After contributing heavily to the overthrowing of the previous dynasty and the establishment of Joseon, he expected to be appointed as successor to the throne. However, his father and Chief State Councillor Jeong Do-jeon favored Taejo's eighth son and Yi Pang-wŏn's youngest half-brother (second son of Queen Sindeok), Yi Bang-seok. This conflict arose chiefly because Jeong Do-jeon, as the principal architect of the ideological, institutional and legal foundations of the new dynasty, saw Joseon as a kingdom led by its ministers by virtue of the king's appointment. In contrast, Yi Pang-wŏn sought direct rule through an absolute monarchy. These differences ultimately contributed to an environment of deep political tension.

In 1398, following the sudden death of Queen Sindeok, Yi Pang-wŏn led a coup d'état while King Taejo was still in mourning for his second wife. This event led to the deaths of Jeong Do-jeon and his supporters, as well as the deaths of the late Queen Sindeok's two sons, including the crown prince. The incident became known as the "First Strife of Princes". Aghast at the fact that his sons were willing to kill each other for the crown, and psychologically exhausted by the death of his second wife, Taejo abdicated; his eldest surviving son, Yi Pang-gwa (posthumously King Jeongjong), immediately became the new ruler.

Yi Pang-wŏn quickly emerged as the real force behind the throne and was soon in conflict with his disgruntled elder brother, Yi Pang-gan, who also yearned for power. In 1400, General Park Bo, who found the rewards for his deeds during the First Strife of Princes lacking, allied with Yi Pang-gan and rebelled in what came to be known as the "Second Strife of Princes". Yi Pang-wŏn successfully defeated his brother's forces, then executed Park Bo and exiled Yi Pang-gan. King Jeongjong, now fearful of his formidable younger brother, named Yi Pang-wŏn his successor and abdicated in the same year. At long last, Yi Pang-wŏn (posthumously King Taejong), assumed the throne of Joseon and became the dynasty's third monarch.

Reign

Consolidation of royal power

One of Taejong's first acts as king was to abolish the privilege to maintain private armies which was enjoyed by the aristocracy and the upper echelons of the government. His revoking of the right to keep independent forces effectively severed the upper class' ability to muster large-scale revolts, and drastically increased the number of soldiers employed by the national army.

Taejong's next act was to revise the existing legislation concerning land taxation. With the discovery of previously hidden land, national wealth increased twofold.

In addition, Taejong created a strong central government. In 1400, before taking the throne, he had played a key role in eradicating the , a branch of the old administration that had monopolized the executive power during the waning years of Goryeo, in favor of the Privy Council; during Taejong's reign, the Privy Council was replaced by the State Council. Taejong also issued a decree according to which all decisions passed by the State Council could only come into effect with the approval of the king. This ended the custom of court ministers making decisions through debate and negotiations among themselves, and thus brought the royal authority to new heights.

Shortly thereafter, Taejong installed a new department known as the Sinmun Office, to hear cases in which aggrieved subjects felt that they had been exploited or treated unjustly by officials or aristocrats.

Reforms and policies

Despite being the one responsible for Chŏng Mong-ju's assassination, Taejong posthumously honored him as Chief State Councillor, leading to a great irony — Chŏng To-jŏn, whose policies governed Joseon for five centuries, was vilified throughout the dynasty, while Chŏng Mong-ju was revered in spite of his opposition to its founding.

Taejong promoted Confucianism as the state ideology, thus demoting Buddhism, which consequently never recovered the glory and great power it had enjoyed during the Goryeo period. He closed many Buddhist temples; their vast possessions were seized and added to the national treasury.

In foreign policy, he was a straight hardliner — he attacked the Jurchens at the northern border and the Japanese pirates on the southern coast. Taejong is also remembered for being the initiator behind the Ōei Invasion of Tsushima Island in 1419.

He set up the system of hopae, an early form of identification which consisted of tags recording the bearer's name and residence; those tags were used to control the movements of the population.

In 1403, Taejong ordered 100,000 pieces of metal type and two complete fonts. Predating Gutenberg and Laurens Janszoon by several decades, he accomplished the metal movable type.

He promoted press, commerce, and education, and also reformed the Sapyeongsunwibu, Joseon's early military and law enforcement agency, and separated the Uigeumbu as Joseon's law enforcement agency but without military functions.

Later life and death

In 1418, Taejong abdicated in favor of his third legitimate son, Yi Do (posthumously King Sejong, commonly known as Sejong the Great), but continued to rule with an iron fist and decide on important matters.

