Royal Consort Huibin Jang

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Hui-bin Jang
희빈 장씨
Queen Consort of Joseon
Tenure1688 – 1694
PredecessorQueen Inhyeon
SuccessorQueen Inhyeon
Royal Noble Consort of the First Senior Rank
Tenure1688
1694 – November 1701
Born3 November 1659
Eunpyeong, Kingdom of Joseon
Died9 November 1701 (1701-11-10) (aged 42)
Hanseong, Kingdom of Joseon
Burial1701
Daebinmyo, Seooreung, Goyang, Gyeonggi
SpouseYi Sun, King Sukjong
IssueYi Yun, King Gyeongjong
Prince Seongsu
Posthumous name
옥산부대빈
玉山府大嬪
HouseIndong Jang
FatherJang Hyeong
MotherLady Yoon of the Papyeong Yoon clan

Jang Ok-jeong (장옥정, 張玉貞; 3 November 1659 – 9 November 1701) of the Indong Jang clan, was the wife of Yi Sun, King Sukjong and the mother of Yi Yun, King Gyeongjong. She was the Queen of Joseon from 1688 until her deposition, in 1694.

Biography[]

Early life[]

Jang Ok-jeong was the daughter of Jang Hyeong (張烱) and his second wife, Lady Yoon of the Papyeong Yoon clan (坡平尹氏). Part of the Namin faction, she came from a long line of interpreters and belonged to the Chungin class.

Ok-jeong is widely thought to have been one of the most beautiful women in Joseon, and her charm was mentioned in the Annals.

She became a lady-in-waiting to the King's step-great-grandmother, Grand Queen Dowager Jaui, at the recommendation of Prince Dongpyeong, who was Sukjong's first cousin once removed and Jaui's step-grandson (his father was Yi Jing, Prince Sungseon, the eldest son of King Injo and Lady Gwi-in of the Okcheon Jo clan).

Royal consort[]

While visiting Queen Jaui, the King became infatuated with Ok-jeong's beauty and gave her the rank of Favored Sanggung, but his mother, Queen Dowager Hyeonyeol, who belonged to the Seoin faction, feared that Jang Ok-jeong would influence him to favor the Namin, so she expelled her from the palace.

In 1683, Hyeonyeol died and Queen Min, the Queen Consort at that time, allowed Lady Jang to return to court.

In 1686, Ok-jeong became a concubine with the rank of Suk-won (숙원, 淑媛).[1] In 1688, she was elevated to So-ui (소의, 昭儀), after giving birth to the King's first son, Yi Yun.

In the court, the Seoin faction split into Noron (Old Learning), led by Song Si-yeol, and Soron (New Learning), led by Yoon Jeung. The Noron was supported by Queen Inhyeon.

The Namin faction pushed for the King to acknowledge Yi Yun as heir apparent, but the Seoin faction insisted that the Queen was still young and could bear a son, who should be the heir. Sukjong pushed for a compromise in which the Queen would adopt Yi Yun as her son. However, she refused to do so. Sukjong became angry at the opposition, and many were killed, including Song Si-yeol. The Namin faction seized power, and they exiled the Queen's father and the leaders of the Seoin faction.

In March 1688, Queen Min was also deposed and exiled. This incident is called Gisa Hwanguk (기사환국).[2][3]

In the same year, Jang So-ui was granted the title of Bin (빈, 嬪), the highest rank for a consort, with the prefix "Hui", which means "beautiful". Later, Jang Hui-bin was appointed as Queen Consort.

In 1693, Sukjong's new favorite, a palace maid from the Haeju Choe clan, was officially elevated to a royal concubine of the Suk-won rank. Choe Suk-won (later Choe Suk-bin), was an open supporter of the Deposed Queen Min and encouraged the King to reinstate her to her original position. In the meantime, Kim Chun-taek, who was member of the Noron faction, and Han Jung-hyuk from the Soron faction, staged a campaign to reinstate the Deposed Queen.

In 1694, Jang Ok-jeong lost the favor of the King.[4] Sukjong grew disgusted by the greed of the Namin faction and the ever-powerful Jang family. He also felt remorse for his temperamental actions during Gisa Hwanguk. In the government, the Namin attempt to purge the Seoin faction on the charge of plotting to reinstate the Deposed Queen backfired.

Later years[]

The King banished Jang Hui-jae, the Queen's older brother, and the leaders of the Namin Party. He officially demoted Jang Ok-jeong to her former position, Hui-bin, and reinstated the Deposed Queen Min. This incident is called Gapsul Hwanguk (갑술환국). The Namin faction would never politically recover from this purge.

The Soron faction supported Yi Yun, Crown Prince Hwiso, who was Jang Hui-bin's son, while the Noron faction supported Yi Geum, Prince Yeoning, who was Choe Suk-bin's son.

