Queen Sindeok

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Queen Sindeok (신덕왕후 강씨; 12 July 1356 – 15 September 1396^[1]), of the Goksan Kang clan, was a posthumous name bestowed to the second wife and queen consort of Yi Dan, King Taejo; the first monarch of the Korean Joseon Dynasty. She was Queen consort of Joseon and was honoured as Queen Hyeon (현비) from 1392 until her death in 1396. She was a political advisor of King Taejo and had a great influence on the founding of Joseon. She was posthumously called as Sindeok, the High Empress (신덕고황후, 神德高皇后).

Biography[]

Early life[]

Lady Kang was born in Goksan, Hwanghae Province on 12 July 1356, during the reign of King Chunghye of Goryeo, to Kang Yun-Seong of the Goksan Kang clan and his wife, Lady Kang of the Jinju Kang clan.

Through her father, Lady Kang is an ascendant of Kang Ho-gyeong and Kang Chung, who were the maternal ancestors of King Taejo of Goryeo, Wang Geon. She is also a descendant of Kang Bo-jeon, the third son of Kang Chung and uncle of Queen Jeonghwa, who re-established a family in the generation of his eighth-great-grandfather, Kang Ji-yeon, Internal Prince Shinseong, during the reign of King Gojong of Goryeo. Kang Ji-yeon was the progenitor of the Sincheon Kang clan (신천 강씨, 信川 康氏). Kang Bo-jeon eventually became the ancestors to Lady Sinjuwon, Kang Jo, Kang Ji-yeon, and Kang Yun-seong.

When Kang Ji-yeon's sixth great-grandson, Kang Seo, her grandfather, was sealed as Internal Prince Sangsan, he became the progenitor of the Goksan Kang clan (곡산 강씨, 谷山 康氏).

Lady Kang's uncle, Kang Yun-chung, was Taejo's uncle and the son-in-law of Hwanjo's older brother, Yi Ja-heung. Through this relationship, she was able to come into contact with Yi Seong-gye and soon became his second wife during his time on the battlefield.^[2]

Meeting and Marriage[]

There is a story on how Yi Seong-gye met his second wife, and it has been said that it’s a famous one.

According to the story, Yi Seong-gye's first meeting with Lady Kang was that one day, while hunting a tiger, Yi Seong-gye got thirsty and found a well, and there was a woman at the well. When Yi Seong-gye asked the woman to pour him some of her water, she poured water into a gourd and then floated a handful of her willow leaves on top of the water. At this, Yi Seong-gye rebuked her, saying, “What kind of evil is this?” The woman replied shyly that she had to rush because he was thirsty, and if Yi drank the cold water, he would get sick.

After hearing this, Yi Seong-gye, who was deeply moved by this, looked carefully at the woman, and the beauty of the woman was outstanding. For a while, Yi Seong-gye was mesmerized by the woman's wisdom and beauty. The woman at the well was Lady Kang. This story is the same as the story of the meeting between King Taejo of Goryeo and Queen Janghwa. Queen Janghwa and Queen Sindeok are the second wives of the founder of the country, respectively, and are misleading in that they are the daughters of powerful local nobles, or the willow leaf tale handed down from many provinces is related to Yi Seong-gye, or that it may have been.

Lady Kang was eventually arranged to marry Yi Seong-gye around the 1370s. At the time of the marriage, Lady Kang was around 21 years younger than Yi. Because Lady Han had died in 1391, Lady Kang raised Lady Han’s children as her own despite them being around her age.

In March 1392, in the lunar calendar, when Yi Seong-gye fell and was seriously injured while riding a horse in Haeju, Jeong Mong-ju had tried to assassinate him. Lady Kang had them sent Yi Bang-won, who was living in the tomb of his birth mother, Lady Han, to Haeju in haste and get Yi Seong-gye to Haeju.

