Background

Domestic

Injong ascended the throne in accordance with the third of the Ten Injunctions of Taejo, as 「the eldest legitimate royal issue." Despite the reverend status of this document, its succession rules were often disregarded. As recent as in 1095 Injong's grandfather King Sukjong came to power after abdication of his nephew. At the age of twelve and a half Injong's succession became possible largely due to the influence of his maternal grandfather Yi Cha-gyeom, while according to the report of the Song envoy Xu Jing, Injong's uncle Prince Po, supported by the Han An-in faction, "had designs on throne"

International

By the early 1122 the Khitan state of Liao was effectively destroyed by the armies of Taizu of Jin. Large number of Khitans fled to Goryeo. Operations of Song against Khitan were unsuccessful, and the lost Song territories south of the Great Wall were recovered only after the Jurchen victory over Liao. The 1123 treaty formalized the superior status of Jin: the annual tribute of Song was set to 200,000 taels of silver and 200,000 bolts of silk. Despite the weak performance against Khitan, the Song government overestimated both the importance of the recovery of Yanjing (a modern-day Beijing) and its own military capabilities.

1122–1126: Yi Cha-gyeom years

1122–1123

The early years of Injong's reign were dominated by Yi Cha-gyeom. As the Supreme Chancellor (munha sijung, junior first rank) at the head of combined Secretariat-Chancellery (chungseo munha-seong) Yi Cha-gyeom was the highest-ranking government official. His dominance was challenged during the last years of Yejong, but with the beginning of his grandson's reign Yi Cha-gyeom took decisive steps to buttress it. By the end of 1122 Princes Po and Hye were exiled, Han An-in assassinated, and several hundred of his followers, including a dozen core members of Tanju Han and Cheongan Im clans, were either banished or demoted.

During this period officers of the Royal Army began to play an important role in the domestic politics.

Through his career Yi Cha-gyeom cultivated muban military officials, that after 960 had a lower status and enjoyed less perquisites than their civilian munban counterparts. Two of his most important allies were Choe Hong-jae, a high civilian official of a military background, and a military commander Cheok Chun-gyeong.

With this power base Yi Cha-gyeom emerged as the most influential figure in the Goryeo politics. He became the Chief-Minister-Extraordinary in charge of all three chancelleries (samseong), while keeping the position of the head (superintendent, pansa) of the Ministry of Personnel (Yi-bu). He was also created a Duke (kong). Nevertheless, his authority never became absolute: he had to take heed of other factions both in execution of policies he favored and in rooting out the opposition.

In foreign relations he was aligned with the Kyeongju Kim faction led by Kim Bu-sik and his brothers, advocating a submission to the newly established Jin. In 1123 the renewed Song offer of formal investiture was rejected. Jin stepped up the pressure on Goryeo by occupying Uiju (Poju) area along the Yalu river; from their point of view it was a repair of the frontier defenses. After a suppression of unrest in Balhae a secure North-Eastern frontier allowed Jin to focus on the Song.

1124–1126

In early 1124 Choe Hong-jae and military officers associated with him plotted to overthrow Yi Cha-gyeom, but were unsuccessful. Choe and the associates were purged from their positions and exiled. Following the purge Yi married one of his daughters to Injong, and increasingly filled the mid- and high-ranking government positions with his loyalists, including his five sons. He and his faction profited from seized property of the purged officials.

The idea that Goryeo has to submit to Jin was still encountering resistance. The embassy dispatched in 1125 to Emperor Taizong of Jin was rejected by his officials because the correspondence it carried addressed the emperor improperly and did not use the term 『servant' when referring to Goryeo. The question whether to accept that the mandate of the northern dynasty passed to Jin was debated through 1126. Eventually Kim and Yi convinced Injong and the reluctant officials to submit to Jin. By that time the Song were collapsing under Jin attack, Emperor Huizong abdicated, while a Goryeo embassy (that included Kim Bu-sik ) had to return without being able to reach Kaifeng. The embassy to Jin sent in 1126 presented the submission of Goryeo in proper terms and brought up the matter of Uiju. Taizong transferred the disputed area to Goryeo.

It was reported that Yi Cha-gyeom intended to usurp the throne and eventually planned to poison the king. According to this report, there was a popular prophecy that a man of the sippal cha, or eighteen child, an anagram on the character for the surname Yi, would become king and the transfer his court to the Southern Capital (Seoul), leading Goryeo to a renewed prosperity. Yi Cha-gyeom is alleged to believe in this prophecy, based on his family name and a location of the family seat in Incheon, close to Seoul. Attempts of Yi to further aggrandize his station are a matter of the public record. He planned performance of ritual music at the tombs of his forefathers and celebration of his birthday as the anniversary of a king (insujeol). Both moves were opposed by Kim Bu-sik and his supporters.

