Sin Sung-gyŏm

Sin Sung-gyŏm (Korean: 신숭겸; Hanja: 申崇謙; 882 – October 927) was a Korean general during the turbulent Later Three Kingdoms period in the early 10th century. Born in Gwanghaeju (present-day Chuncheon), he became a general in the kingdom of Taebong. He was instrumental in helping Wang Kŏn, who later founded the state of Goryeo to achieve power. He is widely viewed as the founder of the Pyongsan Shin clan, which includes the famous actress Shin Se-kyung.^[1]

Sin Sung-gyŏm
Shrine of the general Sin Sung-gyŏm in northern Daegu, South Korea.
Korean name
Hangul	신숭겸
Hanja	申崇謙
Revised Romanization	Sin Sunggyeom
McCune–Reischauer	Sin Sunggyŏm
Posthumous name
Hangul	장절
Hanja	壯節
Revised Romanization	Jangjeol
McCune–Reischauer	Changjŏl
Other Name
Hangul	능산 or 삼능산
Hanja	能山 or 三能山
Revised Romanization	Neungsan or Samneungsan
McCune–Reischauer	Nŭngsan or Samnŭngsan

Sin is remembered today for giving his life for Wang Kŏn in the aftermath of a rout of their forces by Later Baekje near present-day Daegu.^[2] According to the legend, the two exchanged armor so that the king would be able to escape the battlefield. While Wang Kŏn escaped the battlefield, Sin and the remaining army fought bravely against the Later Baekje army. But eventually his army was routed and in the woods Sin was shot with arrows and was killed by the enemy.^[3][4] He was beheaded and his head was sent to Kyŏn Hwŏn, King of Later Baekje.

Through his only son, Sin became the 16th great-grandfather of Shin Saimdang and the 17th great-grandfather of Sin Rip.