Lady Kang was also the one to mitigate the relationship between Yi and his fifth son from his first marriage. It was said that Lady Kang suppressed the anger of Yi Seong-gye, who severely rebuked Yi Bang-won for killing Jeong Mong-ju by sending an assassin in April of that year. This is a symbol of Lady Kang's resourcefulness and determination, and it can be said that it shows the serenity to do anything for her purpose of establishing a new country.

With the founding of Joseon, Lady Kang eventually became the first Queen Consort of Joseon on August 25 in 1392 (the 7th day of the 8th lunar calendar) and was given the title of Queen Hyeon (현비, 顯妃; Hyeonbi meaning Illustrious Consort).^[3] She was also known by other titles such as Queen Kang (강비, 康妃; Kangbi) and Princess Boryeong (보령택주, 保寧宅主; Boryeong Taekju).

Involvement in Royal Politics[]

Queen Hyeon tried to pass over the grown up princes of the Queen Sinui and pass on the next throne onto her son. To make her son successor to the throne, she made a political alliance with Jeong Do-jeon, who met her willingly, and successfully convinced Taejo to have her son, Prince Uian, as the next crown prince.^[4]

However, it was not the eldest son, and the sons and daughters of Queen Sinui, including Prince Jeongan, could not accept that the second son of his father’s second consort would become the crown prince. However, Yi Seong-gye appointed his step-brother, Queen Hyeon’s son, Yi Bang-seok. Yi Bang-won, the fifth son of Queen Shinui and the most politically ambitious, was outraged.

Death and Aftermath[]

Queen Hyeon soon died on 15 September 1396 after appointing her son as crown prince.

Her death affected King Taejo immensely and started to mourn. The king built a small hermitage next to her tomb to pray for the Queen’s happiness, and had offered incense tea every morning and evening. As soon as the Heungcheonsa Temple was completed, it became a daily routine for King Taejo to visit the tombs and temples. After visiting the tomb and temple, the king spent the evening with the remaining princes of Queen Sindeok, and only heard the sound of the bell of the temple to put ashes on Queen Sindeok's tomb before going to bed.

Not only that, but during the Sura era, it was only after hearing the sutras pray for Queen Shindeok's happiness that King Taejo lifted a spoon and ate, showing sincerity to his wife and recovery.

Prime minister Jeong Do-jeon, planned to kill the sons of Queen Shinui to protect his position in the court and position of Crown Prince. Yi Bang-won, heard about the plan and came to palace where he killed Jeong Do-jeon and Queen Sindeok's two sons. As well as her daughter’s husband, Yi Je, and those who supported the prime minister. Princess Gyeongsun was soon forced by her older half-brother to become a nun.

The anger of the princes and princesses of Queen Sinui fought against Queen Hyeon and her children where it reached a climax. In the end, that anger continued even after the Queen’s death, and later became the cause of Taejong's institutionalization of the Seo-eol ban and the Jeok-seo discrimination. This event is known as First Strife of Princes.^[4]

The Queen bore Taejo three children; two sons who died in the strife and a daughter who lived to her twenties or thirties.

In 1899, Gojong of Korea posthumously honored her as Empress Sindeokgo (신덕고황후, 神德高皇后).

Family[]

