Korean era name


Korean era names were titles adopted in historical Korea for the purpose of year identification and numbering. Era names were used during the period of Silla, Goguryeo, Balhae, Taebong, Goryeo, Joseon, and the Korean Empire. Dangun-giwon, the era name originating from the foundation of Gojoseon is also widely used in Korea as an indication of the long civilization of Korea.
Era names originated in 140 BCE in China, during the reign of the Emperor Wu of Han. Since the middle of the 6th century CE, various Korean regimes started to use era names.

List of Korean era names

Goguryeo

  1. Yeongnak
  1. Yeonsu
  2. Yeon-ga
  3. Geonheung
  4. Yeonggang

    Silla

  5. Geon-won
  6. Gaeguk
  7. Daechang
  8. Hongje
  9. Geonbok
  10. Inpyeong
  11. Taehwa
  1. Gyeong-un

    Balhae

  2. Cheontong
  3. Inan
  4. Daeheung
  5. Boryeok
  6. Jungheung
  7. Jeongnyeok
  8. Yeongdeok
  9. Jujak
  10. Taesi
  11. Geonheung
  12. Hamhwa
  1. Wonheung

    Heung-Yo Kingdom

  2. Cheongyeong

    Daewon Kingdom

  3. Yeunggi

    Later Baekje

  4. Jeonggae

    Taebong

All these era names were used during the reign of King Gung-ye, who ruled Taebong from 901 to 918.
  1. Mutae
  2. Seongchaek
  3. Sudeok Manse
  4. Jeonggae
  1. Cheonsu
  2. Gwangdeok
  3. Junpung
The Joseon Dynasty of Korea integrated itself into the Chinese tributary sphere, and consequently used the era names of the Ming and Qing Dynasties of China for most of its existence.
Chinese era names are no longer used in modern Korean historiography.

Ming era names

Era name in KoreanMing emperorHangulHanjaMeaningPeriodJoseon kingsNotes
HongmuHongwu Emperor홍무洪武Vast martiality1392 - 1398Taejo, JeongjongFirst era name in use during the Joseon Dynasty
GeonmunJianwen Emperor건문建文Establishing civility1399 - 1402Jeongjong, Taejong
YeongrakYongle Emperor영락永樂Perpetual happiness1402 - 1424Taejong, Sejong
HonghuiHongxi Emperor홍희洪熙Vast brightness1425Sejong
SeondeokXuande Emperor선덕宣德Proclamation of virtue1426 - 1435Sejong
JeongtongEmperor Yingzong of Ming정통正統Rectification of governance1436 - 1449Sejong
GyeongtaeJingtai Emperor경태景泰Exalted view1450 - 1457Sejong, Munjong, Danjong, Sejo
CheonsunEmperor Yingzong of Ming천순天順Obedience to Heaven1457 - 1464Sejo
SeonghwaChenghua Emperor성화成化Accomplished Change1465 - 1487Sejo, Yejong, Seongjong
HongchiHongzhi Emperor홍치弘治Great government1488 - 1505Seongjong, Yeonsangun
JeongdeokZhengde Emperor정덕正德Rectification of virtue1506 - 1521Yeonsangun, Jungjong
GajeongJiajing Emperor가정嘉靖Admirable tranquility1522 - 1567Jungjong, Injong, Myeongjong, Seonjo
YunggyeongLongqing Emperor융경隆慶Great celebration1568 - 1572Seonjo
MallyeokWanli Emperor만력萬曆Ten thousand calendars1573 - 1620Seonjo, Gwanghaegun
CheongyeTianqi Emperor천계天啟Heavenly opening1621 - 1627Gwanghaegun, Injo
SungjeongChongzhen Emperor숭정崇禎Honorable and auspicious1627 - 1637InjoKorea was forced to officially use Qing era names after the second Manchu invasion of Korea in 1636 and 1637. The era name Chongzhen, continued to be used informally after 1637 well into the nineteenth century, as the Manchu Qing Dynasty was often considered illegitimate by Korean scholars.

Independent era names

  1. Gaeguk : used for the reign of Gojong of Joseon 1894–1895
  2. Geonyang : used for the reign of Gojong of Joseon 1896–1897

    Korean Empire

  3. Gwangmu : used for the reign of Gojong of Korea, 1897–1907
  4. Yunghui : used for the reign of Sunjong of Korea, 1907–1910

    Republic of Korea

  5. Daehan minguk
  6. Dangun-giwon
  7. Seoryeok-giwon

    Democratic People's Republic of Korea

  8. Juche

    Usage of Non-Korean Era names

s were widely used, especially in the Joseon dynasty. During the Japanese occupation, Imperial Japan enforced its own era system.

Juche Calendar

The North Korean government and associated organizations use a variation of the Gregorian calendar with a Juche year based on April 15, 1912 CE, the date of birth of Kim Il-sung, as year 1. There is no Juche year 0. The calendar was introduced in 1997. Months are unchanged from those in the standard Gregorian calendar. In many instances, the Juche year is given after the CE year, for example, Juche . But in North Korean publications, the Juche year is usually placed before the corresponding CE year, as in Juche .