Styles and titles in Joseon

During the Joseon period, royal titles and styles (forms of address) had been extensive and complex. The general title of the monarch was king (; ; wang) until Gojong crowned himself emperor (황제; 皇帝; hwangje), a title that was only allowed for Chinese emperors.[1] Official titles came with official forms of address, depending on who the addressee was and by whom they were addressed.

Royal family

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Naming

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When a prince became king, he was addressed as such, personal names were not used. After the death of a king, he was given several names. One is the temple name (묘호; 廟號; myoho), which was given when the spirit tablet was placed at the Jongmyo Shrine. This is the name by which historians usually refer to Joseon kings. The myoho could end in either jo (; ; lit. 'progenitor') or jong (; ; lit. 'ancestor'). The preceding syllable was an adjective suitable for the king. The other name was the posthumous name (시호; 諡號; siho). This is a longer name, made up of adjectives characteristic of the king's rule.[2][3][4] For example, King Gyeongjong's posthumous name was King Deokmun Ikmu Sunin Seonhyo the Great (덕문익무순인선효대왕; 德文翼武純仁宣孝大王), while his temple name was Gyeongjong (경종; 景宗).

Titles and styles

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Forms of address were combined with names, titles or both, for example:

  • Jusang Jeonha (주상 전하; His Majesty the King)
  • Jungjeon Mama (중전 마마; Her Royal Highness the Queen)
  • Seja Jeoha (세자 저하; His Royal Highness the Crown Prince)
  • Wangja Agissi [in childhood] (왕자 아기씨; His Young Highness the Prince) then Daegun Jaga / Daegam [in adulthood] (대군 자가 / 대감; His Highness / His Excellency the Grand Prince)
  • Gongju Agissi [in childhood] (공주 아기씨; Her Young Highness the Royal Princess) then Gongju Jaga [in adulthood] (공주 자가; Her Highness the Royal Princess)
Title Forms of address Explanation
English Revised Romanization Hangul Hanja RR Hangul Hanja Rank
Monarch
King Wang[5]
Jusang[6]
Imgeum[5]
Narannim[7]
Gugwang[8]
Geumsang[9]
Sanggam[10]
Daejeon[11]
Gwain[12]
Jewang

주상
임금
나랏님
국왕
금상
상감
대전
과인
제왕

主上


國王
今上
上監
大田
寡人
帝王
Jeonha
Mama
전하
마마
殿下
媽媽
None Current monarch; he was addressed in different ways depending on the speaker and the situation
King Emeritus Sangwang 상왕[13] 上王 Jeonha 전하 殿下 None Living king who has voluntarily abdicated in favor of the current king
Grand King Emeritus Taesangwang 태상왕[14] 太上王 Jeonha 전하 殿下 None An abdicated king whose relinquishment of power precedes that of another king emeritus
Great Late King Seondaewang 선대왕[15] 先大王 Mama 마마 媽媽 None Deceased king
Late King Seonwang 선왕 大王 Mama 마마 媽媽 None
Great King Daewang 대왕[16] 大王 Mama 마마 媽媽 None
Main consort of a monarch
Queen Wangbi
Jungjeon
Gungmo
Naejeon
왕비[17]
중전[18]
국모
내전
王妃
中殿
國母
內殿
Mama 마마 媽媽 None Main consort of a current king
Queen Emerita Sangwangbi 상왕비 上王妃 Mama 마마 媽媽 None Main consort of a king emeritus
Grand Queen Emerita Taesangwangbi 태상왕비[14] 太上王妃 Mama 마마 媽媽 None Main consort of a grand king emeritus
Queen Dowager Daebi 대비[19] 大妃 Mama 마마 媽媽 None Used to be the short form of wangdaebi, but later became a lower rank; main consort of a deceased king who lived through two reigns
Royal Queen Dowager Wangdaebi
Jajeon
Jaseon
왕대비[20]
자전
자선
王大妃
慈殿
慈聖
Mama 마마 媽媽 None Used to be the long form of daebi, but later became a higher rank; main consort of a deceased king who lived through three reigns
Grand Royal Queen Dowager Daewangdaebi 대왕대비[21] 大王大妃 Mama 마마 媽媽 None Main consort of a deceased king who lived through at least three reigns
Queen Wanghu 왕후[22] 王后 Mama 마마 媽媽 None Deceased queen
Parents and parents-in-law of a monarch
Grand Internal Prince Daewongun 대원군[23] 大院君 Daegam 대감 大監 None Father of a king who has never been king himself
Grand Internal Princess Consort Budaebuin 부대부인[24] 府大夫人 Manim 마님 Senior 1 (정1품) Wife of a grand internal prince and / or mother of a king
Internal Prince Buwongun 부원군[25] 府院君 Daegam 대감 大監 None Father of a queen
Internal Princess Consort Bubuin 부부인 府夫人 Manim 마님 Senior 1 (정1품) Wife of an internal prince and / or mother of a queen
Monarch's male descendant and their main consorts
Prince Royal Wonja 원자[26] 元子 Agissi 아기씨 None Eldest son of a king before being appointed as heir to the throne
Crown Prince Wangseja
Seja
Donggung
Gukbon
왕세자[27]
세자[27]
동궁[28]
국본
王世子
世子
東宮
國本
Jeoha
Mama
저하
마마
邸下
媽媽
None Son of a king who has been appointed as heir to the throne
Crown Princess Wangsejabin
Sejabin
Bingung
왕세자빈[29]
세자빈[29]
빈궁[30]
王世子嬪
世子嬪
嬪宮
Manora
Jaga
마노라
자가

