Heongang of Silla

Heongang
Tomb of King Heongang in Gyeongju
King of Silla
Reign875-886
Coronation875
PredecessorGyeongmun of Silla
SuccessorJeonggang of Silla
Born861
Unified Silla
Died886
Unified Silla
HouseHouse of Kim
FatherGyeongmun of Silla
MotherQueen Munui
ReligionBuddhism
Korean name
Hangul
김정
Hanja
金晸
RRGim Jeong
MRKim Chŏng
Monarch name
Hangul
헌강왕
Hanja
憲康王
RRHeongangwang
MRHŏn'gangwang

Heongang (c.861–886), personal name Kim Chŏng, was the 49th to rule the Koreanic kingdom Silla.

According to the Samguk sagi, he excelled at civil affairs. Heongang was the eldest son of King Gyeongmun; his mother was Queen Munui. 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. 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. In 886, he sought to defuse domestic discontent with a decree of general forgiveness.

Heongang was buried to the northeast of Borisa temple in Gyeongju.