(born 1335—died 1408) Founder of the Korean Chos&obreve;n dynasty (1392–1910). A military leader in the Kory&obreve; dynasty, he rose through the ranks by battling invading forces. He defeated his rivals and drove out the last king of the Kory&obreve; dynasty, taking the throne in 1392.
He established his capital at Hanyang (now Seoul). He and his successors redistributed land, which had been concentrated in the hands of a few high-ranking bureaucrats, throughout the various levels of officialdom. In a break with the past, he made Neo-Confucianism the state religion, replacing Buddhism. Farming was made the centre of the economy. In foreign relations, he maintained a close relationship with China's Ming dynasty.
This is the complete article, containing 111 words
(approx. 1 page at 300 words per page).
View More Summaries on Taejo of Joseon
