KOREA3

KOREA

Choson

The Yi Dynasty

GENEALOGY

continued from the previous page.

1418 - 1445 Great King [Wun-jung] Se-jong [Chang-hon T'ae-wang], King of Korea. b. at T'ongin-dong, 15^th May 1397, as Yi To, third son of Great King T'ae-jong [Jong-an-gun], by his first wife, Queen Min Wang-yung Shin-duk, educ. privately. Granted the title of Prince Ch'ungnyong (Ch'ungnyong-gun) February 1408, promoted to Grand Prince (T'ae-gun) May 1413, and appointed Crown Prince by his father, 1418. Succeeded on the abdication of his father, 7^th September 1418. Enthroned at the Kunjong-jon, Kyongbok Palace, Seoul. Abdicated in favour of his elder son 1445. He was one of the greatest rulers in Korean history, responsible for inventing the han'gul alphabet, reforming the administration and establishing the Confucian social system on a new footing. m. (first) February 1408, Queen Shim [So-hon Wang-hu] (b. 20^th October 1395; d. 28^th April 1446, bur. Yong-nung, Yoju), the first consort to be raised to the rank of Wang-bi in 1432, daughter of Sim On, sometime Prime Minister and a nobleman from Yangju. m. (second) Lady Kim, the Shin-bin (b. 12^th July 1406; d. 4^th September 1465, bur. Shinbin-myo, near Suwon). m. (third) Lady Yang, the Hye-bin, wet-nurse to King Tan-jong. m. (fourth) Lady Kang. m. (fifth) Lady Song, who had issue, one daughter. m. (sixth) Lady Yi. He d. at Ch'angduk Palace, Seoul 18^th April 1450 (bur. Yong-nung, Yoju), having had issue, eighteen sons and four daughters including:

1) Prince (Won-ja) Yi Hyang, Grand Prince Hwiji (Hwiji T'ae-gun), who ascended the Peacock Throne as Great King Mun-jong II [Kong-sun], King of Korea (s/o Queen Shim So-hon) - see below.
2) Prince (Wang-ja) Yi Suyang, Grand Prince Suji (Suji T'ae-gun), who ascended the Peacock Throne as Great King Se-jo [Hye-jang], King of Korea (s/o Queen Shim So-hon) - see below.
3) Prince (Wang-ja) Yi Yong, Grand Prince Anp'yong (Anp'yong T'ae-gun). b. 1418 (s/o Queen Shim So-hon). An acknowledged master calligrapher. Forced into exile on Kanghwa Island where he was forced to take poison, 1453. Copyright©Christopher Buyers
4) Grand Prince Imyong (Imyong T'ae-gun). b. 1418 (s/o Queen Shim So-hon). He d. 1469, having had issue:
- a) Prince (Wang-son) Yi …
  - i) Prince Yi …
    - (1) Prince Yi Am. b. 1499. A great-grandson of Grand Prince Imyong. Scholar and painter.
5) Grand Prince Kwangyong (Kwangyong T'ae-gun) (s/o Queen Shim So-hon).
6) Grand Prince Kumsong (Kumsong T'ae-gun). b. 1433 (s/o Queen Shim So-hon). Raised to the title of Prince Hwa-ui (Hwa-ui-gun) 1433, and Exiled and imprisoned at Andong in 1457. He was k. (forced to take poison), 1456.
7) Grand Prince P'yongwon (P'yongwon T'ae-gun) (s/o Queen Shim So-hon).
8) Prince (Wang-ja) Yi -dang, Prince Yong'ung (Yong'ung-gun) (s/o Lady Kim Shin-bin). m. Lady Shin, daughter of Shin Yun-dong, of Pyongsan. He had issue:
- a) Prince Yi In. b. 1465. He d. 1507 (bur. Dobong-gu, Seoul).
9) Prince Hwa-ui (Hwa-ui-gun). b. 1425. Raised to the title of Prince Hwa-ui (Hwa-ui-gun) 1433, demoted for immoral condutc and restored 1441, 1449, 1455, 1457, 1482 and finally restored in 1518.
1) Princess Chong-so (Chong-so Kong-ju) (d/o Queen Shim So-hon) (bur. So-sam-nung, Koyang).
2) Princess Chong-ui (Chong-ui Wang-nyo) (d/o Queen Shim So-hon). m. 1428, An Maeng-dam, Lord of Jeoja-do (b. 1415; d. 1462, bur. Banghak-dong, Dobong-gu), son of An Mang-ji, Governor of Hamgildo. She d. 1477 (bur. Banghak-dong, Dobong-gu).
3) Princess Chong-…(Wang-nyo) (d/o Lady Song).
4) Princess Chong-…(Wang-nyo) (d/o Lady Yi).

