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Seongjong of Joseon

Not to be confused with Seongjong of Goryeo.

Seongjong (Korean: 성종; Hanja: 成宗; 28 August 1457 – 29 January 1495), personal name Yi Hyeol (이혈; 李娎), was the ninth monarch of the Joseon dynasty of Korea. Before succeeding his uncle, King Yejong, he was known as Grand Prince Jalsan (잘산대군; 乽山大君).

Seongjong
성종
成宗
King of Joseon
Reign31 December 1469 – 20 January 1495
EnthronementGeunjeongjeon Hall, Gyeongbokgung, Hanseong
PredecessorYejong
SuccessorYeonsangun
RegentGrand Royal Queen Dowager Jaseong (1469–1476)
Born(1457-08-28)28 August 1457
Jaseondang Hall, Gyeongbokgung, Hanseong, Joseon
Died29 January 1495(1495-01-29) (aged 37)
Daejojeon Hall, Changdeokgung, Hanseong, Joseon
Burial
Seonneung Mausoleum, Seonjeongneung Cluster, Seoul, South Korea
Spouse(s)
​
​
(m. 1467; died 1474)​
​
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(m. 1476; dep. 1479)​
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(m. 1480)​
Issue
among others...
Names
Yi Hyeol (이혈; 李娎)
Posthumous name
  • Joseon: King Inmun Heonmu Heumseong Gonghyo the Great (인문헌무흠성공효대왕; 仁文憲武欽聖恭孝大王)
  • Ming dynasty: Gangjeong (강정; 康靖)
Temple name
Seongjong (성종; 成宗)
ClanJeonju Yi
DynastyYi
Father
Mother
ReligionKorean Confucianism (Neo-Confucianism)
Korean name
Hangul
성종
Hanja
成宗
Revised RomanizationSeongjong
McCune–ReischauerSŏngjong
Art name
Hangul
경신
Hanja
慶新
Revised RomanizationGyeongsin
McCune–ReischauerKyŏngsin
Birth name
Hangul
이혈
Hanja
李娎
Revised RomanizationI Hyeol
McCune–ReischauerI Hyŏl
Courtesy name
Hangul
명조 / 평남
Hanja
明照 / 平南
Revised RomanizationMyeongjo / Pyeongnam
McCune–ReischauerMyŏngcho / Pyŏngnam

Biography

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Early life

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Yi Hyeol was born as the second son of Crown Prince Yi Jang and Crown Princess Su of the Cheongju Han clan. His father however died few months after his birth.[1] In 1461, he was named Prince Jasan (자산군) which was changed to Prince Jalsan (잘산군) in 1468.[2]

In 1467, he married Han Song-yi, the youngest daughter of Han Myeong-hoe.[1] One of Lady Han's older sisters was the late Crown Princess Jangsun, first wife of King Yejong.

Despite having an older brother and his uncle leaving behind a biological son, Jalsan was chosen as successor and was made the adopted son of King Yejong and his second wife, Queen Han (posthumously known as Queen Ansun).[1]

After he ascended to the throne, his biological father was honored with the temple name "Deokjong" (덕종; 德宗), while his mother became queen and was given the honorary name "Insu" (인수; 仁粹).

Reign

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Since Seongjong was only 12 when he was crowned, his grandmother Grand Royal Queen Dowager Jaseong, ruled the nation along with his biological mother Queen Insu, and his aunt (and adoptive mother) Queen Dowager Inhye. In 1476, at the age of 19, he began to govern the country in his own name.[1]

After the death of his first wife in 1474, Seongjong decided to promote one of his concubines, Lady Yun, to the status of primary wife and queen. Lady Yun was later executed due to her attempts to poison other concubines and harm the King, and her execution would become a major reason behind the tyranny of Seongjong's successor, Yeonsangun of Joseon.

His reign was marked by the prosperity and growth of the economy, based on the laws laid down by Taejong, Sejong, and Sejo. He himself was a gifted ruler. In 1474, the Grand Code for State Administration, started by his grandfather, was completed and put into effect. Seongjong also ordered revisions and improvements to the code.

