Princess Gyeonghye

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Princess Gyeonghye
경혜공주
Born1436
Died17 January 1474 (1474-01-18) (aged 37)
Burial
Daeja-dong, Deogyang-gu, Goyang, Gyeonggi Province
Spouse
Jeong Jong
​
(m. 1450⁠–⁠1461)​
Issue
  1. Lady Jeong
  2. Jeong Mi-su
HouseJeonju Yi (by birth)
Haeju Jeong (by marriage)
FatherMunjong of Joseon
MotherQueen Hyeondeok of the Andong Kwon clan

Princess Gyeonghye (1436 – 17 January 1473), also known as Princess Pyeongchang before her marriage was a Joseon princess and the eldest child of Munjong of Joseon. She served as guardian for her only younger brother, Danjong of Joseon, when he ascended the throne underage.[1]

Biography[]

The princess was born into the Jeonju Yi clan in 1435 to Yi Hyang, Crown Prince Hyang and Crown Princess Hyeondeok, who died later in 1441 after giving birth to her younger brother. Prior to her birth, the Princess had an older sister but she died prematurely. She was enfeoffed as Princess Pyeongchang (Hangul: 평창; hanja: 平昌郡主).[2] At some point during her childhood, Princess Pyeongchang was sent to live with a government minister, Jo Yu-rye (조유례), for safety. Munjong later noted that she regarded Jo as a foster father.[3]

In January 1450, the princess was married to Jeong Jong of the Haeju Jeong clan and was granted the title Princess Gyeonghye.[4] Jeong was raised to the position of Minister of Justice.[5] The next year, Munjong of Joseon granted her land at Yeongdeokbang (양덕방) to build a new mansion. Officials argued against this, as it required removing more than 30 families and Jeong already had a mansion, but the gift was bestowed anyway.[6] In 1452, Princess Gyeonghye's brother ascended the throne and she acted as his guardian. Although along with the general Kim Jong-seo, she attempted to strengthen royal authority, a coup led by her uncle, Yi Yu, Grand Prince Suyang ended with her brother's banishment.[1]

Reign of Sejo[]

In 1455, Jeong was banished to Gyeonggi Province and Princess Gyeonghye fell ill. Hearing of her illness, the new king Sejo of Joseon sent a servant to tend her, who Princess Gyeonghye used to send a message begging for Jeong to be restored, which was allowed.[7] She was pregnant at the time and Sejo threatened that if she had a boy the child would be killed. Queen Jeonghui, however, issued instructions that the child be spared regardless of its sex, telling the eunuch in charge that she would take responsibility for deceiving Sejo.[8] After Princess Gyeonghye gave birth to her son in exile, the eunuch dressed the child in female clothes and took him to the court where he was raised.[9]

In 1461, Jeong was found guilty of rebelling against Sejo of Joseon and was executed by dismemberment. Princess Gyeonghye was judged guilty by association, her rank was reduced to nobi serf (hanja: 公女婢), and she was sent to the official royal convent.[1] Queen Jeonghui later intervened on the princess' behalf, persuading Sejo to restore her status, property, and servants.[10]

Legacy[]

On 27 December 1473, Princess Gyeonghye wrote a will, urging her son to build a shrine to his grandfather and perform ancestral rites in accordance with Confucian tradition. The will is in the Jangseogak, housed by the Academy of Korean Studies.[1]

Titles[]

  • 1436 - January 1450: Her Royal Highness, Princess Pyeongchang of the Second Senior Rank (평창군주;平昌郡主)
  • January 1450 - 17 January 1474: Her Royal Highness, Princess Gyeonghye of Joseon (조선 경혜공주; 朝鲜庆惠公主)

Family[]

  • Great-Grandfather
  • Great-Grandmother
  • Grandfather
  • Grandmother
  • Father
  • Mother
    • Queen Hyeondeok of the Andong Kwon clan (17 April 1418 – 10 August 1441) (현덕왕후 권씨)
      • Grandfather: Kwon Jeon (권전, 權專), Internal Prince Hwasan (화산부원군, 花山府院君) (1372 - 1441)
      • Grandmother: Choi Ah-ji (최아지, 崔阿只), Internal Princess Consort Haeryeong of the Haeju Choi clan (해령부부인 해주 최씨, 海寧府夫人 海州 崔氏) (? - 1456)
  • Siblings
  • Spouse
    • Jeong Jong of the Haeju Jeong clan (정종, 鄭悰) (? - 1461)
      • Father-in-law: Jeong Chung-gyeong (정충경, 鄭忠敬) (? - 1443)
      • Mother-in-law: Lady Min of the Yeoheung Min clan (정경부인 여흥 민씨, 貞敬夫人 驪興 閔��)
  • Children
    • Daughter: Lady Jeong of the Haeju Jeong clan (해주 정씨); died prematurely
    • Son: Jeong Mi-su (정미수, 鄭眉壽) (1456 - 1512)[11]
      • Daughter-in-law: Lady Lee of the Jeonui Lee clan (정경부인 전의 이씨, 貞敬夫人 全義 李氏)
        • Adoptive grandson: Jeong Seung-hyu (정승휴, 鄭承休) (1488 - 1534)
          • Adoptive great-granddaughter: Princess Consort Pajing of the Haeju Jeong clan (파징군부인 정씨, 波澄郡夫人 鄭氏) (1513 - 1560)
          • Adoptive great-grandson-in-law: Yi Yeong, Prince Geumwon (이영 금원군) (1513 - 1562)

Popular culture[]

References[]

Notes[]

  1. ^ a b c d An, Seung-jun (4 April 2014). "Forgotten story of Princess Gyeonghye". Korea Times. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
  2. ^ Veritable Records of Sejong, day 6, month 6, year 28 of Sejong's reign.
  3. ^ Veritable Records of Munjong, day 13, month 2, year 2 of Munjong's reign.
  4. ^ Veritable Records of Munjong, day 1, month 9, year 2 of Munjong's reign.
  5. ^ Veritable Records of Sejong, day 24, month 1, year 32 of Sejong's reign.
  6. ^ Veritable Records of Munjong, day 1, month 4, year 1 of Munjong's reign.
  7. ^ Veritable Records of Sejo, day 17, month 6, year 1 of Sejo's reign.
  8. ^ Jang (2013), p. 177.
  9. ^ Jang (2013), p. 178.
  10. ^ Jang (2013), p. 178-179.
  11. ^ One of the adoptive granddaughters of his became the wife of King Jungjong's and Royal Consort Hui of the Namyang Hong clan’s son, Yi Young, Prince Geumwon (이영 금원군) (1513 - 1562)

Works cited[]

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