自家
None Main consort of a king's son who has been appointed as heir to the throne
Crown Prince Wangseje
Seje
Donggung
Gukbon
왕세제[31]
세제
동궁
국본
王世弟
世弟
東宮
國本
Jeoha
Mama
저하
마마
邸下
媽媽
None Brother of a king who has been appointed as heir to the throne
Crown Princess Wangsejebin
Sejebin
Bingung
왕세제빈
세제빈
빈궁
王世弟嬪
世弟嬪
嬪宮
Manora
Jaga
마노라
자가

自家
None Main consort of a king's brother who has been appointed as heir to the throne
Grand Heir Wangseson 왕세손[32] 王世孫 Gakha
Hapa
각하
합하
閤下 None Eldest son of a crown prince
Grand Heiress Consort Wangsesonbin 왕세손빈 王世孫嬪 Jaga 자가 自家 None Main consort of a crown prince's eldest son
Grand Prince Wangja
Daegun
왕자
대군[33]
王子
大君
Agissi
Jaga
Daegam
아기씨
자가
대감

自家
大監
None Son of a king by his main consort
Grand Princess Consort Bubuin 부부인[34] 府夫人 Manim 마님 Senior 1 (정1품) Wife of a grand prince
Royal Prince Wangja
Gun
왕자
[35]
王子