In 1701, Queen Inhyeon died of an unknown disease. Allegedly, Sukjong discovered Lady Jang conspiring with a shaman priestess to curse the Queen with black magic and gloating over her death.[5] The Soron faction pleaded with the King to show mercy and pointed out that she was the mother of the Crown Prince.

Unmoved, the King sentenced Hui-bin, her mother, her brother, the leader of Soron and all of her companions to death. 1700 people died as a result of the incident.[3] He also exiled the courtiers who had asked him spare Lady Jang's life.[6]

On the 7th day of the 10th month in the 27th year of his reign (November 7, 1701), Sukjong passed a decree prohibiting any concubine from ever becoming Queen and on November 9, 1701, Jang Hui-bin was executed by poisoning at Chwiseondang, her royal residence inside Changdeok Palace. She was 42 years old.

Today, Jang Hui-bin is known for her greed for power. Some argue that she was a victim of the political struggles of the time and that as a member of the losing party, she may be portrayed in a deliberately negative light. For example, some claim that she severely wounded the Crown Prince, making it impossible for him to produce a child.[citation needed] In fact, she would have desperately wanted her son to be able to sire heirs and become King, so she probably wouldn't have attacked him in such a manner.

Originally entombed in Munhyeong-ri, Opo-myeon, Gwangju-gun, Gyeonggi-do, Lady Jang was moved to Daebinmyo, Seooreung-ro, Deogyang-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi Province,[7][8] in June, 1969. Her memorial tablet was enshrined in Daebingung, at Chilgung (or the Palace Of Seven Royal Concubines).

As the Crown Prince's mother, she was given the posthumous title Grand Royal Noble Consort Oksan of the Jang clan (옥산부대빈장씨; 玉山府大嬪張氏).

Lady Jang's Tomb: Daebinmyo[]

Daebinmyo is a myo-type tomb. She was originally entombed in Munhyeong-ri, Opo-myeon, Gwangju-gun, Gyeonggi-do, but the tomb was moved to its current location in June 1969, because it was blocking the government's planned expansion of the city. It was relocated to Seooreung tombs, near Myeongreung (명릉; reung refers to Kings and Queens tombs), which contains the tombs of King Sukjong, Queen Inhyeon and Queen Inwon.

Behind the tomb is a large rock, and a pine tree has broken through the rock to grow. There is speculation that this reveals that Jang Hui-bin's ki (energy) was, and still is, very strong. Some Korean websites report that because Lady Jang was such a strong woman there is a belief that if young, single women who want a boyfriend visit the tomb and pay a tribute, they will soon find love.[9]

Titles[]

  • 3 November 1659 - 1686: Lady Jang, daughter of Jang Hyeong of the Indong Jang Clan
  • 1686 - 1688: Jang Suk-won (숙원 장씨; 淑媛 張氏), 4th junior rank concubine of the King
  • 1688: Jang So-ui (소의 장씨; 昭儀 張氏), 2nd senior rank concubine of the King
  • 1688: Jang Hui-bin (희빈 장씨; 熙嬪 張氏), 1st senior rank concubine of the King
  • 1688 - 1694: Her Royal Highness, the Queen Consort of Joseon (왕비; 王妃)
  • 1694 - 9 November 1701: Jang Hui-bin (희빈 장씨; 熙嬪 張氏), 1st senior rank concubine of the King
  • Posthumous title: Grand Royal Noble Consort Oksan of the Jang Clan (옥산부대빈 장씨; 玉山府大嬪 張氏)

Ancestry[]

Family[]

  • Father − Jang Hyeong (25 February 1623 – 12 January 1669) (장형)
    • Grandfather − Jang Eung-in (장응인)
    • Grandmother − Lady Park of the Nampo Park clan (남포 박씨)
  • Mother − Lady Yoon of the Papyeong Yoon clan (1626 – 1698) (파평 윤씨)
    • Grandfather − Yoon Seong-rib (윤성립)
    • Grandmother − Lady Byeon of the Chogye Byeon clan (초계 변씨)

Sibling(s)

  • Older sister − Lady Jang (장씨)
    • Brother-in-law − Kim Ji-jong (김지중)
      • Unnamed nephew
      • Unnamed nephew
      • Unnamed nephew
      • Unnamed niece
  • Older half-brother − Jang Hui-sik (1640 – ?) (장희식)
  • Older brother − Jang Hui-jae (1651 – 29 October 1701) (장희재)
    • Sister-in-law − Lady Kim (김씨) (? – 12 December 1701); daughter of Kim Deok-rib (김덕립)
      • Unnamed nephew; died prematurely
      • Nephew − Jang Cha-gyeong (장차경)
      • Nephew − Jang Hwi (장휘) (? – 11 April 1728)
    • Sister-in-law − Ahn Sook-jeong (안숙정) (1666 – 3 October 1701); became Jang Hui-jae's concubine in 1680
      • Nephew − Jang Jong-gyeong (장종경) (? – 1 April 1724)
      • Unnamed niece-in-law

