King Yeonsan

The 10th king of the Joseon Dynasty (reigned 1494-1506). His given name was Ryu. He was the eldest son of the 9th king, Seongjong. After ascending to the throne, he allied with the Hunku forces (retainers of merit since the reign of King Sejo) to eliminate the rising Sirin forces (a group of local yangban landlords who had advanced into central politics) in the wake of the Historian's Literary Disturbance (Bogosa Disturbance, 1498). Later, he indulged in pleasure and extravagance without regard for national affairs, and when he found out that the Hunku faction ministers had supported the dethronement and death of his mother, Lady Yun, he became enraged and executed them and the Sirin faction en masse (Gapshisa Disturbance, 1504). After this, he increased the number of prostitutes in the palace and recruited beautiful women from all over the country, becoming extremely cruel and tyrannical, but he was deposed in a coup led by Park Wonjong and others, and died of illness in his exile in Gyodong.

[Kenichi Kasuya]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

朝鮮、李(り)朝第10代の王（在位1494～1506）。諱(いみな)は(りゅう)。第9代成宗の長子。即位後、史官の筆禍事件を発端として新進の士林勢力（在地両班(ヤンパン)地主層から中央政界に進出した集団）を勲旧勢力（世祖朝以来の功臣）と結んで排除した（戊午(ぼご)史禍、1498）。のち国政を顧みず享楽と乱費にふけり、勲旧派大臣が生母尹(いん)氏の廃妃賜死に賛成した事実を知ると激怒して、これを士林派ともども大量処刑した（甲子士禍、1504）。こののち、宮中の娼妓(しょうぎ)を増やし、美女を全国から集めるなど淫虐(いんぎゃく)と暴政を極めたが、朴元宗らのクーデターにより廃され、配所の喬桐(きょうとう)で病没した。

［糟谷憲一］

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