Agissi
Jaga
Daegam
아기씨
자가
대감

自家
大監
None Son of a king by a concubine
Royal Princess Consort Gunbuin 군부인[36] 郡夫人 Manim 마님 Senior 1 (정1품) Wife of a royal prince
Prince Gun Junior 1 (종1품) Eldest son of a grand prince
Princess Consort Gunbuin 군부인 郡夫人 Junior 1 (종1품) Wife of a grand prince's eldest son
Prince Gun Senior 2 (정2품) Other sons of a crown prince, eldest grandson of a grand prince, eldest son of a royal prince
Princess Consort Hyeonbuin 현부인 賢夫人 Senior 2 (정2품) Wife of a prince of the senior second rank
Prince Gun Junior 2 (종2품) Grandsons of a crown prince, other sons and eldest great-grandson of a grand prince, eldest grandson of a royal prince
Princess Consort Hyeonbuin 현부인 賢夫人 Junior 2 (종2품) Wife of a prince of the junior second rank
Jeong Senior 3 (정3품) Great-grandsons of a crown prince, other grandsons of a grand prince, other sons and eldest great-grandson of a royal prince
Cautious Lady Sinin 신인 慎人 Senior 3 (정3품) Wife of a jeong
Bujeong 부정 副正 Junior 3 (종3품) Great-grandsons of a grand prince, other grandsons of a royal prince
Cautious Lady Sinin 신인 慎人 Junior 3 (종3품) Wife of a bujeong
Su Senior 4 (정4품) Great-grandsons of a royal prince, sons of a grand prince by a commoner
Benovelent Lady Hyein 혜인 惠人 Senior 4 (정4품) Wife of a su
Busu 부수 副守 Junior 4 (종4품) Sons of a grand prince by a lowborn, sons of a royal prince by a commoner
Benovelent Lady Hyein 혜인 惠人 Junior 4 (종4품) Wife of a busu
Yeong Senior 5 (정5품) Sons of a royal prince by a lowborn
Lady Onin 온인 溫人 Senior 5 (정5품) Wife of a yeong
Monarch's female descendants and their consorts
Royal Princess Wangnyeo
Gongju
왕녀
공주[37]
王女
公主
Agissi
Jaga
아기씨
자가

自家
None Daughter of a king by his main consort
Prince Consort Uibin 의빈 儀賓 Buma 부마 駙馬 Junior 1 (종1품) Son-in-law of a king; husband of a royal princess
Princess Wangnyeo
Ongju
왕녀
옹주[38]
王女
翁主
Agissi
Jaga
아기씨
자가

自家
None Daughter of a king by a concubine
Prince Consort Seungbin 승빈 承賓 Buma 부마 駙馬 Junior 2 (종2품) Son-in-law of a king; husband of a princess
Commandery Princess Gunju 군주 郡主 Agissi
Jaga
아기씨
자가

自家
Senior 2 (정2품) Daughter of a crown prince by his main consort
Prince Consort Bubin 부빈 副賓 Buma 부마 駙馬 Senior 3 (정3품) Husband of a commandery princess
County Princess Hyeonju 현주 縣主 Agissi
Jaga
아기씨
자가

自家
Senior 3 (정3품) Daughter of a crown prince by a concubine
Prince Consort Cheombin 첨빈 僉賓 Buma 부마 駙馬 Junior 3 (종3품) Husband of a county princess

Concubines

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Each royal consort (후궁; 後宮; hugung) in the inner palace had a certain rank, according to which their titles and forms of address were formulated.[citation needed]

English Hangul Hanja Revised Romanization McCune–Reischauer Rank
Monarch
Concubine Bin[39] Pin senior 1 (정1품)
Noble Lady 귀인 貴人 Gwiin Kwiin junior 1 (종1품)
Lady of Bright Deportment 소의 昭儀 Soui Soŭi senior 2 (정2품)
Lady of Warm Ceremony 숙의 淑儀 Sugui Sukŭi junior 2 (종2품)
Lady of Bright Countenance 소용 昭容 Soyong Soyong senior 3 (정3품)
Lady of Warm Countenance 숙용 淑容 Sugyong Sukyong junior 3 (종3품)
Lady of Bright Beauty 소원 昭媛 Sowon Sowŏn senior 4 (정4품)
Lady of Warm Beauty 숙원 淑媛 Sugwon Sukwŏn junior 4 (종4품)
Crown prince[40]
Lady of Excellence 양제 良娣 Yangje Yangje junior 2 (종2품)
Lady of Beauty 양원 良媛 Yangwon Yangwŏn junior 3 (종3품)
Lady of Inherent Excellence 승휘 承徽 Seunghwi Sŭnghwi junior 4 (종4품)
Lady of Clear Instruction 소훈 昭訓 Sohun Sohun junior 5 (종5품)

