Within Korea, the kingdom was known as "Goryeo," but when Korean was written using the Hanja characters, the pronunciation evolved over time. Maps produced by them began to label the peninsula as "Corea" or "Corea," directly transliterating the phonetic version used by mariners and diplomats who had interacted with the Joseon Kingdom.
The Han Empire's Role in the Foundation and Naming of Goryeo
From Goryeo to Koryŏ: The Linguistic Journey As is common with place names, the pronunciation of Goryeo shifted as it traveled through different languages and scripts. At its height, Goryeo represented a golden age of Buddhism, celadon pottery, and sophisticated diplomacy, ruling a vast expanse of the peninsula.
Creating detailed maps of East Asia, Ricci labeled the region and the dynasty ruling it as "Cauhi" or "Coresu," which were approximations of the Korean pronunciation of Goryeo. The name "Goryeo" (高麗) was a conscious revival of the earlier kingdom's name, rendered in Hanja as "高" (high/glorious) and "麗" (beautiful).
Goryeo to Koryŏ: The Linguistic Journey Behind Korea's Name
In the Middle Korean period, the name transformed into "Koryŏ. The Chinese characters used to transcribe the name "Lelang" (樂浪) essentially meant "pleasurable waves" or "surpassing the waves," reflecting the Han perspective on this subjugated territory.
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