Information about Korean Era Name

Korean era name
Hangul 연호 Hanja 年號 Revised Romanization Yeonho McCune-Reischauer Yŏnho

Korean era names were used during the period of Silla, Goguryeo, Balhae, Taebong, Goryeo, Joseon, and the Korean Empire. Dangun-giwon, the era name originating from the foundation of Gojoseon is also widely used in Korea as an indication of long civilisation of Korea.

Goguryeo

1. Yeongnak (永樂, 영락 : 391 - 413, during the reign of King Gwanggaeto the Great.)

• Note: The following era names are found on various Goguryeo artifacts, but the actual years of usage are unclear.

1. Yeonsu (延壽, 연수 : 413 - 491 during the reign of King Jangsu or 270 - 292, during the reign of King Seocheon or 331 - 371, during the reign of King Gogugwon.)
2. Yeon-ga (延嘉, 연가 : 292 - 300, during the reign of King Bongsang or 531 - 545, during the reign of King Anwon.)
3. Geonheung (建興, 건흥: 413 - 491, during the reign of King Jangsu.)
4. Yeonggang (永康, 영강 : 545 - 559, during the reign of King Yangwon.)
5. Hamtong (咸通, 함통 : 618 - 642, during the reign of King Yeongnyu.)

Silla

1. Geonwon (건원, 建元 : 536 - 551), during the reign of King Beopheung and King Jinheung)
2. Gaeguk (개국, 開國 : 551 - 568), during the reign of King Jinheung)
3. Daechang (대창, 大昌 : 568 - 572), during the reign of King Jinheung)
4. Hongje (홍제, 鴻濟 : 572 - 584), during the reign of King Jinheung, King Jinji and King Jinpyeong)
5. Geonbok (건복, 建福 : 584 - 634), during the reign of King Jinpyeong and Queen Seondeok)
6. Inpyeong (인평, 仁平 : 634 - 648, during the reign of Queen Seondeok and Quen Jindeok)
7. Taehwa (태화, 太和 : 648 - 650, during the reign of Queen Jindeok.)

In 650, Silla stopped using her own era name and adopted that of Tang Dynasty China.

Balhae

1. Cheontong (天統, 천통 : 699 - 718, during the reign of King Go.)
2. Inan (仁安, 인안 : 719 - 736, during the reign of King Mu.)
3. Daeheung (大興, 대흥 : 737 - 792, during the reign of King Mun.)
4. Jungheung (中興, 중흥 :794, during the reign of King Seong.)
5. Jeongnyeok (正曆, 정력 : 795 - 808 during the reign of King Gang.)
6. Yeongdeok (永德, 영덕 : 809 - 812 during the reign of King Jeong.)
7. Jujak (朱雀, 주작 : 813 - 817 during the reign of King Hui.)
8. Taesi (太始, 태시 : 817 - 818 during the reign of King Gan.)
9. Geonheung (建興, 건흥 : 818 - 820 during the reign of King Seon.)
10. Hamhwa (咸和, 함화 : 830 - 858 during the reign of King Dae Ijin.)

• Note : King Dae Ijin, posthumous names are unknown, so usually they're called by their personal names.

Jeong-Ahn Kingdom

1. Wonheung (元興, 원흥 :976 - 986 during the reign of Oh Hyeon-myeong.)

Heung-Yo Kingdom

1. Cheongyeong (天慶, 천경 : 1029 - 1030 during the reign of Dae Yeon-Rim.)

Daewon Kingdom

1. Yeunggi (隆基, 융기 : 1116 during the reign of Go Yeong-Chang.)

Hubaekje

1. Jeonggae (正開, 정개 : 900 - 936 during the reign of Gyeon Hwon)

Taebong

All these era names were used during the reign of King Gung-ye, who ruled Taebong from 901 to 918.

1. Mutae (武泰, 무태 : 904 - 905 during the reign of Gung Ye)
2. Seongchaek (聖冊, 성책 : 905 - 910 during the reign of Gung Ye)
3. Sudeok Manse (水德萬歲, 수덕만세 : 911 - 914 during the reign of Gung Ye)
4. Jeonggae (政開, 정개 : 914 - 918 during the reign of Gung Ye)

• Note : In 918, General Wang Geon led a revolution, became the new emperor, and changed the country's name to Goreyo.

Goryeo

1. Cheonsu (天授, 천수 : 918 - 933 during the reign of King Taejo.)
2. Gwangdeok (光德, 광덕 : 950 - 951 during the reign of King Gwangjong.)
3. Junpung (峻豊, 준풍 : 960 - 963 during the reign of King Gwangjong.)

Daewi

1. Cheongae (天開, 천개 : 1135 - 1136 during the reign of Myo Cheong.)

Joseon

1. Gaeguk (開國, 개국 : used for the reign of Emperor Gojong 1894 - 1897)
2. Geonyang (建陽, 건양 : used for the reign of Emperor Gojong 1896 - 1897)

Korean Empire

1. Gwangmu (광무; 光武; "Bright Valour") - used for the reign of Emperor Gojong, 1897-1907
2. Yunghui (융희;隆熙; "Prosperous Brilliance") - used for the reign of Emperor Sunjong, 1907-1910

Era names of external powers

During certain periods of tributary relationship with various Chinese empires, Chinese era names were adopted. For example, in the Annals of Joseon Dynasty, years were described with Chinese era names and Sexagenary Cycle. During the Japanese occupation of Korea, Japan used its own era system for colonial Korea.

Juche Calendar

The North Korean government and associated organizations use a variation of the Gregorian calendar with a Juche year based on April 15, 1912 CE, the date of birth of Kim Il-sung, as year 1. There is no Juche year 0. The calendar was introduced in 1997. Months are unchanged from those in the standard Gregorian calendar. In many instances, the Juche year is given after the CE year, for example, 27 June 2007 Juche 96. But in North Korean publications, the Juche year is usually placed before the corresponding CE year, as in Juche 96 (2007).

Sources

• http://tiny.britannica.co.kr/bol/topic.asp?article_id=b15a3467a
• http://tiny.britannica.co.kr/bol/view-table.asp?med_id=b15a346701t1.html
• http://wondreams.hihome.com/temasogo_goguryeo2.htm
• http://100.empas.com/dicsearch/pentry.html?i=171244
• http://www.ikgu.com/tt/717

See also

• History of Korea
• List of Korea-related topics
• Korean calendar
• Chinese era name