1445 - 1452 Great King Mun-jong II [Kong-sun T'ae-wang], King of Korea. b. 24^th January 1414, as Yi Hyang, eldest son of Great King Se-jong [chang-hon], by his first wife, Queen Shim So-hon, educ. at the Syong Kyun Kwon. Appointed Crown Prince with the title of Grand Prince Hwiji (Hwiji T'ae-gun), 1421. Appointed as Prince Regent by his father, 1443. Succeeded on the abdication of his father, 1445. m. (first) (div.) Queen Kim, raised to the title of Crown Princess as Wang-se-ja-bin, and to that of Queen as Wang-bi 1445, exiled after her divorce from the King. m. (second) (div.) Queen Pong, exiled after her divorce from the King. m. (third) Queen Kwon [Hyön-dök Wang-hu] (b. 26^th April 1418; d. in childbirth, at Seoul, 19^th August 1441, bur. Hyon-nung, Yangju), posthumously raised to the rank and title of Queen as , daughter of a Prime Minister. m. (fourth) Lady Yang. He d. at the Kyongbok Palace, Seoul, 11^th June 1452 (bur. Hyon-nung, Yangju), having had issue, son and two daughters:

1) Prince (Won-ja) Yi Hong-wi, who ascended the Peacock Throne as Great King Tan-jong [Kong-ui], King of Korea (s/o Queen Kwon Hyön-dök) - see below.
1) Princess Kyong-hae (Kyong-hae Kong-ju). b. before 1440 (d/o Queen Kwon Hyön-dök). m. Lord Chung-chong (beheaded at Kwagju on the orders of King Se-jo, 1457). She d. from shock after the death of her husband, ca. 1457, having had issue, an only son:
- a) Chong Mi-su. Chief Magistrate of the State Tribunal, Fourth State Counsellor, Merit Subject 3^rd class.
2) Princess (Wang-nyo) (d/o Lady Yang).

1452 - 1456 Great King Tan-jong [Kong-ui T'ae-wang], King of Korea. b. 18^th August 1441, as Yi Hong-wi, only son of Great King Mun-jong II [Kong-sun], by his third wife, Queen Kwon Hyön-dök, educ. privately. Appointed as Succeeded on the death of his father, 11^th June 1452. Enthroned at the Kunjong-jon, Kyongbok Palace, Seoul. Reigned under a Council of Regency. Deposed by his uncle and granted the title of T'ae Syang Wang (Great High King) 1455. Reduced to the status of a commoner and banished with his wet-nurse to Yongwol in 1456. Demoted to the rank of Prince of Mount No (Nosan-gun), after enjoying the title of "ex-King" for a short time. Forced to live in a secluded cottage, deep within a pine forest. Later forced to commit suicide by taking poison. m. 1453, Queen Song [Chong-sun Wang-hu] (b. 1440; d.s.p. 17^th July 1521), raised to the rank of Queen as Chong-sun Wang-hu 1454, demoted to Pu-in 1457, and became a nun after the death of her husband, daughter of Song Hyun-su. He d.s.p. (strangled to death) at Yongwol, 19^th November 1457 (bur. there at the Chang-nung).

1456 - 1468 Great King Se-jo [Hye-jang T'ae-wang], King of Korea. b. 16^th November 1417, as Yi Suyang, second son of Great King Se-jong [chang-hon], by his first wife, Queen Shim So-hon, educ. at the Syong Kyun Kwon. Raised to the title of Grand Prince Suji (Suji T'ae-gun), in his youth. Rebelled against his nephew, seized and killed the regents, 1453. Chief State Counsellor and Minister for War and Personnel 1453. Crown Prince-elect by his grandfather, 1448 and became Crown Prince (Wang-se-ja) on the accession of his brother 1452. Assumed ruling powers, 1455. Assumed sovereignty and ascended the Phoenix throne after deposing and exiling his nephew, 1456. Enthroned at the Kunjong-jon, Kyongbok Palace, Seoul. m. 1428, Queen Yun [Jong-hi Wang-hu](b. 17^th December 1418; d. 15^th May 1483, bur. Kwang-nung, Yangju), styled Great Dowager Queen (Chaui T'ae-bi) after 1468, Regent from 1st October 1468 until her death, daughter of the Prime Minister. He d. at the Kyongbok Palace, Seoul, 1^st October 1468 (bur. Kwang-nung, Yangju), having had issue, two sons and one daughter by his Queen and two sons by a concubine:

