Crown Prince Jeongseong

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Crown Prince Jeongseong (Hangul: 정성세자 , Hanja: 定城世子; d. 1394) or known before as Prince Jeongseong (Korean: 정성군; Hanja: 定城君), personal name Wang Seok (Korean: 왕석; Hanja: 王奭) or firstly Wang Dan (Korean: 왕단; Hanja: 王瑞) was the last Crown prince of Goryeo Dynasty as the only son of King Gongyang of Goryeo and Royal Consort Sun.^[1] After Yi Seong-gye established the new dynasty, he was deposed from his throne along with his parent and got assassinated.^[2]

Biography[]

Early life[]

Born as Wang Dan (왕단, 王瑞), he was the only son of Prince Jeongchang and Lady No.^[3] Then, he changed his name into "Seok" (석, 奭) and firstly honoured as Prince Jeongseong (정성군, 定城君) on 1388.^[1] One year later, following his father who ascended the throne under General Yi Seong-gye's command after deposed Chang of Goryeo, he then become Crown Prince (왕세자, 王世子).^[1]

Palace life and marriage[]

In 1390, Seoyeon was opened, a "Sabu" (사부, 師傅) and a "Sihak" (시학, 侍學) were appointed and received Confucian education, there were also (조준) and (이서). The Crown Prince was said to engrossed in Buddhism and on 4 February 1391, he went to "Hoeam Temple" (회암사), where he and his parents prayed all night long. In the next day, Seok offered 1,200 linens (1,200필) to the monks.^[1]

On 20 February 1391, there was held the Selection of the Crown Princess Consort (세자빈 간택) and the chosen one was Yi Won-goeng (이원굉)'s daughter from the Incheon Yi clan (인천 이씨).^[1] Not long after that, the King gave her a dignitary as her gifts and the white crown bows. Lady Yi then became the Crown Princess Consort (왕세자빈, 王世子嬪) not long after their marriage in the same year.

Meanwhile, after a year since the King decided to move the capital to Hanyang, but changed to Gaegyeong after decided again. Wang Seok then visited "Yangneung" (양릉, 陽陵) and made a sacrifice in Hyosin Hall (효신전, 孝愼殿) to announce the moved capital back to Gaegyeong.

In March, Bongsungdogam (봉숭도감) was installed and he then followed the Crown Prince's Ceremony (세자 책봉례). However, his father tried to enforce the Ceremony inconsistent with the etiquette, so (김자수), an ambassador from Seonggyungwan, took issue with it. Finally, the Ceremony was postponed to August. Then, on 15th, the King delivered the Crown Prince's seal to Wang Seok through (설장수), a priest from Chanseong Temple (찬성사) and a feast was held after the ceremony. Also, on 25th, they announced that Seok already became the Crown Prince.

Affairs with the Ming Dynasty[]

Meanwhile, Wang Seok was said to distracted by the issue of joined and made alliance with the Ming Dynasty. There were voices of concern that the Ming might not rebuke the Crown Prince. The Ming sent their first envoy in April after King Gongyang ascended the throne and demanded that 10,000 horses (1만필) be sold in Goryeo, but Goryeo could not meet the number and only sent 1,500 horses in June (1,500필만).^[4] At this time, the Crown Prince was reprimanded for not meeting the deadline after sent to the Ming Dynasty, but there were no way for the Crown Prince to responded. Meanwhile, merchants who trade sheep were participate in the envoy to Ipjo and the ambassadors, such as (허응) filed an appeal in September, insisted that the merchants be excluded from the party.

Later, from September until December, the Crown Prince, Seol Jang-su, and others were left the Ming and went back to Goryeo. On 10 March 1392, while (이현, 李玄) already arrived in Goryeo and reports the Crown Prince's expected return date, Wang Seok then returned safely on the 26th and got such as greeting the new year and receiving a golden robes (금직문기의복, 金織文綺衣服).^[4]

He was loved by the Ming's Emperor and treated him to a western tea while honoured as "Marquess" (후, 侯) and "Duke" (공, 公), those made the Emperor also gave Wang Seok the banquets and feasts five times for several days during the Civil War and was given away the 2 Jeong (2정, 錠) gold, 10 jeong (10정) silver, and 100 pieces of silks (견단 100필).

While returned home in the following years, he was welcomed by the Goryeo official who came out in Sodae Gate (서대문), Gaegyeong. However, all of Ming's given on him, returned to the national treasury by Wang Seok own and it was said that he stole some of it and secretly bought a gun and gave it to his lover.

In April, Wang Seok went back to Jeokgyeong-won (적경원, 積慶園) in Hyosin Hall and he then met Yi Seong-gye in Hwangju, but in the next day, he visited Yi again who was injured after falling off a horse while hunting.

Deposition from the throne and death[]

In July 1392, Yi Seong-gye deposed Wang's father, King Gongyang and following this, he then became the Deposed Crown Prince (폐세자, 廢世子) while they got exiled firstly to Wonju and later moved to Goyang, Gyeonggi-do. On 4 March 1394, they were moved again to Samcheok-si and was killed in there.^[5]

Yi, who was now the new King of the new dynasty, reported this news to the Ming and after received this news, the Ming finally understood that Wang Seok didn't return safely to Goryeo and instead got killed.

Family[]

• Father: Gongyang of Goryeo (9 March 1345 - 17 May 1394) (고려 공양왕)
  • Grandfather: Wang Gyun, Internal Prince Jeongwon (왕균 정원부원군)
  • Grandmother: Queen Mother Wang of Samhan State (삼한국대비 왕씨)
• Mother: Royal Consort Sun of the Gyoha No clan (? - 1394) (순비 노씨)
  • Grandfather: No-Jin, Prince Changseong (? - 1376) (노진 창성군)
  • Grandmother: Grand Lady, of the Hong clan (명의비 홍씨)
    • Little sister: Princess Suknyeong (숙녕궁주)
      • Little brother In-law: Wang-Jib, Prince Ikcheon (? - 1392) (왕집 익천군)
    • Little sister: Princess Jeongsin (? - 1421) (정신궁주)
      • Little brother In-law: U Seong-Beom, Prince Danyang (? - 1392) (우성범 단양군)
    • Little sister: Princess Gyeonghwa (경화궁주)
      • Little brother In-law: Gang Hoe-Gye, Prince Jinwon (? - 1392) (강회계 진원군)^[6]
• Wife: Crown Princess Consort, of the Incheon Yi clan^[7] – No issue.

References[]

External links[]

• Crown Prince Jeongseong on Encykorea (in Korean).

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