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Royal Noble Consort Huibin Jang

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In this Korean name, the family name is Jang, and Hui-bin is a title, not a personal name.

Royal Noble Consort Hui of the Indong Jang clan (Korean: 희빈 장씨; Hanja: 禧嬪 張氏; 3 November 1659 – 10 October 1701), personal name Jang Ok-jeong (장옥정; 張玉貞), was an infamous consort of Sukjong of Joseon and the mother of King Gyeongjong. She was queen of Joseon from 1690 until her deposition in 1694.

Hui-bin Jang
희빈 장씨
Lady Jang's tomb
Queen consort of Joseon
Tenure22 October 1690 – 12 April 1694
PredecessorQueen Inhyeon
SuccessorQueen Inhyeon
Royal Noble Consort of the First Senior Rank
Tenure
  • 15 January 1689 – 22 October 1690
  • 12 April 1694 – 10 October 1701
Born3 November 1659
Sangpyeong-bang, Hanseong, Joseon
Died10 October 1701 (1701-10-11) (aged 41)
Chwiseondang Hall, Changgyeonggung, Hanseong, Joseon
Burial
Daebinmyo Mausoleum, Seooneung Cluster, Goyang, South Korea
SpouseSukjong of Joseon
IssueGyeongjong of Joseon
Clan
DynastyHouse of Yi (by marriage)
FatherJang Hyeong
MotherLady Yun of the Papyeong Yun clan
ReligionKorean Buddhism
Korean name
Hangul
희빈 장씨
Hanja
Revised RomanizationHui-bin Jang-ssi
McCune–ReischauerHŭi-pin Chang-ssi
Birth name
Hangul
장옥정
Hanja
張玉貞
Revised RomanizationJang Okjeong
McCune–ReischauerChang Okchŏng

Biography

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Early life

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Jang Ok-jeong was the daughter of Jang Hyeong and his second wife, Lady Yun of the Papyeong Yun clan. Part of the Namin faction, she came from a long line of interpreters and belonged to the Jungin class.

Ok-jeong is widely thought to have been one of the most beautiful women in Joseon, and her charm was mentioned in the Annals.

She became a lady-in-waiting to the King's step-great-grandmother, Grand Queen Dowager Jaui, at the recommendation of Prince Dongpyeong, who was Sukjong's first cousin-once-removed and Jaui's step-grandson.

Life as royal consort

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While visiting Queen Jaui, the King became infatuated with Ok-jeong's beauty and gave her the rank of Seungeun Sanggung (or Favored Sanggung; 승은 상궁), but his mother, Queen Dowager Hyeonyeol, who belonged to the Seoin faction, feared that Jang Ok-jeong would influence him to favor the Namin, so she expelled her from the palace.

In 1683, Hyeonyeol died and Queen Min, Sukjong's wife at that time (posthumously known as Queen Inhyeon), allowed Lady Jang to return to court.

In 1686, Ok-jeong became a concubine with the rank of Sug-won (숙원; 淑媛). In 1688, she was elevated to So-ui (소의; 昭儀), after giving birth to the King's first son, Yi Yun.

In the court, the Seoin faction split into Noron (Old Learning), led by Song Si-yeol, and Soron (New Learning), led by Yun Jeung. The Noron was supported by Queen Inhyeon.

The Namin faction pushed for the King to acknowledge Yi Yun as heir apparent, but the Seoin faction insisted that the Queen was still young and could bear a son, who should be the heir. Sukjong pushed for a compromise in which the Queen would adopt Yi Yun as her son. However, she refused to do so. Sukjong became angry at the opposition, and many were killed, including Song Si-yeol. The Namin faction seized power, and they exiled the Queen's father and the leaders of the Seoin faction.

In May 1689, Queen Inhyeon was also deposed and exiled. This incident is called Gisa Hwanguk (기사환국).[1][2]

In that same year, Lady Jang was promoted to Bin (빈; 嬪), the highest rank for a consort, with the prefix Hui (禧), which means "beautiful". Later, Jang Hui-bin was appointed as queen consort.

In 1693, Sukjong's new favorite, a palace maid from the Haeju Choe clan, was officially elevated to a royal consort of the Sug-won rank. Choe Sug-won (later Choe Suk-bin), was an open supporter of Queen Min and encouraged the King to reinstate her to her original position. In the meantime, Kim Chun-taek, who was member of the Noron faction, and Han Jung-hyuk from the Soron faction, staged a campaign to reinstate the Deposed Queen.

In 1694, Jang Ok-jeong lost the favor of the King.[3] Sukjong grew disgusted by the greed of the Namin faction and the ever-powerful Jang family. He also felt remorse for his temperamental actions during Gisa Hwanguk. In the government, the Namin faction's attempt to purge the Seoin on the charge of plotting to reinstate the deposed Queen backfired.

Later years and death

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The King banished Jang Hui-jae, Queen Jang's older brother, and the leaders of the Namin party. He officially demoted Jang Ok-jeong to her former position, Hui-bin, and reinstated the Deposed Queen Min. This incident is called Gapsul Hwanguk (갑술환국). The Namin faction would never politically recover from this purge.

The Soron faction supported Crown Prince Yi Yun, who was Jang Hui-bin's son, while the Noron faction supported Yi Geum, Prince Yeoning, who was Choe Suk-bin's son.