A more serious challenge to the paramount position of Yi Cha-gyeom was a rising organized by two courtiers, Kim Chan and An Po-rin. Beyond the involvement of some twenty-five young courtiers, the plot had a confidence of Injong and a support of three senior military officers, including one commander and one deputy commander of two (out of six) regular army divisions. Several senior statesmen, such as Yi Kon-su, approved the plot in principle but advised caution. The group struck 「one night in 1126". The plan involved gaining control of the palace and king's person as the first stage of the coup, followed by a strike against other key targets. The conspirators captured the palace and killed several of Yi Cha-gyeom loyalists, including the Minister of War (a brother of Cheok Chun-gyeong). However, the palace was surrounded by the troops of Cheok Chun-gyeong and armed monks led by Yi Cha-gyeom's son. The rest of Kaesong remained in the control of the Yi faction. To finish the stand-off Cheok Chun-gyeong ordered torching the palace (Yi Cha-gyeom's disapproval was on the record as sent to him). Most of the palace, including libraries and the Academy, burned down. 「Countless" conspirators were killed. Injong offered to abdicate in favor of Yi Cha-gyeom, but the latter refused.

In the following government reshuffling Yi Cha-gyeom rewarded his loyalists. However, Yi Kon-su kept his senior position in the Secretariat-Chancellery, and two Kim brothers were actually promoted, with Kim Bu-sik becoming the Chief Censor. King Injong was living in Cha-gyeom's house and had married another of his daughters.

This triumph was, however, short-lived. Other aristocratic factions joined forces to bring Yi Cha-gyeom down. They fostered a disunity between Cheok and Yi, using the question of responsibility for violation of the sacred palace grounds as a bait. Involvement of Injong, Yi Kon-su and Kim Bu-il left traces in the official records. In the fifth month of 1126 Yi Cha-gyeom, his family and followers were arrested by the soldiers of Cheok Chun-gyeong. Yi was banished to Jeolla province and later beheaded. Banished officials — Choe Hong-jae, members of Tanju Han and Cheongan Im clans and their associates — were recalled and reinstated in their positions. In the sixth month of 1126 King Injong married a daughter of Im Weonae. Cheok Chun-gyeong was demoted and banished in 1127.

1127–1136: Reforms and Myo Cheongs rebellion

After the fall of Yi Cha-gyeom the government was dominated by Kyeongju Kim and Han An-in/ Cheongan Im clans. Provincial clans, particularly from the Western Capital (Seogeong, modern Pyongyang) area were important in toppling Yi Cha-gyeom and contended for a larger share in the decision-making. Paek Su-han, Cheong Chi-sang, a famous poet and Confucian scholar, and Myo Cheong, a Buddhist monk and geomancer were prominent representatives of this faction. Myo Cheong appeared at the court in 1127 and officially became political adviser to Injong in 1128. It is possible that the Pyongyang group was used by the king to balance influence of the established aristocracy.

Already in 1127 Myo Cheong instigated a fifteen-point restoration rescript (yusin chigyo) of Injong. It included political reforms, called for austerity, and urged measures to restrict official exploitation of the peasantry. Educational reforms were part of the package and intended to strengthen the royal authority. Injong ordered that each chu (large districts) and hyeon (district) establish a school (to prepare to the civil service examinations), thus facilitating the access of local elites to positions in the central administration. Injong completed the reconstruction of the government school system by instituting the 「six colleges" at the National Academy.

Myo Cheong had a reputation for sanctity and was a speaker 「easily dazzled his listeners". His teachings were enjoying a growing popularity with the people and some members of the elite, including the king. Politically the Pyongyang faction was opposed by the Kyeongju Kim and Han An-in/Cheongan Im groups. Its supporters included Choe Hong-jae, an old foe of Han An-in faction, now a senior member of the Censorate, and Yun Oni, son of the famous general Yun Gwan, influential Confucian scholar and a close ally of Cheong Chi-sang. Indeed, out of six senior censorial officials in 1133, two were supporters of Myo Cheong and only two steadfastly opposed him.

Myo Cheong provided a geomantic explanation of the recent disturbances in Kaesong and offered to cure the problem: since the geomantic forces around the Eastern Capital were waning, the court should move to the Western Capital, where the same forces were strong and 「filled with vigour". This ideas, while somewhat extreme in their forcefulness, were in line with the prevailing thinking at the time. Ten Injunctions of Taejo accepted geomantic considerations as an important factor influencing government policies and ascribed a particular significance to the Western Capital. Injong's edict of 1129 commanded construction of a palace (Great Flowering Palace, Taehwa-gung), in Pyongyang to 「revitalize our politics and ... forever bestow felicity upon the following generations". The palace was completed in 1132 and Injong began to spend extended periods of time there.