1) Prince (Won-ja) Yi Chang, Grand Prince Hoi-kan (Hoi-kan T'ae-gun) [Wun-myong Tok-jong Ui-gyong T'ae-wang]. b. 12^th October 1438 (s/o Queen Jong-hi). Appointed as Heir Apparent and invested as Crown Prince, 1453. Posthumously raised to the rank of King with the title of Wun-myong Tok-jong Ui-gyong T'ae-wang in 1475. m. Queen Han [So-hui Wang-hu] (b. 16^th October 1437; d. at Kyongch'un-jon, Ch'anggyong-won, Seoul, 21^st May 1504, bur. Kyong-nung, Koyang), raised to the title of Great Dowager Queen (Chaui T'ae-bi) in 1475, and the posthumous title of So-hui Wang-hu, daughter of a Junior Minister of State. He d. 29^th September 1457 (bur. Kyong-nung, Koyang), having had issue, two sons and one daughter:
- a) Grand Prince Wol-san (Wol-san T'ae-gun). b. 1454 (s/o Queen Sohni). Twice passed over as king. m. (first) … m. (second) Pak Sun-jun (committed suicide when Yon-san took her as his wife, ca. 1506), elder sister of Pak Won-jon. He d. at Kyongwun Palace, Seoul, 1488.
- b) Prince Chaul-san (Chaul-san-gun), who ascended the Peacock Throne as Great King Song-jong II [Kang-jung], King of Korea (s/o Queen Sohni) - see below.
- a) Princess Myong-suk (Myong-suk Kong-ju) (d/o Queen Han Sohni).
2) Prince (Wang-ja) Yi Kwang, Grand Prince Ha-yang (Ha-yang T'ae-gun), who ascended the Peacock Throne as [Myong-jo] Ye-jong II [Yang-do], King of Korea (s/o Queen Yun Jong-hi) - see below.
1) Princess Ui-suk (Ui-suk Kong-ju) (d/o Queen Yun Jong-hi). m. a grandson of General Kim Chong-suh. She had issue, two sons.

1468 - 1469 Great King [Myong-jo] Ye-jong II [Yang-do T'ae-wang], King of Korea. b. 23^rd January 1450, as Yi Kwang, second son of Great King Se-jo [Hye-jang], by his wife, Queen Yun Jong-hi, educ. privately. Styled Grand Prince Ha-yang (Ha-yang T'ae-gun), before his accession. Succeeded on the death of his father, 1^st October 1468. m. (first) Queen Han [Ch'ang-sun Wang-hu] (b. 3^rd March 1445; d. 14^th January 1462, bur. Kong-nung, P'aju) posthumously raised to the rank of Queen with the title of Ch'ang-sun Wang-hu, elder daughter of Han Myong-hoe, a Prime Merit Subject. m. (second) 1462, Queen Han [Ansun Wang-hu] (d. 12^th February 1499, bur. Ch'ang-nung, Koyong). He d. at the Kyongbok Palace, Seoul, 9^th January 1470 (bur. Kong-nung, P'aju), having had issue, two sons and one daughter:

1) Grand Prince In-song (In-song T'ae-gun) (s/o Queen Han Ch'ang-sun).
2) Prince (Wang-ja) Yi …(s/o Queen Han An-sun).
1) Princess Hyon-suk (Hyon-suk Kong-ju) (d/o Queen Han An-sun). m. before 1477, Prince Consort Im Kwang-jae, son of Im Sa-hong, sometime First Royal Secretary, by his wife, a daughter of Prince Posong.

1469 - 1495 Great King Song-jong II [Kang-jung T'ae-wang], King of Korea. b. 28^th August 1457, second son of King Tok-jong, by his wife, Queen Han So-hui, educ. privately. Raised to the title of Prince Chaul-san (Chaul-san-gun), before his accession. Succeeded on the death of his uncle, 9th January 1469. Enthroned at the Kunjong-jon, Kyongbok Palace, Seoul. Reigned under the Regency of his grand mother, the Great Queen Dowager Yun Jong-hi, until he came of age and assumed full ruling powers. m. (first) Queen Han [Kong-hui Wang-hu] (b. 17^th November 1456; d.s.p. 9^th May 1474, bur. Sun-nung, P'aju), sister of Queen Han Chang-sun, wife of King Yi Ye-jong, and younger daughter of Han Myong-hoe, a Prime Merit Subject. m. (second) 1474, Queen Yun [Pop-yong Wang-hu] (d. when forced to take poison, 1483, bur. Hoe-myo, So-sam-nung, Kyongjo), banished from court due to her temper 1480, but posthumously raised to the rank of Queen with the title of Pop-yong Wang-hu, daughter of Yun Ho. m. (third) Queen Yun [Chong-hyon Wang-hu] (b. 31^st July 1462; d. by taking poison, 23^rd September 1530, bur. Son-nung, Kwangju), daughter of Yun Ho, reduced to the status of a commoner and banished from the Palace. m. (fourth) Lady Hong, the Suk-bin. m. (fifth) Lady Kim I. m. (sixth) Lady Kim II. m. (seventh) Lady Chung (beaten to death on the orders of Prince Yon-san, 1504). m. (eigth) Lady Kwon I. m. (ninth) Lady Kwon II. m. (tenth) Lady Ha. m. (eleventh) Lady Um (beaten to death on the orders of Yon-san-gun, 1504). He d. at the T'ae-jo-jon, Ch'angdok, Palace, Seoul, 29^th January 1495 (bur. Song-jong-nung, Kwangju), having had issue, sixteen sons and eleven daughters.

