Wang Geon (Taejo)
왕건 (태조)
KoreanGoryeo Period (877-943 CE)
"Founder of Goryeo, Unifier of the Later Three Kingdoms"
✦ Personality Traits
✦ About
Wang Geon (877-943 CE), posthumously known as Taejo, founded the Goryeo dynasty that would rule Korea for 474 years. Rising from a powerful maritime merchant family, he reunified Korea after the Later Three Kingdoms period through a masterful combination of military skill and diplomatic marriage alliances.
Unlike many conquerors, Wang Geon was known for his mercy and wisdom. He treated defeated enemies with generosity, winning their loyalty. He married 29 wives from powerful regional families, creating a web of alliances that stabilized his rule. His policy of embracing rather than crushing opponents became a model of Korean kingship.
His "Ten Injunctions" to his successors emphasized Buddhist piety, respect for tradition, care for the common people, and warnings about specific regions and families—advice that guided Goryeo for centuries.
✦ Famous Story
When the last king of Later Baekje surrendered, Wang Geon personally welcomed him, gave him a high rank, and treated him as an honored guest rather than a prisoner. This mercy inspired other enemies to surrender peacefully, sparing countless lives.
✦ If You Match
Your features carry the founding wisdom of Wang Geon. There is a merciful, unifying quality to your presence—the look of one who builds lasting kingdoms through wisdom rather than cruelty.