Along the years, as a means to strengthen royal authority and subdue corruption, he executed or exiled some of the supporters who helped him ascend to the throne; he also executed the four brothers of his wife Queen Wongyeong, as well as Sejong's father-in-law Shim On and his younger brother Shim Jeong, in order to limit the influence of in-laws and powerful clans.

King Taejong died four years after his abdication, on 10 May 1422, in Sugang Palace. He was buried alongside Queen Wongyeong at Heolleung, part of the Heonilleung burial ground, in present-day Seocho District, Seoul, South Korea.

Legacy

Taejong remains a controversial figure in Korean history who eliminated many of his rivals (such as Chŏng Mong-ju and Chŏng To-jŏn) and yet ruled effectively to improve the populace's lives, strengthen national defense, and lay down a solid foundation for his successor's reign.

Family

Parents

• Father: King Taejo of Joseon (; 11 October 1335 – 24 May 1408)

　• Grandfather: Yi Cha-chun, King Hwanjo of Joseon (; 1315 – 18 April 1360)

　• Grandmother: Queen Uihye of the Yeongheung Choe clan (; 1304 – ?)

• Mother: Queen Sinui of the Cheongju Han clan (; 4 September 1337 – 23 September 1391)

　• Grandfather: Han Gyeong, Internal Prince Ancheon

　• Grandmother: Lady Shin of the Saknyeong Shin clan, Grand Madame of Samhan State

Consorts and issue

• Queen Wongyeong of the Yeoheung Min clan (; 11 July 1365 – 10 July 1420)

　• Princess Jeongsun (; 1385 – 25 August 1460), first daughter

　• Princess Gyeongjeong (; 1387 – 6 June 1455), second daughter

　• First son (1389)

　• Second son (1390)

　• Third son (1392)

　• Princess Gyeongan (; 1393 – 22 April 1415), third daughter

　• Yi Je, Grand Prince Yangnyeong (; 1394 – 7 September 1462), first (fourth) son

　• Yi Bo, Grand Prince Hyoryeong (; 11 December 1395 – 11 May 1486), second (fifth) son

　• Yi Do, Crown Prince Chungnyeong (; 10 April 1397 – 17 February 1450), fourth (seventh) son

　• Princess Jeongseon (; 1404 – 25 January 1424), sixth (fifth) daughter

　• Yi Jong, Grand Prince Seongnyeong (; 9 July 1405 – 4 February 1418), sixth (eleventh) son

　• Yi Chung, Grand Prince (대군 이충; 1407–1453), seventh (twelfth) son

• Royal Noble Consort Myeong of the (old) Andong Kim clan (; 1370–1479)

• Royal Noble Consort Ui of the Andong Kwon clan (; 1380–1460)

　• Princess Jeonghye (; ? – 6 October 1424), seventh (sixth) daughter

• Royal Noble Consort Hyo of the Cheongpung Kim clan (; 1375 – 26 February 1454)

　• Yi Bi, Prince Gyeongnyeong (; 13 December 1395 – 9 September 1458), third (sixth) son

• Royal Noble Consort Shin of the Yeongwol Shin clan (; 1377 – 2 February 1435)

　• Princess Jeongshin (; 1394 – 26 September 1452), fourth daughter

　• Eighth son (1400–1401)

　• Yi In, Prince Hamnyeong (; 26 December 1402 – 30 September 1467), fifth (tenth) son

　• Yi Jeong, Prince Onnyeong (; 1407 – 12 May 1454), eighth (thirteenth) son

　• Princess Sukjeong (; 1407–1456), eighth (seventh) daughter

　• Princess Jeongjeong (; 1410 – 28 February 1456), ninth (eighth) daughter

　• Princess Sukgeun (; 1411 – 1 August 1450), eleventh (tenth) daughter

　• Princess Suknyeong (; 1412–?), thirteenth (twelfth) daughter

　• Princess Soshin (; 1415 – 16 June 1437), fifteenth (fourteenth) daughter

　• Princess Sosuk (; 1417 – 12 November 1456), sixteenth (seventeenth) daughter

　• Princess Sukgyeong (; 1420–1494), seventeenth (eighteenth) daughter

• Royal Noble Consort Seon of the Sunheung Ahn clan (; 1380 – 17 June 1468)

　• Fifth daughter (1400–1402)

　• Yi Ji, Prince Hyeryeong (; 1407 – 25 June 1440), ninth (fourteenth) son

　• Princess Gyeongshin (; 1420–?), eighteenth (nineteenth) daughter

　• Yi Chi, Prince Iknyeong (; 1422 – 10 July 1464), thirteenth (eighteenth) son

• Royal Noble Consort So of the Jangyeon No clan (; 1380 – 23 October 1479)

　• Princess Sukhye (; 1410 – 19 July 1464), tenth (ninth) daughter

• Royal Noble Consort Jeong of the Go clan (; 1375 – 13 July 1426)

　• Yi Nong, Prince Geunnyeong (; 1411 – 15 November 1461), tenth (fifteenth) son

• Royal Consort Sug-ui of the Choe clan (; 1391–?)