In 1701, Queen Inhyeon died of an unknown disease. Allegedly, Sukjong discovered Lady Jang conspiring with a shaman priestess to curse the Queen with black magic and gloating over her death.[4] The Soron faction pleaded with the King to show mercy and pointed out that she was the mother of the Crown Prince.

Unmoved, the King sentenced Hui-bin, her mother, her brother, the leader of Soron and all of her companions to death. 1700 people died as a result of the incident.[citation needed] He also exiled the courtiers who had asked him to spare Lady Jang's life.[5]

On 7 October 1701, Sukjong passed a decree prohibiting any concubine from ever becoming Queen, and on 10 October 1701, Jang Hui-bin was executed by poisoning at Chwiseondang Hall, her residence inside Changgyeonggung. She was 42 years old.

Burial

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Her tomb is called Daebinmyo and was originally located in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province, but in June 1969 it was moved to the Seooneung Cluster, in Deogyang District, Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, near Myeongneung, which contains the tombs of King Sukjong and two of his wives, Queen Inhyeon and Queen Inwon.[6][7] The relocation took place because the tomb was blocking the government's planned expansion of the city.

Behind the tomb is a large rock, and a pine tree has broken through the rock to grow. There is speculation that this reveals that Jang Hui-bin's ki (energy) was, and still is, very strong. Some Korean websites report that because Lady Jang was such a strong woman there is a belief that if young, single women who want a boyfriend visit the tomb and pay a tribute, they will soon find love.[8]

Her memorial tablet was enshrined in Chilgung (or the "Palace Of Seven Royal Concubines").[9]

Ancestry

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Family

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  • Father: Jang Hyeong (장형; 張炯; 25 February 1623 – 12 January 1669)
  • Mother
    • Biological: Lady Yun of the Papyeong Yun clan (파평 윤씨; 1626–1698); second wife
    • Step: Lady Go of the Jeju Go clan (증 정경부인 제주 고씨; 濟州 髙氏; ? – 1645)

Sibling(s)

  • Elder half-brother: Jang Hui-sik (장희식; 1640 – ?)
  • Elder sister: Lady Jang (장씨)
  • Elder brother: Jang Hui-jae (장희재; 1651 – 29 October 1701)

Husband

Issue

  • Son: Yi Yun, King Gyeongjong of Joseon (이윤 조선 경종; 20 November 1688 – 30 September 1724)
  • Son: Yi Seong-su (이성수; 19 July 1690 – 16 September 1690)
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References

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  1. ^ 네이버 학술정보. Academic.naver.com. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
  2. ^ Hulbert, Homer B. (Homer Bezaleel) (26 October 2017). "The history of Korea". Seoul, Methodist Pub. House. Retrieved 26 October 2017 – via Internet Archive.
  3. ^ Book "East Asia: A Cultural, Social, and Political History", 3rd pag. 255.
  4. ^ Memoirs of Lady Hyegyŏng Page 246.
  5. ^ Lee, Bae-young (20 October 2008). Wome in Korean History. Ewha Womans University Press. pp. 109–111. ISBN 978-8973007721.
  6. ^ "Daebinmyo Tomb at Seooreung Tombs - Exploring Korea". Exploringkorea.com. 4 August 2011. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
  7. ^ "Academic : Information of Palaces and Royal Tombs (Royal Tombs)". Archived from the original on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  8. ^ "King Sukjong and Jang Hee Bin's Tombs". Dramasrok.com. 8 June 2010. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
  9. ^ "Chilgung: Traces of the Seven Royal Concubines". The Argus (in Korean). 15 May 2019. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
  10. ^ "Lady Jang (Janghuibin) (1961)". Korean Movie Database. Retrieved 26 January 2013.
  11. ^ "Femme Fatale, Jang Hee-bin (Yohwa, Jang Hee-bin) (1968)". Korean Movie Database. Retrieved 26 January 2013.
  12. ^ a b c d e '죽지 않는' 장희빈 벌써 9명, 김태희가 뒤 이을까. OhmyNews (in Korean). 22 September 2012. Retrieved 26 January 2013.
  13. ^ "TV Dramas - Actresses Line up for Award Ceremony Takeover". The Chosun Ilbo. 29 December 2003. Retrieved 2 April 2013.
  14. ^ Lee, Ga-on (7 May 2010). "Han Hyo-joo says she "hold fast" to her role in DongYi". 10Asia. Retrieved 26 January 2013.
  15. ^ Ho, Stewart (8 October 2012). "Kim Tae Hee Cast in Her First Historic Drama, Jang Ok Jung as Joseon Dynasty's Infamous Lady Jang Hee Bin". EnewsWorld.mnet.com. CJ E&M. Archived from the original on 27 December 2012. Retrieved 23 January 2013.
  16. ^ Hong, Grace Danbi (24 August 2012). "Shinhwa Transforms into Royal Concubines for Shinhwa Broadcast". EnewsWorld.mnet.com. CJ E&M. Retrieved 16 December 2012.[permanent dead link]
Royal Noble Consort Huibin Jang
Indong Jang clan
Royal titles
Preceded by
Queen Inhyeon
of the Yeoheung Min clan
 Queen consort of Joseon
1688–1694 		Succeeded by
Queen Inhyeon
of the Yeoheung Min clan
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