Royal court

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Gungnyeo
Hangul Hanja Revised Romanization Rank
Court ladies (궁녀; gungnyeo)[41]
상궁 尙宮 Sanggung senior 5 (정5품)
상의 尙儀 Sangui
상복 尙服 Sangbok junior 5 (종5품)
상식 尙食 Sangsik
상침 尙寢 Sangchim senior 6 (정6품)
상공 尙功 Sanggong
상정 尙正 Sangjeong junior 6 (종6품)
상기 尙記 Sanggi
전빈 典賓 Jeonbin senior 7 (정7품)
전의 典衣 Jeonui
전선 典膳 Jeonseon
전설 典設 Jeonseol junior 7 (종7품)
전제 典製 Jeongje
전언 典言 Jeoneon
전찬 典贊 Jeonchan senior 8 (정8품)
전식 典飾 Jeonsik
전약 典藥 Jeonyak
전등 典燈 Jeondeung junior 8 (종8품)
전채 典彩 Jeonchae
전정 典正 Jeonjeong
주궁 奏宮 Jugung senior 9 (정9품)
주상 奏商 Jusang
주각 奏角 Jugak
주변징 奏變徵 Jubyeonjing junior 9 (종9품)
주징 主徵 Jujing
주우 奏羽 Juu
주변궁 奏變宮 Jubyeongung
Eunuchs (내시; naesi)[42]
상선 尙膳 Sangseon junior 2 (종2품)
상온 尙醞 Sangon senior 3 (정3품)
상다 尙茶 Sangda
상약 尙藥 Sangyak junior 3 (종3품)
상전 尙傳 Sangjeon senior 4 (정4품)
상책 尙冊 Sangchaek junior 4 (종4품)
상호 尙弧 Sangho senior 5 (정5품)
상탕 尙帑 Sangtang junior 5 (종5품)
상세 尙洗 Sangse senior 6 (정6품)
상촉 尙燭 Sangchok junior 6 (종6품)
상훼 尙煊 Sanghwe senior 7 (정7품)
상설 尙設 Sangseol junior 7 (종7품)
상제 尙除 Sangje senior 8 (정8품)
상문 尙門 Sangmun junior 8 (종8품)
상경 尙更 Sanggyeong senior 9 (정9품)
상원 尙苑 Sangwon junior 9 (종9품)

Officials

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English Hangul Hanja Revised Romanization Rank Explanation
Oemyeongbu (외명부)
Honorable and Respectful Madame 정경부인 貞敬夫人 Jeonggyeongbuin 1st (1품) Wife of a senior and junior 1st rank official
Honorable Madame 정부인 貞夫人 Jeongbuin 2nd (2품) Wife of a senior and junior 2nd rank official
Virtuous Madame 숙부인 淑夫人 Sukbuin 3rd (3품) Wife of a senior 3rd rank official
Virtuous Lady 숙인 淑人 Sugin Wife of a junior 3rd rank official
Clever Lady 영인 伶人 Yeongin 4th (4품) Wife of a senior and junior 4th rank official
Courteous Lady 공인 恭人 Gongin 5th (5품) Wife of a senior and junior 5th rank official
Proper Lady 의인 宜人 Uiin 6th (6품) Wife of a senior and junior 6th rank official
Peaceful Lady 안인 安人 Anin 7th (7품) Wife of a senior and junior 7th rank official
Regular Lady 단인 端人 Danin 8th (8품) Wife of a senior and junior 8th rank official
Junior Lady 유인 孺人 Yuin 9th (9품) Wife of a senior and junior 9th rank official

