Queen Uihye

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Queen Uihye of the Yeongheung Choe clan (Korean: 의혜왕후 최씨; Hanja: 懿惠王后 崔氏; fl. 15th century) was the wife of Yi Jachun and mother of Yi Seonggye, Joseon's founder.^[1] She was posthumously honoured as Ui-Bi (의비; 懿妃; lit. virtuous queen) at first.

Biography[edit]

Early life[edit]

The future Queen Uihye was born into the Yeongheung Choe clan as the daughter of the Korean chiliarch of the Yuan dynasty called Choe Han-gi (최한기; 崔閑奇), the Duke Jeonghyo and Internal Prince Yeongheung (영흥부원군 정효공 최한기; 永興府院君 靖孝公 崔閑奇) and Grand Lady Yi of Joseon State (조선국대부인 이씨; 朝鮮國大夫人 李氏).

Her father's family name was Jo (조; 趙氏) but was later changed to Choe (최; 崔氏) in order to receive complete blessings for her later marriage.^[1] Her family long resided in today's Anbyon County, Kangwon Province, North Korea, which was once called Deungju (등주; 登州)^[2][3] during the Goryeo period. Having become very wealthy by saving a lot of money, her family were known to be rich amongst the local population.^[1][4]

Youth life[edit]

It was said that from young, Lady Choe was intelligent and had many unusual things. When her parents reached the age of poverty, they wanted her to married Kim-Rin (김린; 金麟)'s son, but when she did not listen, they offered to divide the household goods in half. Knowing this, Choe cried sadly and said, "How can someone unexpectedly marry Kim-Rin's son when they are born into this world and have a great relationship?, a matchmaker will come soon.” (사람이 세상에 태어나서 큰 인연이 있는데 어찌 뜻밖에 김린의 아들에게 시집갈 수 있겠는가. 배필이 곧 이를 것이다).

Marriage and death[edit]

Then, Yi Jachun went to Choe Han-gi's house on business, when she had a good dream that two dragons came down from the sky, one went into her stomach and the other stood in the yard. Since they meet each other in there, Yi then proposed Lady Choe and they were married. During her lifetime after married, Lady Choe more commonly called as Grand Lady of Three Han State (삼한국대부인; 三韓國大夫人). She then bore Yi 1 son (Yi Seong-gye) and 1 daughter (Princess Jeonghwa). However, she died before Joseon was established.

After Yi Seong-gye made the new Joseon Dynasty, she then elevated her rank into Consort Ui (의비; 懿妃) by him as her posthumous name. In the following year, by her grandson, King Yi Bang-won's order, she was posthumously honoured as Queen Consort Uihye (의혜왕후; 懿惠王后).

Tomb and funeral[edit]

The Queen was buried in Hwareung Tomb (화릉; 和陵), Dongheung-ri, Hamheung-si, South Hamgyong Province, adjacent from her husband in Jeongneung Tomb.

In 1471 (2nd year reign of Seongjong of Joseon), her funeral was held in Yeongnyeong Hall (영녕전; 永寧殿) and in 1795 (19th year reign of Jeongjo of Joseon), her veneration was held again in Yeongheung Palace (영흥본궁; 永興本宮).

Family[edit]

• Father
  • Internal Prince Yeongheung, Duke Jeonghyo, Choe Han-gi (증 영흥부원군 정효공 최한기; 贈 永興府院君 靖孝公 崔閑奇)
• Mother
  • Princess Consort Hongwon, Grand Lady Yi of Joseon State (증 홍원군부인 조선국대부인 이씨; 贈 洪原郡夫人 朝鮮國大夫人 李氏)
• Siblings
  • Older sister – Princess Consort Yeongheung of the Yeongheung Choe clan (영흥군부인 최씨; 永興郡夫人 崔氏)
  • Younger sister – Princess Gyeongchang of the Yeongheung Choe clan (경창옹주 최씨; 慶昌翁主 崔氏)
• Husband
  • Yi Ja-chun, Hwanjo of Joseon (조선 환조; 1315 – 3 May 1360)
    • Father-in-law – Yi Chun, Dojo of Joseon (조선 도조; ?–1342)
    • Mother-in-law – Queen Gyeongsun of the Munju Park clan (경순왕후 문주 박씨)
• Issue
  • Son – Yi Seong-gye, Taejo of Joseon (조선 태조; 27 October 1335 – 18 June 1408)
    • Daughter-in-law – Queen Sinui of the Anbyeon Han clan (신의왕후 한씨; September 1337 – 21 October 1391)
      • Grandson – Yi Bang-u, Grand Prince Jinan (이방우 진안대군; 1354 – 15 January 1394)
      • Grandson – Yi Bang-gwa, Grand Prince Yeongan (이방과 영안대군; 18 July 1357 – 15 October 1419)
      • Grandson – Yi Bang-ui, Grand Prince Ikan (이방의 익안대군; 1360 – 26 September 1404)
      • Grandson – Yi Bang-gan, Grand Prince Hoean (이방간 회안대군; 2 July 1364 – 10 April 1421)
      • Grandson – Yi Bang-won, Grand Prince Jeongan (이방원 정안대군; 13 June 1367 – 30 May 1422)
      • Grandson – Yi Bang-yeon, Grand Prince Deokan (이방연 덕안대군)
      • Granddaughter – Princess Gyeongsin (경신공주; ? – 29 April 1426)
      • Granddaughter – Princess Gyeongseon (경선공주)
    • Daughter-in-law – Queen Sindeok of the Goksan Kang clan (신덕왕후 강씨; 12 July 1356 – 15 September 1396)
      • Granddaughter – Princess Gyeongsun (경순공주; ? – 8 September 1407)
      • Grandson – Yi Bang-beon, Grand Prince Muan (이방번 무안대군; 1381 – 6 October 1398)
      • Grandson – Yi Bang-seok, Grand Prince Uian (이방석 의안대군; 1382 – 6 October 1398)
  • Daughter – Princess Jeonghwa (정화공주)
    • Son-in-law – Jo In-byeok (조인벽; 趙仁璧; 1328–1393)
      • Step-Grandson – Jo On (조온; 趙溫; 1347–1417)
        • Step granddaughter-in-law – Grand Lady Jang of Byeonhan State (변한국대부인 장씨; 卞韓國大夫人 張氏)
        • Step granddaughter-in-law – Grand Lady Park of Byeonhan State (변한국대부인 박씨; 卞韓國大夫人 朴氏)
      • Grandson – Jo Yeon (조연; 趙涓; 1374–1429)
        • Granddaughter-in-law – Grand Lady Kim of Byeonhan State (변한국대부인 김씨; 卞韓國大夫人 金氏; 1374–1455)
      • Grandson – Jo Hu (조후; 趙候; 1377–1444)
      • Grandson – Jo Sa (조사; 趙師; ?–1432)
      • Grandson – Jo Jeon (조전; 趙傳)
      • Grandson – Jo Bo (조보; 趙保)
      • Grandson – Jo Baek (조백; 趙伯)
      • Granddaughter – Lady Jo of the Hanyang Jo clan (한양 조씨; 漢陽 趙氏)
        • Grandson-in-law – Hwang Gil-won (황길원; 黃吉源)
      • Granddaughter – Lady Jo of the Hanyang Jo clan (한양 조씨; 漢陽 趙氏)
        • Grandson-in-law – Im Maeng-yang (임맹양; 林孟陽)

References[edit]