1) Prince (Won-ja) Yi Yung, Grand Prince Yon-san (Yon-san T'ae-gun), who ascended the Peacock Throne as Great King Yon-san [Yon-sanju], King of Korea (s/o Queen Yun Pop-yong) - see below.
2) Prince (Wang-ja) Yi Yok, Grand Prince Chin-sung (Chin-sung T'ae-gun), who ascended the Peacock Throne as Great King [Lakch'on] Chung-jong [Kong-hui], King of Korea (s/o Queen …) - see below.
3) Prince An-yang (An-yang-gun) (s/o Lady Chung). Banished by King Yon-san-ju 1504.
4) Prince Wan-won (Wan-won-gun) (s/o Lady Hong).
5) Prince (Wang-ja) Yi …(s/o Lady Hong).
7) Prince Chin-song (Chin-song-gun) (s/o Lady Hong).
8) Prince (Wang-ja) Yi Kyang (s/o Lady Hong). He had issue:
- a) Prince (Wang-son) Yi …
  - i) Prince Yi …
    - (1) Yi Kyong-yun, Hangnim-jong. b. 1545. Raised to the ranks of Hangnim-su (senior fourth rank), and later prom. to Hangnim-jong (senior third rank). He d. 1611, having had issue:
      - (a) Yi Ch'uk. b. 1566. A noted calligrapher. He d. 1637.
      - (b) Yi Ching. b. 1581 (s/o a concubine). Court painter. He d. after 1645.
      - (c) Yi Wi-guk. b. 1597. A noted calligrapher.
    - (2) Yi Yong-yun, Chungnim-su. b. 1561. A well-known landscape painter.
10) Prince (Wang-ja) Yi …(s/o Lady Sim).
11) Prince (Wang-ja) Yi …(s/o Lady Sim).
12) Prince (Wang-ja) Yi …(s/o Lady Kim).
13) Prince (Wang-ja) Yi …(s/o Lady Hong).
14) Prince Yong-san (Yong-san-gun) (s/o Lady Shin, the Suk-yong).
15) Prince Pong-an (Pong-an-gun) (s/o Lady Chung). Banished by King Yon-san-ju 1504.
16) Prince Yun-im (Yun-im-gun) (s/o Lady Kwoh or Lady Ha?).
17) Prince (Wang-ja) Yi …(s/o Lady Ha or Lady Kwoh?).
1) Princess …(Wang-nyo) (d/o Lady Hong).
2) Princess …(Wang-nyo) (d/o Lady Hong).
3) Princess …(Wang-nyo) (d/o Lady Hong).
4) Princess …(Wang-nyo) (d/o Lady Sim).
5) Princess …(Wang-nyo) (d/o Lady Sim).
6) Princess …(Wang-nyo) (d/o Lady Kim II).
7) Princess …(Wang-nyo) (d/o Lady Kim II).
8) Princess …(Wang-nyo) (d/o Lady Kim II).
9) Princess …(Ong-ju) (d/o Lady Jong). Banished 1504. m. …
10) Princess …(Wang-nyo) (d/o Lady Kwon II).
11) Princess …(Ong-ju) (d/o Lady Om). Banished 1504. m. Im Sung-jae (k. 1506), son of Im Sa-hong, sometime Third Royal Secretary, by his wife, a granddaughter of Prince Yi Po, Grand Prince Hyonyong.

continued on the next page.

KOREA 1	KOREA 2	KOREA 4	KOREA 5
KOREA 6	KOREA 7	KOREA 8	KOREA 9
TITLES	ORDERS & DECORATIONS		GLOSSARY

I would be grateful to hear from anyone who may have changes, corrections or additions to contribute. If you do, please be kind enough to send me an e-mail using the contact details at:

CONTACT