In foreign relations Injong's government, while admitting the superiority of Jin, aimed to preserve independence and trade interests of Goryeo. By 1127 Song collapsed. The Jurchen armies conquered Kaifeng, and both Huizong, now retired, and the reigning emperor Qinzong were captured and exiled to Manchuria. Not long afterwards Song envoys tried to convince Goryeo officials to give them a direct overland access to the Jin and negotiate the release of the captured emperors. The request was denied at the insistence of Kim Bu-sik and his elder brother Kim Bu-il, while different sources record Choe Hong-jae as to be in favor of assisting the Song or as opposed to it. The relations with the Song were practically broken for the next few years: a request by Injong in 1129 to send an embassy was denied, while the embassy dispatched in 1132 was shipwrecked.

Goryeo traditionally provided a refuge for Jurchens that were at odds with the powers at home.

During the first twenty years of the 11th century 6,846 Jurchen refugees were registered at Kaesong, compared with the average of 526 over two-decade periods of the previous one hundred years (and only 17 during 1081-1100). This policy continued under Injong, even if twice (in 1127 and 1130) the Jin used presence of the Jurchen refugees in Goryeo to pressure it into formal submission.

Pyongyang faction represented a more nativist and anti-Jurchen approach. Myo Cheong claimed that moving a capital to Seogeong (Pyongyang) would reinvigorate

Goryeo to the extent that thirty-six states, including Jin, would pay homage to it. He urged Injong to declare himself emperor, institute his own era name, and attack the "arrogant Jin". A memorandum to this effect was also submitted to Injong by Cheong Chi-sang and Yun Oni. Aided by the indecision of Injong an uneasy equilibrium between the factions continued for several years.

Disappointed by the rate of reforms, insufficiently decisive stance against Jin, and alarmed by purges of some of it supporters, Myo Cheong rebelled in 1135. At the Western Capital the rebels declared a new state of Taewi (Great Accomplishment). The rebels were enthusiastically supported in the northwest, but most of Myo Cheong's supporters in Kaesong deserted him. It is still debated weather Myo Cheong was actually the principal driving force of the rebellion or just its figurehead.

Im Weonae, the king's father-in-law, on the news of the revolt, mobilized armies to protect Kaesong. Officials associated with Myo Cheong were prosecuted: some, like Cheong Chi-sang were executed, and many banished during 1135-1136. Several attempts were made to negotiate with the rebels. The situation became particularly threatening when the offers of military assistance came both from the Jin and Southern Song. Eventually Kim Bu-sik led a successful military campaign against the rebels. Myo Cheong was assassinated by his own army, and in early 1136 Pyongyang fell to the government forces. Yun Oni distinguished himself in action against the rebels, but was still banished by Kim Bu-sik as an associate of Cheong Chi-sang.

1137–1146

From the suppression of the Myo Cheong rebellion until his official retirement in 1142 Kim Bu-sik was an unchallenged leader of the Goryeo government. From 1140 onwards the banished supporters of Myo Cheong began to be recalled.

By the early eleven forties the conflict of the Southern Song and the Jin reached an equilibrium that was formalized during the negotiates of 1141-1142. The Southern Song emperor recognized the suzerainty of Emperor Xizong of Jin, paying an annual tribute of 250,000 bolts of silk and taels of silver. Goryo exchanges several embassies with the Jin, and in 1142 Injong was formally invested as its vassal.

In 1143 Injong appointed fourteen local magistrates, making another step in bringing local administration under the central control. As a result of the reforms of Yejong and Injong about one third of Goryeo's 450 or so prefectures and counties were under a direct control of the central government.

In 1142, Injong ordered the compilation of the Samguk Sagi, a chronicle of events in the Three Kingdoms and Unified Silla. Using Chinese histories (particularly Shiji by Sima Qian), Kim Bu-sik at the head of the fourteen-author team compiled the oldest extant source on Korean history. It was submitted to Injong in late 1145 or early 1146.

Succession

Both Injong and Lady Im (Queen Gongye) are recorded as having misgivings about their oldest son Prince Hyeon. Both doubted his ability to rule and Queen Gongye preferred the second son Prince Kyeong as the next king. Nevertheless, on Injong's death Prince Hyeon succeeded him as the 18th monarch of Goryeo.

