Heongang of Silla

{{Short description|49th monarch of Silla (r. 875–886)}}

{{More citations needed|date=October 2019}}

{{Infobox royalty

|name =Heongang of Silla
헌강왕
憲康王

|title =

|image =

|caption =

|succession =King of Silla

|reign =875-886

|coronation =875

|predecessor =Gyeongmun of Silla

|successor =Jeonggang of Silla

|spouse =

|spouse-type =Consort

|issue =

|posthumous name=

|temple name =

|house =House of Kim

|father =Gyeongmun of Silla

|mother =Queen Munui

|birth_date =861

|birth_place =Unified Silla

|death_date =886

|death_place =Unified Silla

|burial_place =

|religion = Buddhism

}}

{{Infobox Korean name

|img=Royal tomb of King Heongang.jpg

|caption=Tomb of King Heongang in Gyeongju

|hangul=헌강왕

|hanja=憲康王

|rr=Heongang wang

|mr=Hŏn'gang wang

|hangulborn=김정

|hanjaborn=金晸

|rrborn=Gim Jeong

|mrborn=Kim Chŏng

}}

{{Silla monarchs 2}}

Heongang (c.861–886), personal name Kim Chŏng, was the 49th to rule the Korean kingdom of Silla.{{Cite web|url=https://terms.naver.com/entry.nhn?cid=46620&docId=795734&categoryId=46620|title=헌강왕|website=Doosan Encyclopedia

|language=ko|trans-title=King Heongang|access-date=2019-05-24}}

According to the Samguk sagi, he excelled at civil affairs.{{Citation needed|date=May 2018}} Heongang was the eldest son of King Gyeongmun; his mother was Queen Munui.{{Citation needed|date=May 2018}} He had no legitimate heir, but did leave a son (later King Hyogong) by Lady Uimyeong.

In 879, Heongang was faced with the rebellion of a high official, his Ilgilchan Sin Hong.{{Citation needed|date=May 2018}} He is best remembered for the legends associated with him in the Samguk yusa, which claimed that a dancing dragon appeared before him and rewarded the king when he built a temple to pay homage to the dragon god.{{cite news |title=Exorcism |url=https://world.kbs.co.kr/service/contents_view.htm?lang=e&menu_cate=culture&id=&board_seq=43540 |access-date=15 February 2024 |agency=KBS World |date=December 11, 2013}}{{cite web |last1=Im |first1=Felix |title=The Dancing Dragon: A dragon's song and dance save the day against evil spirits |url=https://www.korea.net/NewsFocus/Culture/view?articleId=125451 |website=Korea.net |access-date=15 February 2024}} In 886, he sought to defuse domestic discontent with a decree of general forgiveness.{{Citation needed|date=May 2018}}

Heongang was buried to the northeast of Borisa temple in Gyeongju.{{Citation needed|date=May 2018}}