He greatly expanded the Office of Special Advisors (Hongmungwan; 홍문관, 弘文館), an advisory council to the king, which also served as royal library and research institute; he strengthened the Three Offices (Samsa; 삼사, 三司) – Office of the Inspector General (Saheonbu), Office of Censors (Saganwon) and Office of Special Advisors (Hongmungwan)– as a check and balance on the royal court. For the first time since Sejong the Great, Confucian scholars whose political views clashed with those of the conservative officials (members of the nobility who had helped Taejong and Sejo in their rise to power), were brought to court. By appointing able administrators regardless of their political views, Seongjong made his rule more effective and his policies resulted in many positive innovations, increasing his number of supporters. During Seongjong's reign, he also prohibited the construction of new monasteries and the ordination of new monks.[3]

 
Taesil (placental burial chamber) of King Seongjong

The king himself was an artist and intellectual, and liked to argue about the finer points of politics with the more liberal scholars. He encouraged the publication of numerous books about geography and social etiquette, as well as areas of knowledge that benefited the common people.

It was under Seongjong's reign that the "Widow Remarriage Ban" (1477) was enacted, which strengthened pre-existing social stigma against women who remarried by barring their sons from public office.[4] In 1489, Yi Gu-ji, a woman from the royal clan, committed suicide at his order and was erased from family records, when it was discovered that she had cohabited with her slave after being widowed.[5]

In 1491, Seongjong started a military campaign against the Jurchens on the northern border, like many of his predecessors. Led by General Heo Jong (허종; 許琮), the campaign was successful, and the defeated Jurchens commanded by Udige (兀狄哈) retreated to the north of Amrok River.

Death

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He died in January 1495 and is buried in the south of Seoul. The tomb is known as Seonneung (선릉) and 35 years later, his third wife, Queen Jeonghyeon, was also interred here. Seongjong was succeeded by his son, Crown Prince Yi Yung.

Family

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Consort(s) and their respective issue

