Pyeongwon of Goguryeo

Infobox Korean name
hangul=평원왕, 평강(상호)왕
hanja=平原王, 平岡(上好)王
rr=Pyeongwon-wang, Pyeonggang(sangho)-wang
mr=P'yǒngwǒn-wang, P'yǒnggang(sangho)-wang
hangulborn=양성 "or" 탕
hanjaborn=陽成 "or" 湯
rrborn=Yangseong "or" Tang
mrborn=Yangsǒng "or" T'angKing Pyeongwon of Goguryeo (ruled 559—590) was a 6th century Korean monarch, the 25th ruler of Goguryeo, the northernmost of the Three Kingdoms of Korea.

The years of Pyeongwon's rule are generally agreed upon by historians, but his year of birth has not been established with any degree of certainty. It is known that he was the eldest son of King Yangwon and became crown prince in 557, two years before assuming full power. He is said to have been courageous, and skilled in horseriding and archery.

By this time, royal power had been significantly eroded by the aristocracy. Concerned for the people, he encouraged agricultural and sericultural developments and reduced the royal cuisine.

He maintained tense but relatively peaceful relations with the Göktürks and the various Chinese dynasties, briefly battling the Northern Zhou in the Liaodong Peninsula. As the Sui Dynasty united China, King Pyeongwon prepared for the impending war.

The southern border with the other two Korean kingdoms was relatively peaceful as the Silla-Baekje alliance fell apart.

The rule of Pyeongwon of Goguryeo came to an end in 590, which is presumed to be the year of his death, but there is no specific documentation to confirm the circumstances.

ee also

*List of Korea-related topics
*History of Korea
*Three Kingdoms of Korea
*List of Korean monarchs