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Ian Mladjov. "KOREA (HANGUK/JOSEON)" (PDF). University of Michigan. Retrieved 2014-04-01.
  2. ^ "Rediscovering aesthetics of Jongmyo Shrine". The Korea Times. Archived from the original on December 22, 2015. Retrieved 2015-12-09.
  3. ^ "Korea: Notes". archontology.org. Retrieved 2015-12-09.
  4. ^ "조선시대 국왕호칭의 종류와 의미 The Kinds and Meaning of King's Name in the Chosun Dynasty". 역사와경계 (in English and Korean) (52). NRF: 46–67. 2004. Retrieved 2015-12-09.
  5. ^ a b "왕" (in Korean). Naver Dictionary. Retrieved 2014-04-02.
  6. ^ "주상" (in Korean). Naver Dictionary. Retrieved 2014-04-02.
  7. ^ "나랏님" (in Korean). Daum Dictionary. Retrieved 2014-04-01.
  8. ^ "국왕" (in Korean). Naver Dictionary. Retrieved 2014-04-02.
  9. ^ "금상" (in Korean). Naver Dictionary. Retrieved 2014-04-02.
  10. ^ "상감" (in Korean). Naver Dictionary. Retrieved 2014-04-02.
  11. ^ "대전" (in Korean). Britannica Korea. Retrieved 2014-04-02.
  12. ^ The king used to address himself this way. "과인" (in Korean). Daum Dictionary. Retrieved 2014-04-02.
  13. ^ "상왕" (in Korean). Daum Dictionary. Retrieved 2014-04-02.
  14. ^ a b "태상왕" (in Korean). Naver Dictionary. Retrieved 2014-04-02.
  15. ^ "선대왕" (in Korean). Daum Dictionary. Retrieved 2014-04-02.
  16. ^ "대왕" (in Korean and English). Daum Dictionary. Retrieved 2014-04-01.
  17. ^ "왕비" (in Korean). Naver Dictionary. Retrieved 2014-04-02.
  18. ^ "중전" (in Korean). Daum Dictionary. Retrieved 2014-04-02.
  19. ^ "대비" (in Korean). Naver Dictionary. Retrieved 2014-04-02.
  20. ^ "왕대비". National Institute of Korean History. Retrieved 2014-04-02.
  21. ^ "대왕대비" (in Korean). National Institute of Korean History. Retrieved 2014-04-02.
  22. ^ "왕후" (in Korean). Naver Dictionary. Retrieved 2014-04-02.
  23. ^ "대원군" (in Korean and English). Daum Dictionary. Retrieved 2014-04-01.
  24. ^ "부대부인" (in Korean). Naver Dictionary. Retrieved 2014-04-02.
  25. ^ "부원군" (in Korean). Naver Dictionary. Retrieved 2014-04-02.
  26. ^ "원자" (in Korean and English). Daum Dictionary. Retrieved 2014-04-01.
  27. ^ a b "왕세자" (in Korean). Daum Dictionary. Retrieved 2014-04-02.
  28. ^ "동궁" (in Korean). Daum Dictionary. Retrieved 2014-04-02.
  29. ^ a b "왕세자빈" (in Korean). Naver Dictionary. Retrieved 2014-04-03.
  30. ^ "빈궁" (in Korean). Naver Dictionary. Retrieved 2014-04-03.
  31. ^ "왕세제" (in Korean). Naver Dictionary. Retrieved 2015-12-10.
  32. ^ "왕세손" (in Korean). Naver Dictionary. Retrieved 2014-04-03.
  33. ^ "대군" (in Korean). Naver Dictionary. Retrieved 2014-04-03.
  34. ^ "부부인" (in Korean). Naver Dictionary. Retrieved 2014-04-03.
  35. ^ "군" (in Korean). Britannica Korea. Retrieved 2014-04-03.
  36. ^ "군부인" (in Korean). Naver Dictionary. Retrieved 2014-04-03.
  37. ^ "공주" (in Korean). Naver Dictionary. Retrieved 2014-04-03.
  38. ^ "옹주" (in Korean). Britannica Korea. Retrieved 2014-04-03.
  39. ^ Had multiple different versions, such as Huibin (희빈) / Sukbin (숙빈) / Gyeongbin (경빈) / Changbin (창빈) / Seonbin (선빈) etc.
  40. ^ "궁인직" (in Korean). Academy of Korean Studies. Retrieved 2014-04-15.
  41. ^ "궁녀" (in Korean). Britannica Korea via Daum. Retrieved 2014-04-15.
  42. ^ "내시부" (in Korean). Britannica Korea via Daum. Retrieved 2014-04-15.