　• Yi Ta, Prince Huiryeong (; 1409 – 7 July 1465), tenth (fifteenth) son

　• Twelfth (Eleventh) daughter (1412–1416)

• Royal Consort Sug-ui of the Yi clan (; ?—1433)

　• Yi Gan, Prince Hunyeong (; 1419 – 6 October 1450), twelfth (seventeenth) son

• Royal Princess Sukgong of the Cheongdo Gim clan (; 1388–?)

• Royal Princess Uijeong of the Hanyang Jo clan (; 1416–1454)

• Royal Princess Hyesun of the Goseong Yi clan (; ? – 5 March 1438)

• Royal Princess Shinsun of the Seongju Yi clan (; 1390–1433)

• Princess Deoksuk of the Yi clan (; 1390–?)

• Princess Hyeseon of the Hong clan (; 1377–?)

• Princess Sunhye of the Andong Jang clan (; ? – 26 July 1423)

• Princess Seogyeong (; 1370–?)

• Court Lady, of the Gim clan (; 1389–?)

　• Princess Sukan (숙안옹주; 1414 – 12 May 1464), fourteenth (thirteenth) daughter

• Court Lady, of the Yi clan (; 1395–?)

　• Princess Suksun (; 1421 – ), nineteenth (twentieth) daughter

• Unknown

　• Ninth son (1402–1404)

Ancestry

In popular culture

• Im Hyuk-joo in the 1983 KBS1 TV series Foundation of the Kingdom.

• Lee Jung-gil in the 1983 MBC TV series The King of Chudong Palace.

• Yoo Dong-geun in the 1996–1998 KBS1 TV series Tears of the Dragon.

• Kim Yeong-cheol in the 2008 KBS TV series The Great King, Sejong and the 2016 KBS1 TV series Jang Yeong-sil.

• Baek Yoon-sik in the 2011 SBS TV series Deep Rooted Tree.

• Choi Tae-joon in the 2012–2013 SBS TV series The Great Seer.

• Park Yeong-gyu in the 2012 film I Am the King.

• Ahn Jae-mo in the 2014 KBS1 TV series Jeong Do-jeon.

• Ahn Nae-sang in the 2015 JTBC TV series More Than a Maid.

• Jang Hyuk in the 2015 film Empire of Lust and the 2019 JTBC TV series My Country: The New Age.

• Nam Da-reum and Yoo Ah-in in the 2015–2016 SBS TV series Six Flying Dragons.

• Kam Woo-sung in the 2021 SBS TV series Joseon Exorcist.

• Joo Sang-wook in the 2021–2022 KBS1 TV series The King of Tears, Lee Bang-won.

• Lee Hyun-wook in the 2025 TVING TV series The Queen Who Crowns

生平

早年

李芳远是朝鲜太祖李成桂第五子，朝鲜定宗李曔之同母弟；高丽恭愍王十六年（1367年）五月生于太祖咸兴潜邸；洪武十六年（1383年）及第。洪武二十一年（1388年），李成桂在威化岛回军，李芳远时为典礼正郎，保护其母韩氏、庶母康氏、七弟李芳蕃、八弟李芳硕以及三个妹妹逃亡。高丽恭让王时，官至密直司右代言。朝鲜太祖李成桂即位后，李芳远被封为靖安君。明洪武年间，李芳远多次前往明朝。其中洪武二十六年朝鲜贡马，李芳远随朝鲜贡使前往南京，在北平与燕王朱棣私相会见。

刺杀重臣

高丽恭让王四年（1392年），时任从一品重臣守门下侍中郑梦周对于李成桂权倾朝野的行为深感忌惮，趁李成桂出迎世子王奭不慎坠马受伤之际，欲将其除去。郑梦周先于朝堂上弹劾并立刻流放其六名主要亲信官员(赵浚、郑道传、南誾、尹绍宗、南在、赵璞)。当时，李芳远直言郑梦周必不利于我家，应先除去。及后，李芳远多次进谏父亲并请求允许马上诛杀郑梦周，但屡遭拒绝。刺杀之事一度被卞仲良泄露，郑梦周得知，于是以探病为由见李成桂，实观变况，李成桂待他如常。李芳远深感家族受到重大威胁，刺杀之事即使未获批准也机不可失，于是命手下赵英圭、赵英茂、高吕、李敷等人于路上伏击郑梦周，最终成功刺杀。李成桂事后震怒，怒斥李芳远擅杀大臣对国人、对家族不忠不孝。李芳远却以郑梦周将要害我家族为由，先下手将其除去方为对家族尽孝驳斥。李成桂听后因怒病剧，至不能言，及后不得已将郑梦周党羽以诬陷忠良罪名一并除去。

