Jeongjong of Joseon

This article is about 2nd monarch of the Joseon dynasty. For the 3rd monarch of the Goryeo dynasty, see Jeongjong, 3rd monarch of Goryeo. For the 10th monarch of the Goryeo dynasty, see Jeongjong, 10th monarch of Goryeo.
Not to be confused with Jungjong of Joseon or Jeongjo of Joseon.

Jeongjong of Joseon
조선 정종
朝鮮定宗
King Emeritus[a] of Joseon
Tenure13 November 1400 – 26 September 1419
SuccessorTaejong
King of Joseon
Reign5 September 1398 – 13 November 1400
EnthronementGeunjeongjeon Hall, Gyeongbok Palace, Hanseong
PredecessorTaejo
SuccessorTaejong
RegentPrince Jeongan (1398–1400)
Crown Prince of Joseon
Tenure26 August 1398 – 5 September 1398
PredecessorCrown Prince Yi Bang-seok
SuccessorCrown Prince Yi Bang-won
BornYi Bang-gwa (이방과; 李芳果)
1 July 1357
Yi Seong-gye's Mansion, Dongbuk-myeon, Goryeo (present-day Hamhŭng, South Hamgyŏng Province, North Korea)
Died26 September 1419(1419-09-26) (aged 62)
Indeok Palace, Hanseong, Joseon
Burial
Huneung Mausoleum, Kaesŏng, North Hwanghae Province, North Korea
Spouse(s)
​
(died 1412)​
Issue
details...		15 sons, 8 daughters
Era name and dates
Adopted the era name of the Ming dynasty:
  • Hongmu (Hongwu) (홍무; 洪武): 1398
  • Geonmun (Jianwen) (건문; 建文): 1399–1400
Posthumous name
  • Joseon: King Gongjeong Uimun Jangmu Onin Sunhyo the Great
    • 공정의문장무온인순효대왕
    • 懿文莊武溫仁順孝大王
  • Ming dynasty: Gongjeong (공정; 恭靖)
Temple name
Jeongjong (정종; 定宗)
ClanJeonju Yi clan
DynastyHouse of Yi
FatherTaejo of Joseon
MotherQueen Sinui
ReligionKorean Buddhism → Korean Confucianism (Neo-Confucianism)
Military career
Allegiance Goryeo
 Joseon
Years of service1376–1398
RankCommander of the Middle Army
Commands held
  • The Three Military Divisions (Taejo's Guard Corps)
  • The Three Military Divisions
  • The Middle Army
Battles/wars
Korean name
Hangul
정종
Hanja
Revised RomanizationJeongjong
McCune–ReischauerChŏngjong
Birth name
Hangul
이방과, later 이경
Hanja
Revised RomanizationI Banggwa, later I Gyeong
McCune–ReischauerYi Panggwa, later Yi Kyŏng
Courtesy name
Hangul
광원
Hanja
Revised RomanizationGwangwon
McCune–ReischauerKwangwŏn

Jeongjong (Korean: 정종; Hanja: 定宗; 1 July 1357 – 26 September 1419),[b][c] personal name Yi Bang-gwa (이방과; 李芳果), later Yi Gyeong (이경; 李曔), was the second monarch of the Joseon dynasty of Korea. He was the second son of King Taejo, the founder of the dynasty. Before ascending to the throne, he was known as Prince Yeongan (영안군; 永安君).

Biography[edit]

Born in 1357 as the second son of Yi Seong-gye (posthumously King Taejo) and his first wife Lady Han, he was a prudent, generous, brave, and able military officer. During the latter days of the declining Goryeo dynasty, Jeongjong followed his father to various battlefronts and fought at his side. When his father took the throne in 1392, he became a prince.

Taejo had two wives — the first one, who gave birth to six sons (including Jeongjong), died before he was crowned; the second wife was Lady Gang, with whom he had two sons. The king favored his youngest son, whose mother was Lady Gang. Chief State Councillor Jeong Do-jeon also backed him as successor, causing much resentment in the other princes.

