Sukjong of Joseon
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| Sukjong of Joseon | |
|---|---|
| Hangul: | 숙종 |
| Hanja: | 肅宗 |
| Revised Romanization: | Sukjong |
| McCune-Reischauer: | Sukchong |
| Birth name | |
| Hangul: | 이순 |
| Hanja: | 李焞 |
| Revised Romanization: | I Sun |
| McCune-Reischauer: | I Sun |
Sukjong was a king of the Joseon Dynasty (also known as the Chosun Dynasty) in what is now Korea.
[edit] History
King Sukjong was born August 15,1661 to King Hyunjong and Queen Myungsung(Kim) in KyungDuk Palace. His given name is Yi Soon. He became the Crown Prince in 1667 at age 7, and in 1674, at age 14, he became 19th ruler of the Choson.
King Sukjong was a brilliant politician, but his reign was not all peaceful. He finalized an ongoing argument between two political parties (West faction headed by Song Si-yeul and South faction headed by Kim Suk-joo, who was Queen Myungsung's cousin) which began during the reign of his father, King Hyungjong. (see Royal Funeral Dispute).
In 1712, Sukjong's government worked with the Qing Dynasty in China to define the national borders between the two countries at the Yalu and Tumen Rivers.
King Sukjong had three Queens and three concubines, three sons and six daughters(see family tree below). He died after 46 years of reign on 1720 at age 60. He was buried in Myeongnyeung in Gyeonggi province, Goyang City inside Western Five Royal Graves: Seo(west) Oh(five) Reung(royal graves).
[edit] King Sukjong's Family
Queen In-Kyung(Kim) (1661-1680) Daughter of Kim Man-ki. She was married at age 10 and titled Crown Princess Consort to then Crown Prince (King Sukjong). In 1674 she became the Queen. She had three daughters, all of whom died at birth. In October 1680, at age 20, she showed signs of Pox and died 8 days later in Gyeongdeok Palace. She was buried in Ik-rueng in Gyeonggi province.
Queen In-Hyun(Min) (1667-1701) Daughter of Min Yoo-Joong, she became King Sukjong's second queen by marriage in 1681. She is perhaps one of the best known queens of the Joseon dynasty. Her life was portrayed in many Korean Historial dramas. When So-ei (third highest title for king's concubines) Lady Jang (her given name was Ok-Jung) produced a son (later Kyungjong) in 1688, created a bloody dispute called Gi-Sa HwanGook. During this time, the king wanted to title his son the Crown Prince and Lady Jang (So-ei) to Hee-bin (highest title for king's concubines). This action was opposed by the No-ron party (headed by Song Si-yeol, and of which the queen's father was a member); and was backed by the So-ron party (of which Jang Hee-Jae, Lady Jang's older brother, was a member). King Sukjong became angry at the opposition, and many were killed including Song Si-Yeol. Many including Queen In-Hyun and her family were forced into exile. Lady Jang became the queen. Later in 1694 the King, feeling remorse at his temperamental actions, gave in to a movement for Queen In-Hyun's reinstatement led by So-ron party (GapSul SaHwa). She was brought back to the palace and re-named queen.(Lady Jang was demoted to Hee-bin). In 1701, at age 35 she became ill and died to a unknown disese. It has been said that Lady Jang brought a Shamanist priestess into the palace and prayed for the Queen's death. When this was found out by the king she was executed for her actions. One of the queen's lady's maids wrote a book called "In-Hyun Wang-Hoo Jun (Queen In-Hyun's Biography)" which still exists today. She is buried in Myung-reung in Kyung-Ki province, and the King was later buried near her in the same area.
Queen In-Won (Kim) (1687-1757) Daughter of Kim Joo-Sin, she married and became third queen of King Sukjong at age of 15, in 1702, after Queen In-Hyun's death in 1701. She survived Pox in 1711. She became Dowager Queen (WangDaeBi) after her husband's death in 1720, and DaeWangDaeBi in 1724 after Kyungjong(stepson by Lady Jang (HeeBin) died and YoungJo(her other stepson by Lady Choi (Sook-Bin) whom she favored became King. She had no children and died in 1757 at age of 70, and was buried near King Sukjong and Queen In-Hyun in Gyeonggi Province.
Lady Jang--HeeBin(1659-1701) Her given name was Ok-Jung. She is only known to be a niece of a tradesman Jang Hyun and no records of who her father is. However, there are rumors that her father is Cho Sa-suk who is Queen Jang Ryul's brother because Ok-jung's mother was his well known mistress. Ok-jung became Queen JangRyul(King Injo's second queen)'s lady's maid at recommendation of DongPyungGoon (King Sukjong's cousin). Then in 1686, King Sukjong discovered her after a visit with his step grandmother(Dowager Queen JangRyul) and made her his concubine and gave her title of SookWon(4th class). In 1688 she was promoted to SoEi(3rd class)and in 1689 she gave birth to a son (later Kyungjong) and was became HeeBin (1st class). When Queen In-Hyun was forced into exile in May 1688, she became the queen back by So-ron party and her son was titled the Crown Prince(see Queen In-Hyun)and created a bloody event. Later in 1694, Lady Jang was demoted back to HeeBin, when Queen In-Hyun was reinstated. In 1701, queen In-Hyun died of unknown disease and she was discovered by King Sukjong in her chambers with her brother Jang HeeJae and a Shamanism Priestess praying for Queen In-Hyun's death and her reinstatement. Lady Jang, her brother, and anyone involved was arrested and sentenced to death by poisoning. She was 43, had 2 children: Kyungjong and a princess. After this King Sukjong made a law prohibiting concubines from being allowed to become Queens in the future. Lady Jang has left many folk stories behind including her greed over power, and a story involving right before her death with her son then the Crown Prince (future Kyungjong).
Lady Choi(unknown) SookBin There are no records of her life before she became King Sukjong's concubine. She was a water maid in the palace. One night, she was praying in her chamber for Queen In-Hyun's wellness, King Sukjong was crossing outside after a trip outside of the palace herd her and moved by her kindness(king was having regrets at that time)made her his concubine. She became SookBin after birth of a son (future Youngjo) in 1694 and had 2 princesses.
Lady Park(unknown) MyungBin No known records only a fact the she was a daughter of nobility (yangban). She had one son, Prince YuenRueng.
[edit] See also
| Preceded by Hyeonjong |
Rulers of Korea (Joseon Dynasty) 1674–1720 |
Succeeded by Gyeongjong |