Parent

• Great-Great-Grandfather
  • Kang Deuk-ham (강득함, 康得咸)^[5]
• Great-Grandfather
  • Kang Suk-jae (강숙재, 康淑才)
• Grandfather
  • Kang Seo (강서) (1347 - 1424)^[6]
• Grandmother
  • Lady Hwang of the Jangsu Hwang clan (장수 황씨)
• Uncle - Kang Yun-gwi (강윤귀, 康允貴)
• Father — Gang Yun-Seong (강윤성, 康允成) (? - December 1358)
• Uncle - Kang Yun-chung (강윤충, 康允忠)^[7]
• Uncle - Kang Yun-ui (강윤의, 康允誼)
  • Uncle - Kang Yun-hwi (강윤휘, 康允暉)
  • Cousin - Kang Yeong (강영, 康永)
  • Cousin - Kang Woo (강우, 康祐)
• Uncle - Kang Yun-bo (강윤부, 康允富)
• Mother — Internal Princess Consort Jinsan of the Jinju Kang clan (증 진산부부인 진주 강씨, 晉山府夫人 晉州 姜氏)
  • Grandfather - Kang Eun (강은, 姜誾)
• Siblings
  • Older brother - Kang Gye-kwon (강계권, 康繼權) (? - 1413)
  • Older brother - Kang Yun-kwon (강유권, 康有權)
    • Niece - Lady Kang of the Goksan Kang clan
      • Nephew-in-law - Lee Sang-hang (이상항, 李尙恒)

Consort

• Husband — Yi Dan, King Taejo of Joseon (27 October 1335 – 18 June 1408) (조선 태조)
  • Father-in-law - Yi Ja-chun, King Hwanjo of Joseon (환조대왕) (20 January 1315 - 3 June 1361)
  • Mother-in-law - Queen Uihye of the Yeongheung Choi clan (의혜왕후 최씨)

Issue

• Daughter — Princess Gyeongsun (? – 8 September 1407) (경순공주)
  • Son-in-law - Yi Je (1365 – 1398) (이제, 李濟).^[8]
    • Adoptive grandson - Yi Yun (이윤, 李潤)
• Son — Yi Bang-Beon, Grand Prince Muan (1381 – 6 October 1398) (이방번 무안대군)
  • Daughter-in-law - Grand Princess Consort Samhanguk of the Kaesong Wang clan (삼한국대부인 개성 왕씨).^{[9][10][11][12]}
    • Adoptive grandson - Yi Hyo-sun, Prince Pungan (풍안군 이효손, 豊安君 李孝孫) (1403 - 1463)^[13]
• Son — Yi Bang-Seok, Grand Prince Uian (1382 – 6 October 1398) (이방석 의안대군)
  • Daughter-in-law - Deposed Crown Princess Yu of the Yu clan (폐세자빈 현빈 유씨)
  • Daughter-in-law - Internal Princess Consort Samhanguk, Crown Princess Hyeon of the Buyu Sim clan (? – 1448) (삼한국대부인 현빈 심씨, 三韓國大夫人 賢嬪 沈氏)
    • Grandson - Yi Won-sun (원손, 元孫) (29 May/14 June 1398 - 26 August/6 October 1398)

In popular culture[]

• Portrayed by Ha Mi-hye in the 1983 KBS TV series Foundation of the Kingdom.
• Portrayed by Kim Jeong-yeon in the 1983 MBC TV series The King of Chudong Palace.
• Portrayed by Kim Young-ran in the 1996–1998 KBS TV series Tears of the Dragon.
• Portrayed by Yoon Joo-hee in the 2012–2013 SBS TV series The Great Seer.
• Portrayed by Lee Il-hwa in the 2014 KBS1 TV series Jeong Do-Jeon.
• Portrayed by Kim Hee-jung in the 2015–2016 SBS TV series Six Flying Dragons.
• Portrayed by Park Ye-jin in the 2019 JTBC TV series My Country.
• Portrayed by Ye Ji-won in the 2021 KBS1 TV series Taejong Yi Bang-won.

References[]

External links[]

• "Royal Tomb of Queen Sindeok". Exploring Korea. 2009-06-30. Retrieved 2016-11-23.
• "Jeongneung: A Story of Queen Sindeok's Grave – an acorn in the dog's food". Samedi.livejournal.com. 2010-02-11. Retrieved 2016-11-23.
• Faris, Mohd (2013-06-25). "Moe Girls' Korean Story: Famous Queen in Joseon Dynasty, Part IV: Queen Sindeok of Koksan Kang Clan". Moe-hankook.blogspot.ro. Retrieved 2016-11-23.