In 1398, Taejo's fifth son, Yi Bang-won (posthumously King Taejong) led a coup along with many military officers and killed his two younger half-brothers, Jeong Do-jeon, and many of his faction. Yi Bang-won first tried to show that he was not interested in the throne, so he gave a push to Yi Bang-gwa (who was the eldest son by then), to be the next crown prince. King Taejo was upset and abdicated in disgust, and Yi Bang-gwa became Joseon's second ruler.[1] The same year he moved the government back to Gaegyeong, the old Goryeo capital.

In 1400, a conflict broke out between Yi Bang-won and his elder brother, Yi Bang-gan. Yi Bang-won's force attacked and defeated that of his Yi Bang-gan's, who was then sent into exile along with his family. General Park Bo, who persuaded Yi Bang-gan into rebellion, was executed. King Jeongjong, knowing that he was a mere political figurehead for his younger brother, appointed him as crown prince and abdicated months later.[1]

He was an able and wise administrator despite his short reign being marked by bloodshed within the royal family.

Jeongjong died in 1419 and was buried alongside his wife, Queen Jeongan, at Huneung (후릉), in present-day P'anmun District, Kaesŏng, North Hwanghae Province, North Korea.

Family[edit]

  • Father: King Taejo of Joseon (조선의 태조; 11 October 1335 – 24 May 1408)
    • Grandfather: Yi Ja-chun, King Hwanjo of Joseon (조선의 환조 이자춘; 1315 – 18 April 1360)
    • Grandmother: Queen Uihye of the Yeongheung Choe clan (의혜왕후 최씨)
  • Mother: Queen Sinui of the Cheongju Han clan (신의왕후 한씨; 4 September 1337 – 23 September 1391)
    • Grandfather: Han Gyeong, Internal Prince Ancheon (안천부원군 한경)
    • Grandmother: Lady Shin of the Saknyeong Shin clan, Grand Princess Consort of Samhan State (삼한국대부인 삭녕 신씨)

Consorts and their respective issue:[d]

  1. Queen Jeongan of the Gyeongju Gim clan (정안왕후 김씨; 9 January 1355 – 25 June 1412)[e]
  2. Royal Noble Consort Seong of the Chungju Ji clan (성빈 지씨)[f]
    1. Yi Hu-saeng, Prince Deokcheon (덕천군 이후생; 1397 – 10 November 1465), tenth son[g]
    2. Yi Mal-saeng, Prince Dopyeong (도평군 이말생; 9 August 1402 – ?), twelfth son[h]
  3. Royal Consort Sug-ui of the Chungju Ji clan (숙의 지씨)[i]
    1. Yi Won-saeng, Prince Uipyeong (의평군 이원생; 1391 – 4 August 1461), first son[j]
    2. Yi Mu-saeng, Prince Seonseong (선성군 이무생; 26 November 1392 – 7 July 1460), fourth son
    3. Yi Ho-saeng, Prince Imseong (임성군 이호생), eleventh son
    4. Princess Hamyang (함양옹주), eldest daughter
  4. Royal Consort Sug-ui of the Haengju Gi clan (숙의 기씨; ? – 13 June 1457)
    1. Yi Gun-saeng, Prince Sunpyeong (순평군 이군생; 1392 – 21 August 1456), second son[k]
    2. Yi Ui-saeng, Prince Geumpyeong (금평군 이의생; ? – 3 November 1435), third son[l][m][n]
    3. Yi Yung-saeng, Prince Jeongseok (정석군 이융생; 1409 – 10 October 1464), fourteenth son
    4. Princess Sukshin (숙신옹주), second daughter
    5. Yi Seon-saeng, Prince Murim (무림군 이선생; 1419 – 19 February 1475), fifteenth son
    6. Princess Sangwon (상원옹주), fifth daughter
  5. Royal Consort Sug-ui of the Nampyeong Mun clan (숙의 문씨)
    1. Yi Gwi-saeng, Prince Jongui (종의군 이귀생; 1393 – 26 April 1451), fifth son
  6. Royal Consort Sug-ui of the Haepyeong Yun clan (숙의 윤씨; 1368–1417)[o]
    1. Yi Deok-saeng, Prince Sudo (수도군 이덕생; 15 February 1393 – 10 July 1449), seventh son
    2. Yi Nok-saeng, Prince Imeon (임언군 이녹생; 1399 – 6 August 1450), eighth son
    3. Yi Bok-saeng, Prince Seokbo (석보군 이복생), ninth son
    4. Yi Bo-saeng, Prince Jangcheon (장천군 이보생; 1418 – 15 March 1465), thirteenth son
    5. Princess Incheon (인천옹주), seventh daughter
  7. Royal Consort Sug-ui of the Pyeongchang Yi clan (숙의 이씨; ? – 1443)
    1. Yi Jong-saeng, Prince Jinnam (진남군 이종생; 1406 – 27 November 1470), sixth son
  8. Royal Princess Gaui of the Yu clan (가의궁주 유씨)
    1. Yi Bul-no (이불노; 1388–1410), unacknowledged son
  9. Cho Gung-jang (초궁장)[p]