  • Queen Gonghye of the Cheongju Han clan (공혜왕후 한씨; 8 November 1456 – 30 April 1474)
  • Deposed Queen Yun of the Haman Yun clan (폐비 윤씨; 15 July 1455 – 29 August 1482)
    • Yi Hyo-shin (이효신; 1474–1475), first son
    • Crown Prince Yi Yung (왕세자 이융; 2 December 1476 – 30 November 1506), second son
    • Third son (1478–1479)
  • Queen Jeonghyeon of the Papyeong Yun clan (정현왕후 윤씨; 21 July 1462 – 13 September 1530)
    • Princess Sunsuk (순숙공주; 1478 – 20 August 1488), first daughter
    • Princess Shinsuk (신숙공주; 1481 – 14 July 1486), sixth daughter
    • Eighth daughter (1485–1486)
    • Yi Yeok, Grand Prince Jinseong (진성대군 이역; 25 April 1488 – 9 December 1544), eleventh son
    • Yi Yeon, Prince Euncheon (이연 은천군; 1490–1524), seventeenth son
    • Fourteenth daughter (1490–1490)
  • Royal Noble Consort Myeong of the Andong Kim clan (명빈 김씨; 1470 – ?)
    • Princess Hwisuk (휘숙옹주; 1481 – ?), fourth daughter
    • Yi Hap-hwan, Princess Gyeongsuk (경숙옹주 이합환; 19 September 1483 – ?), seventh daughter
    • Yi Jong, Prince Musan (무산군 이종; 1490 – 20 August 1525), sixteenth son
    • Princess Hwijeong (휘정옹주; 1489 – ?), twelfth daughter
  • Royal Consort Gwi-in of the Yeongwol Eom clan (귀인 엄씨; ? – 1504)
    • Princess Gongsin (공신옹주; 18 April 1481 – 13 March 1549), fifth daughter
  • Royal Consort Gwi-in of the Chogye Jeong clan (귀인 정씨; 1457–1504)
    • Yi Hang, Prince Anyang (안양군 이항; 1480–1505), fifth son
    • Yi Bong, Prince Bongan (봉안군 이봉; 9 November 1482 – 15 July 1505), eighth son
    • Yi Seung-bok, Princess Jeonghye (정혜옹주 이승복; 4 April 1490 – 22 September 1507), thirteenth daughter
  • Royal Consort Gwi-in of the Andong Kwon clan (귀인 권씨; 1471–1500)
    • Yi Byeon, Prince Jeonseong (전성군 이변; 1490–1505), fifteenth son
  • Royal Consort Gwi-in of the Uiryeong Nam clan (귀인 남씨; 1467 – ?)
  • Royal Consort So-ui of the Yi clan (소의 이씨)
  • Royal Consort Suk-ui of the Namyang Hong clan (숙의 홍씨; 1457–1510)
    • Yi Su-ran, Princess Hyesuk (혜숙옹주; 6 September 1478 – 1550, second daughter
    • Yi Su, Prince Wanwon (완원군 이수; 28 January 1481 – 7 December 1509), sixth son
    • Yi Yeom, Prince Hoesan (회산군 이염; 2 January 1482 – 1512), seventh son
    • Yi Don, Prince Gyeonseong (견성군 이돈; 1482 – 20 November 1507), ninth son
    • Yi Bok-ran, Princess Jeongsun (정순옹주 이복란; 1486–1506), ninth daughter
    • Yi Hoe, Prince Ikyang (익양군 이회; 7 August 1488 – 15 February 1552), twelfth son
    • Yi Chim, Prince Gyeongmyeong (경명군 이침; 6 October 1489 – 4 July 1552), fourteenth son
    • Yi In, Prince Uncheon (운천군 이인; 13 January 1491 – 25 June 1524), eighteenth son
    • Yi Hui, Prince Yangwon (양원군 이희; 1491 – 12 May 1551), nineteenth son
    • Yi Yeo-ran, Princess Jeongsuk (정숙옹주; 1493 – 22 March 1573), fifteenth daughter
  • Royal Consort Suk-ui of the Namwon Ha clan (숙의 하씨; 1460 – ?)
    • Yi Sun, the Prince Gyeseong (계성군 이순; 1480–1504), fourth son
  • Royal Consort Suk-ui of the Jeong clan (숙의 정씨)
  • Royal Consort Suk-yong of the Cheongsong Sim clan (숙용 심씨; 1465–1515)
    • Yi Ok-hwan, Princess Gyeongsun (경순옹주 이옥환; 1482–1525), sixth daughter
    • Yi Byeok-hwan, Princess Sukhye (숙혜옹주 이벽환; 1486 – 23 July 1525), tenth daughter
    • Yi Gwan, Prince Yiseong (이성군 이관; 1489–1553), thirteenth son
    • Yi Jeon, Prince Yeongsan (영산군 이전; 1490 – 11 June 1538), twentieth son
  • Royal Consort Suk-yong of the Kwon clan (숙용 권씨; 1473 – ?)
    • Yi Gyeong-seok (이견석; 1486 – ?), tenth son
    • Yi Jeong-bok, Princess Gyeonghwi (경휘옹주 이정복; 1488 – 6 February 1525), eleventh daughter
  • Royal Consort Suk-won of the Yun clan (숙원 윤씨; ? – 1533)
  • Unknown
    • Princess Suksin (숙신옹주; 1478 – 1487 or 1489), third daughter

Ancestry

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d 우리역사넷. contents.history.go.kr. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  2. ^ 성종(成宗). Encyclopedia of Korean Culture. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  3. ^ Pu, Nam Chul (March 2011). "Joseon Kings' Personal Belief in Buddhism and its Political Significance" (PDF). The Review of Korean Studies. 14 (1): 49. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
  4. ^ Uhn, Cho (1999). "The Invention of Chaste Motherhood: A Feminist Reading of the Remarriage Ban in the Chosun Era". Asian Journal of Women's Studies. 5 (3): 45–63. doi:10.1080/12259276.1999.11665854.. Issue Purchase: 30 days to view or download: EUR 127.00.
  5. ^ 성종실록 (成宗實錄) [Veritable Records of Seongjong] (in Korean and Literary Chinese). Vol. 226. 1499.

Notes

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Seongjong of Joseon
Born: 19 August 1457 Died: 20 January 1495
Regnal titles
Preceded by King of Joseon
31 December 1469 – 20 January 1495 		Succeeded by
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