Family

• Father: King Yejong of Goryeo (11 February 1079 – 15 May 1122) (고려 예종)

　• Grandfather: King Sukjong of Goryeo (2 September 1054 – 10 November 1105) (고려 숙종)

　• Grandmother: Queen Myeongui of the Jeongju Yu clan (? – 14 July 1112) (명의왕후 유씨)

• Mother: Queen Sundeok of the Incheon Lee clan (? – 5 September 1118) (순덕왕후 이씨)

　• Grandfather: Lee Ja-Gyeom (? – 19 January 1127) (이자겸)

　• Grandmother: Grand lady of Byeonhan State of the Choi clan (변한국대부인 최씨)

Consorts:

• Queen Gongye of the Jangheung Im clan (7 September 1109 – 1183) (공예왕후 임씨)

• #King Uijong of Goryeo (23 May 1127 – 7 November 1173) (고려 의종)

• #Wang Gyeong, Prince Daeryeong (1130 – ?) (왕경 대령후)

• #King Myeongjong of Goryeo (8 November 1131 – 3 December 1202) (고려 명종)

• #Prince Wongyeong (? – 1183) (원경국사)

• #King Sinjong of Goryeo (11 August 1144 – 15 February 1204) (고려 신종)

• #Princess Seunggyeong (승경궁주)

• #Princess Deoknyeong (? – 13 August 1192) (덕녕궁주)

• #Princess Changrak (? – 27 January 1216) (창락궁주)

• #Princess Yeonghwa (1141 – 1208) (영화궁주)

• Queen Seonpyeong of the Gangreung Kim clan (? – 1179) (선평왕후 김씨)

• Deposed Princess Yeondeok of the Incheon Lee clan (? – 4 August 1139) (폐비 연덕궁주 이씨)

• Deposed Princess Bokchang of the Incheon Lee clan (? – 27 November 1195) (폐비 복창원주 이씨)

即位之初

睿宗升遐后，外戚李资谦拥立睿宗之子仁宗为王。仁宗年幼仅14岁，加上意志不坚定且天性柔和，朝政均为仁宗之外祖父李资谦及其党羽拓俊京所把持。李资谦为图继续巩固自身地位，复将三女与四女进献为仁宗之后妃，结党营私，安插亲族与部属担任朝中内外要职，并以权位之便乘机诬陷忠良，铲除异己。甚至唆使党羽与其奴婢夺人财务，占人土地，引发民情愤慨。民间里巷间流传「十八子（李）将王」，李资谦闻之，遂益生妄想之心，企图谋篡王位。李资谦成为幕后实质上握有权力的统治者，日益作威作福，由于行事过度专擅，致使朝臣义愤填膺，甚至引起仁宗的厌恶。

外戚李资谦之乱

仁宗四年（1126年），仁宗的近臣金灿、安甫麟暗中窥知仁宗厌恶李资谦的擅权，于是夥同上将军崔卓、吴卓等人密议，在半夜引兵入宫诛杀李资谦的党羽拓俊京之子拓纯与其弟拓俊臣。拓俊京得到急报后，连忙也引兵入宫将房屋付之一炬。大火延烧至内殿，仁宗紧急徒步逃至后苑避难，仁宗甚至准备下令让位与李资谦以结束纷乱，近臣连忙上谏阻止，仁宗这才作罢。于是李资谦派遣党羽到各地捕杀安甫麟等数十名朝中要员，将仁宗软禁在寝所，并先后数次进毒药企图杀害仁宗，幸好每次都为王妃用奇智所救。不久后，李资谦与拓俊京之间因为双方各自奴婢间的争执而产生嫌隙，两人关系因此日渐恶化。此时，得到仁宗密旨的内医崔思全前往说服拓俊京，拓俊京遂痛悔前非，并决心效忠王室。于是，拓俊京奉仁宗之命拘捕李资谦，并将之流配至今之灵光，李资谦数个月后病死于流配地；李资谦的党羽也均被流配至远地，李资谦嫁与仁宗之二女也遭到罢黜，但因救急有功，所以仍然特别得到丰厚的赏赐。另一方面，拓俊京在勤王有功后，却仗著功勋而日益嚣张跋扈，仁宗五年（1127年），被流配至岩堕岛（今之今智岛）。

扩张领土

高丽睿宗时，辽所属的保州被高丽占领。仁宗继位后的1128年12月，金遣使高丽告以封宋朝二君为昏德公、重昏侯事，重提保州问题。高丽国王指出，保州本高丽领土，以蒙金朝先帝赐予。「不爱其地，特赐割赐，而只许保州一城，不许旁侧小土，此岂朝廷以至仁大德抚字小邦之意乎?」1129年11月高丽遣使入金进奉誓表，正式成为金的属国。金朝要求高丽遣返保州全部人口。1130年2月金宗室完颜勖上疏切谏，金太宗放弃了对保州逃移户口的追索。「自是保州封域始定」。

家庭

妻妾

子女

子

女

附注