Issue by unknown mother(s):

  1. Princess Deokcheon (덕천옹주), third daughter
  2. Princess Goseong (고성옹주), fourth daughter
  3. Princess Jeonsan (전산옹주), sixth daughter
  4. Princess Haman (함안옹주), eighth daughter

Ancestry[edit]

In popular culture[edit]

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ After Sejong ascended to the throne in 1418, Jeongjong was known as 'The Old King Emeritus' (노상왕; 老上王) to distinguish him from his younger brother Taejong, who had also abdicated.
  2. ^ Unless otherwise noted, all dates in this article are given in the lunar calendar.
  3. ^ Born on 26 July 1357 and died on 15 October 1419 according to the solar calendar.
  4. ^ Listed according to Yeonlyeosilgisul (연려실기술; 燃藜室記述) by Yi Geung-ik (이긍익).
  5. ^ Eldest daughter of Gim Cheon-seo, Internal Prince Wolseong (월성부원군 김천서); and Lady Yi of the Damyang Yi clan, Grand Princess Consort of Samhan State (삼한국대부인 담양 이씨).
  6. ^ Second daughter of Ji Yun (지윤; ?–1377); and Lady Ahn of the Sunheung Ahn clan (순흥 안씨).
  7. ^ Married Lady Yi of the Jangsu Yi clan (장수 이씨), Princess Consort Gotaek (고택군부인); they had issue (4 sons and 5 daughters).
  8. ^ Married firstly to Lady Yi of the Yongin Yi clan (용인 이씨), Princess Consort (군부인; ?–1432); they had issue (1 son). Married secondly to Lady Choe of the Jeonju Choe clan (전주 최씨), Princess Consort (군부인); they had issue (1 daughter).
  9. ^ Third daughter of Ji Yun (지윤; ?–1377); and Lady Ahn of the Sunheung Ahn clan (순흥 안씨). Her eldest sister married Grand Prince Jinan (Taejo's eldest son and Jeongjong's brother) and became his primary wife; her second sister was another one of Jeongjong's concubines, Royal Noble Consort Seong (성빈).
  10. ^ Married Lady Choe of the Dongju Choe clan (철원 최씨), Princess Consort Uihye (의혜택주); they had issue (5 sons and 3 daughters).
  11. ^ Married Lady Seol of the Sunchang Seol clan (순창 설씨), Princess Consort (군부인); they had issue (2 sons and 2 daughters).
  12. ^ Married Lady Hong of the Namyang Hong clan ( 남양 홍씨), Princess Consort (군부인); they had no biological issue.
  13. ^ Yi Eom, Prince Dongrim of the Third Junior Rank (동림부정 이엄), second son of his half-brother Yi Deok-saeng, Prince Sudo (수도군 이덕생), became Geumpyeong's adopted son.
  14. ^ By a concubine, Maesowol (매소월), he had 1 daughter.
  15. ^ Daughter of Inspector General Yun Bang-eon (대사헌 윤방언).
  16. ^ A courtesan from Hwangju who comforted Jeongjong after his abdication, and was involved in the eventual deposition of Crown Prince Yi Je.

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Yim, Seung-hye (16 January 2022). "KBS can't resist another telling of King Taejong's tale". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
Jeongjong of Joseon
Born: 1 July 1357 Died: 26 September 1419
Regnal titles
Preceded by King of Joseon
5 September 1398 – 13 November 1400 		Succeeded by
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