Consort

  1. Son: Gyeongjong of Joseon (20 November 1688 – 11 October 1724) (조선 경종)
    1. Daughter-in-law: Queen Danui of the Cheongsong Sim clan (11 July 1686 – 8 March 1718) (단의왕후 심씨)
    2. Daughter-in-law: Queen Seonui of the Hamjong Eo clan (14 December 1705 – 12 August 1730) (선의왕후 어씨)
  2. Son: Prince Seongsu (19 July 1690 – 16 September 1690) (성수) - disputed

Titles[]

  • 3 November 1659 - December 1686: Lady Jang, daughter of Jang Hyeong of the Indong Jang clan
  1. Jang Ok-jeong (장옥정; 張玉貞)
  2. Lady Jang of the Indong Jang clan (인동 장씨; 仁同 張氏)
  3. Jang Hyeong's daughter (장형의 딸; 張烱之 女)
  • December 1686 - 1688: Royal Consort Jang Suk-won (숙원 장씨; 淑媛 張氏), 8th rank (junior 4th) concubine
  • 1688: Royal Consort Jang So-ui (소의 장씨; 昭儀 張氏), 3rd rank (senior 2nd) concubine
  • 1688: Royal Noble Consort Hui of the Indong Jang clan (희빈 인동 장씨; 禧嬪 仁同 張氏), 1st rank (senior 1st) concubine
  • May 1688 - 1694: Queen Consort (왕비; 王妃)
  • 1694 - 9 November 1701: Royal Noble Consort Hui of the Indong Jang clan (희빈 인동 장씨; 禧嬪 仁同 張氏), 1st rank (senior 1st) concubine

In popular culture[]

References[]

  1. ^ Sugwon is the 8th ranking title for a King's concubine.
  2. ^ "네이버 학술정보". Academic.naver.com. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b Hulbert, Homer B. (Homer Bezaleel) (26 October 2017). "The history of Korea". Seoul, Methodist Pub. House. Retrieved 26 October 2017 – via Internet Archive.
  4. ^ (Book East Asia: A Cultural, Social, and Political History, 3rd pag. 255
  5. ^ The Memoirs of Lady Hyegyeong Page 246
  6. ^ Lee, Bae-young (20 October 2008). Wome in Korean History. Ewha Womans University Press. pp. 109–111. ISBN 978-8973007721.
  7. ^ "Daebinmyo Tomb at Seooreung Tombs - Exploring Korea". Exploringkorea.com. 4 August 2011. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
  8. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 26 January 2014.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  9. ^ "King Sukjong and Jang Hee Bin's Tombs". Dramasrok.com. 8 June 2010. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
  10. ^ "Lady Jang (Janghuibin) (1961)". Korean Movie Database. Retrieved 26 January 2013.
  11. ^ "Femme Fatale, Jang Hee-bin (Yohwa, Jang Hee-bin) (1968)". Korean Movie Database. Retrieved 26 January 2013.
  12. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e '죽지 않는' 장희빈 벌써 9명, 김태희가 뒤 이을까. OhmyNews (in Korean). 22 September 2012. Retrieved 26 January 2013.
  13. ^ "TV Dramas - Actresses Line up for Award Ceremony Takeover". The Chosun Ilbo. 29 December 2003. Retrieved 2 April 2013.
  14. ^ Lee, Ga-on (7 May 2010). "Han Hyo-joo says she "hold fast" to her role in Dong Yi". 10Asia. Retrieved 26 January 2013.
  15. ^ Ho, Stewart (8 October 2012). "Kim Tae Hee Cast in Her First Historic Drama, Jang Ok Jung as Joseon Dynasty's Infamous Lady Jang Hee Bin". EnewsWorld.mnet.com. CJ E&M. Archived from the original on 27 December 2012. Retrieved 23 January 2013.
  16. ^ Hong, Grace Danbi (24 August 2012). "Shinhwa Transforms into Royal Concubines for Shinhwa Broadcast". EnewsWorld.mnet.com. CJ E&M. Retrieved 16 December 2012.
Royal Consort Huibin Jang
Indong Jang clan
Royal titles
Preceded by
Queen Inhyeon
of the Yeoheung Min clan 		Queen consort of Joseon
1688 – 1694 		Succeeded by
Queen Inhyeon
of the Yeoheung Min clan
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