Koryŏsa

Koryŏsa: The History of Koryŏ, Books III and IV continue the groundbreaking English translation of one of Korea’s most important historical texts. Covering the reigns from King Sukchong (r. 1095–1105) to King Ŭijong (r. 1146–1170), these nine volumes of royal annals illuminate a pivotal era in the Koryŏ dynasty (918–1392). Where the first two translated volumes traced the dynasty’s birth and early foundations, this installment explores its political maturation and the challenges of statecraft. Readers encounter succession disputes, the turbulence of the Yi Chagyŏm rebellion of 1126 and the Myoch’ŏng rebellion of 1135, and the limits of royal authority in the face of aristocratic power and popular unrest. At the same time, the text reveals Koryŏ’s active engagement in diplomacy, ritual, and warfare with neighboring powers—including Song China, the Khitan Liao, and the rising Jurchen Jin. These annals capture the complexity of a kingdom negotiating its place within the shifting geopolitical order of northeast Asia. Rich in detail and critical to understanding Korea’s medieval past, these volumes are an indispensable resource for scholars of Korean history, East Asian politics, and comparative world civilizations.