Sejong the Great

15 May 1397 – 8 April 1450

Sejong the Great (1397-1450) was the fourth king of the Joseon dynasty of Korea, reigning from 1418 to 1450. He is celebrated for creating Hangul, the Korean alphabet, and for patronizing science, agriculture, and scholarship through institutions such as the Hall of Worthies. His reign is widely regarded as a golden age of Korean culture.

Comparing
Compare

Lived at the same time

Well-documented people whose lives overlapped with Sejong the Great.

Life events

Born in Hanseong (Seoul) as the third son of King Taejong
15 May 1397

Sejong was born Yi Do, third son of King Taejong and Queen Wongyeong of Joseon.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Birth ✓
Married Sim On's daughter, later Queen Soheon
1408

In 1408 the young prince married the future Queen Soheon, with whom he had eight sons and two daughters.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Relationship ✓
Named crown prince over his elder brothers
June 1418

In 1418 Taejong deposed the heir Yangnyeong and designated Sejong crown prince in recognition of his ability.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Career ✓
Ascended the throne as the fourth king of Joseon
September 1418

Sejong became king in September 1418 after his father Taejong abdicated, though Taejong retained influence over military affairs until 1422.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Career ✓
Ordered the Gihae Eastern Expedition against pirate bases on Tsushima
June 1419

In 1419 the Joseon court launched a naval expedition against Wokou pirate strongholds on Tsushima Island.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Other ✓
Expanded the Hall of Worthies (Jiphyeonjeon) as a royal research institute
1420

From 1420 Sejong developed the Hall of Worthies into a center of scholarship that supported his scientific and literary projects.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Achievement ✓
Completed the creation of Hangul, the Korean alphabet
1443

By late 1443 Sejong had devised the Korean script, designed so that commoners could easily learn to read and write.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Achievement ✓
Promulgated Hunminjeongeum, publishing the new alphabet
October 1446

In 1446 Sejong issued the Hunminjeongeum, the document that officially introduced Hangul to the Korean people.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Achievement ✓
Died at the residence of Prince Yeongeung in Hanseong
8 April 1450

Sejong died in 1450 after years of declining health, including diabetes and failing eyesight, and was succeeded by his son Munjong.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Death ✓