李芳远擅自作主的举动令父亲感到难堪，但同时替父亲及后称帝改朝换代之路扫除最后一大障碍。然而，李芳远的「功劳」遭到李成桂冷待，再加上李成桂另立幼子李芳硕为世子的争议埋下了日后政变之祸。

掌握权力

洪武三十一年（1398年）八月二十六日，靖安君李芳远趁父亲太祖久病不愈，以「立嫡以长」为藉口，联合益安君李芳毅、怀安君李芳干、上党君驸马李伯卿，杀死世子李芳硕、三军府左军节制使、抚安君李芳蕃、三军府右军节制使、兴安君驸马李济，特进辅国崇禄大夫、判三司事、兼判三军府事、奉化伯郑道传、参赞门下府事、兼判尚瑞寺事、三军节制使、宜城君南訚、判中枢院事李勤、同知中枢院事、福城君沈孝生同时见害，史称戊寅靖社（第一次王子之乱）。太祖被迫承认既成事实，册立三军府中军节制使、永安君李芳果为世子，次月传位于李芳果。

两年后，靖安公李芳远仍然不满现状，宫廷政变再次发生。四兄怀安公李芳干意图与之争夺王位继承权但最终事败，李芳干连同儿子遭到流放，史称庚辰靖社（第二次王子之乱）。三兄益安公李芳毅性情醇谨恬淡，本就无意争夺王位，并无参与政变，政变发生时宿疾在家，闻变痛哭，遂辞去中军节制使之职，交还兵权。此次政变后，定宗退位，李芳远即位。而李成桂自开京出奔，直逃老家咸兴，皈依佛门，并居住在幼年的潜邸（咸兴本宫）中，1408年离世；定宗则在1419年在开京离世。

登基

建文三年（1401年），李芳远接受兄长定宗禅位，继承朝鲜国王，是为朝鲜太宗。六月，明惠宗遣通政寺丞章谨、文渊阁待诏端木礼封太宗为朝鲜国王。六月十二日，太宗率百官至汉城宣义门外迎接朝廷使臣。随后章谨、端木礼于景福宫无逸殿宣读敕封诏书：「奉天承运皇帝诰曰：古先哲王之为治，德穷施普，覆育万方。凡厥有邦，无间内外，罔不臣服。爰树君长，俾乂其民人，以藩屏于夷夏。朕承大统，师古成宪。咨尔朝鲜权知国事李芳远，袭父兄之传，镇绥兹土，来效职贡，率礼克诚，以未受封，祈请勤至。兹庸命尔为朝鲜国王，锡以金印，长兹东土。呜呼！天无常心，惟民是从；民无常戴，惟德是怀。尔其懋德，以承眷佑，孝友于家，忠顺于上，仁惠于下，俾黎民受福，后昆昭式，永辅于中国。启土建家，匪德莫宜，可不敬哉！」。随后，朝鲜三司右使李稷、摠制尹坤，奉京师礼部咨文宣读。

明成祖在靖难之变即位后，朝鲜在建文四年（1402年）十月初就停止使用建文年号，十月十二日，明朝使臣都察院佥都御史俞士吉、鸿胪寺少卿汪泰、内官温全、杨宁携带朱棣的诏书抵达朝鲜，正式通报了明朝国内的情况：

接到诏书后在当月李芳远就派遣以左政丞河仑为代表的使节团前往南京祝贺明成祖登极。河仑等人在南京朝见了朱棣，通过礼部侍郎赵礼向朱棣请求颁发新的诰命、印信等物。永乐元年（1403年）二月，明成祖正式派出以左通政赵居任为首的册封使节团，其成员还包括日后长期出使朝鲜的宦官黄俨，朝鲜籍宦官朱允端、韩帖木儿，明朝都指挥高得等人。使团一行于四月初八日抵达汉阳，李芳远亲率群臣在西郊张设山棚，亲著冕服迎接明朝使者，随后将明朝使团迎至阙下，明朝使臣宣读明成祖的圣旨，正式册封李芳远为「朝鲜国王」：

