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Biography
King Gyeongmun was the grandson of King Huigang, and the son of the ichan Kim Kye-myŏng, who was also a director of the Chancellery. His mother was Lady Gwanghwa, the daughter of King Sinmu.
According to the Samguk yusa, when he was eighteen, he became a kukson of the hwarang. In 860, when he was 15 (according to the Samguk sagi) or 20 (according to the Samguk yusa), Gyeongmun impressed King Heonan at a banquet after making a report on his travels. King Heonan gave the young hwarang an opportunity to marry one of his two daughters. On the advice of a Buddhist monk who promised he would receive three auspicious things, Gyeongmun married Queen Munui, who was the less-attractive, elder daughter. The three auspicious benefits were that he would make King Heonan and his queen happy, that he would succeed King Heonan on the throne, and finally that he would also receive the younger daughter of King Heonan, as a consort.
Gyeongmun's reign saw intensifying internal strife and rebellion. In 866, ichan Yunhŭng and his brothers, Sukhŭng and Kyehŭng rebelled against Gyeongmun. Yunhŭng and his brothers supported the right of the descendants of Kim Kyun-jŏng to the throne. Yunhŭng and his brothers were defeated and killed. In 868, ichan Kim Ye, the younger cousin of King Munseong and a descendant of Kim Kyun-jong, plotted rebellion along with Kim Hyŏn but they were caught and killed. Gyeongmun sought to strengthen the kingdom within and without, but was generally unsuccessful. Famine was widespread. In 869, he sent the Crown Prince (who would become King Heongang) to Tang China together with Kim Yun.
The Samguk yusa also portrays a story about King Gyeongmun which is similar to that of King Midas' ears. The Samguk yusa{'}s mythical story claimed that King Gyeongmun had donkey-like ears, and only his crownmaker knew of the king's condition, as the king deliberately hid his ears from everyone. Unable to keep the secret, the king's crownmaker shouted the secret at a bamboo forest. Following the crownmaker's death, the king noticed that when the wind blows, his secrets echo from the forest. He immediately felt unpleasant and destroyed the bamboo forest and planted dogwoods.
His daughter, Jinseong, would later become Silla's 51 ruler and its 3rd and last reigning queen in 887.
Family
• of the Kim clan, eldest daughter of King Heonan
• #Son: Heongang of Silla (c.861–886)
• #Son: Jeonggang of Silla (c.863–887)
• #Daughter: Jinseong of Silla
• (차비 김씨; 次妃 金氏), second daughter of King Heonan
In popular culture
• Portrayed by Lee Seung-Yong in the 2000–2002 KBS1 TV series Taejo Wang Geon