由此，李芳远以明成祖赐予的印信、诰命替换明惠宗当年赐给他的印、诰，成为明成祖册封的「朝鲜国王」。李芳远接受册封后，随即派遣使节团前往明朝谢恩，于是又获得朱棣赐予金印、诰命、九章、圭玉、佩玉等一系列物品，并获得穿著九章冕服的资格。太宗又得到了明成祖的承认。

六曹直启制

太宗在位期间，完善了其父太祖的「科田制」，没收大量「私田」、「别赐田」、「寺院田」，颁布《功臣田传给法》。太宗仿效明太祖废相后直接领导六部的做法，创立了六曹判书（正二品）向国王个人负责的「六曹直启制」，架空成立不久的议政府，加强君主集权。1403年太宗改革行政区划，撤去高丽时代沿袭下来的一留都府、五都护府、六府、二十牧，并改高丽的五道两边为朝鲜八道。太宗也于在位时期提出庶孽锢禁法严别嫡庶。

私兵革罢

另外，在1400年，太宗废除高丽的私兵制，实行统一的府兵制，集兵权于中央。还召集都内衣冠子弟，设立「鹰扬卫」和「别侍卫」。1415年改革军制，设立守城军、营镇军、杂色军三种级别。太宗在位期间，还修订了《经济六典元集详节》、《续集详节》、《璇源录》等书籍。

号牌法

永乐十一年（1413年）9月，太宗宣布实行号牌法，规定10岁以上70岁以下的男子均按身分佩带一种号牌，上书姓名、住址、面色、身长、有无胡须等，在发牌时进行户口登记。如有不戴或伪造、遗失、借用者，要受处罚。两班贵族的号牌用象牙或鹿角制成，平民的则用杂木。1407年起实行邻保制，以连环保的方式加强统治和保证对国家的负担得以实现。朝鲜实行奴婢辩正，把高丽末期沦为奴婢的人改为良民，把寺院的私奴婢改为国家控制的公奴婢，使国家能够掌握更多的劳动力和兵源。

永乐十五年（1417年），太宗设立都巡问使、都观察黜陟使、都安抚使三言官。

倭寇讨伐

永乐十六年（1418年），太宗废黜德行有亏的世子让宁大君，又以朝鲜国王必须劝酒讨好明朝使臣为由不立不能饮酒的次子孝宁大君，于是立三子忠宁大君为世子。

同年八月八日，太宗传位于世子，即世宗。虽已逊位但仍在军队中有影响力，以太上王教旨命令李从茂清剿对马海峡倭寇，史称己亥东征。此次东征朝鲜击毙700名、逮捕110名倭寇，并释放了至少140名被倭寇抓走的中国人。朝鲜方面则有180人阵亡。1419年9月，对马海峡倭寇首领平真盛被捉获，并押到朝鲜王宫。1443年，癸亥条约签订，对马海峡倭寇首领接受朝鲜王朝对对马海峡的宗主权。朝鲜方面也给与平氏倭寇在对马海峡与朝鲜的贸易优先权。

去世

永乐二十年（世宗四年，1422年）五月十日，太宗在汉城泉达坊新宫去世，在位十八年，在太上王位四年，享年五十四岁。

尊号与諡号

永乐十六年（太宗十八年，1418年），太宗禅位给儿子世宗，被尊为上王。十一月八日，世宗为太宗加尊号为「圣德神功上王」，颁布册文：

永乐二十年（世宗四年，1422年），太宗去世，明朝赐谥号为恭定，朝鲜在此基础上为太宗上谥号为恭定圣德神功文武光孝大王，庙号太宗，葬于献陵 （在京畿道广州大母山）。肃宗九年（1683），肃宗认为太宗諡号中只有「文武光孝」算是諡号，「圣德神功」是太上王尊号，所以加谥「睿哲成烈」四字，为恭定圣德神功文武睿哲成烈光孝大王，高宗八年（1871年）追上尊号「建天体极大正启佑」，最后谥号为恭定圣德神功建天体极大正启佑文武睿哲成烈光孝大王。

宰辅

• 李　舒（领议政）

• 成石璘（领议政）

• 赵　浚（领议政）

• 南　在（领议政）

• 李居易（领议政）

• 权仲和（领议政）

• 韩尚敬（领议政）

• 河　仑（领议政）

• 李　稷（领议政）

• 柳廷显（领议政）

• 沈　温（领议政，忠宁大君即日后的世宗之岳父，昭宪王后之父）

家庭

王妃

后宫

王子

王女

相关册封

1401年，朝鲜太宗被中国明朝册封为「朝鲜国王」，是第一个正式获得中国中原王朝册封的朝鲜王朝君主。

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