Hong Bong-han himself incurred Jeongjos hate when he admitted that he was close with his step-brother. His son Sunjo too would continue to honour Uibin himself, knowing that she was a precious person to his father. Be it the mighty or crawling courtiers, their lives could end with one word from him. Jeongjo probably wanted people to find what he wrote detailing Uibins life, and that might be his way of showing his undying and eternal love for his wife. When Seongjong's first Queen died after five years of marriage and left him without an heir, he married Yoon and made her his second Queen. He was the only King of Joseon who documented his personal love story and used the word 'LOVE' ( sarang) in his letters. In order to make the happy occasion memorable, taxes were reduced so that the citizens could also be happy and celebrated the new Crown Prince.. He was preceded by his grandfather King Yeongjo (r. 1724-1776) and succeeded by his son King Sunjo (r. 1800-1834). He never had someone to rule in his stead throughout his reign, yet he was enthusiastic to achieve so many things in his lifetime. She was also the only concubine who had a king personally write down his love story for her and confess his undying affection for her.. Uibin Seong passed away on September 14th, 1786 (lunar calendar). It was used by the Royal Infirmary (Naeuiwon) at one time. The person who suggested it was Kim Jong-su, the minister who was given the power but not Jeongjos trust. When Jeongjo finally welcomed another son, Sunjo in 1790, he even told Uibin about that through his writings. 4 ~ 1917) . I cant even find the exact Korean text of The Diary of Lady Sukchang, only a post on the research conducted on the said novel in Korean. This might be different from the assumption that Uibins family did not receive decent treatment, but it could be that Uibin kept refusing Jeongjos offer and he still wanted to do something for her family, hence the promotions offered to her slightly distant relatives. I found an article that mentioned how the sales of books related to Jeongjo and Uibin Story increased after the end of the Red Sleeve Cuff, but I couldnt find those books available in English. After her death, he married Lady Im, the daughter of Im Jong-ju (, ), a minor government official. There was a jujube tree planted beside Jonhyeongak by Injos father, Prince Jeongwon (posthumously honoured as Wonjong). In order to maintain his influence inside the court, Hong Guk-young even stopped the treatment for Queen Hyouis infertility issues so that he could send in his own younger sister as Jeongjos concubine with the purpose of producing an heir. The death rate of children was high in Joseon, contributing to the low average age of people in Joseon. Selected concubines would be chosen among the harmless illustrious family. Many of the books are readily available in Korean, but not so much in English. The ceremony was a way to elevate Munhyos status, as well as strengthening the royal authority. After Lady Hyegyeong and her children were called back by Yeongjo to return to the palace in the same year, she would later send Jeongjo to live beside Yeongjo and her daughters, Princesses Cheongyeon and Cheongyeon later got married. After invasions from Manchuria, Joseon experienced a nearly 200-year period of peace. King Sukjong and his son King Yeongjo tried to solve the problems resulting from faction politics. Jeongjo himself composed a eulogy for her. Losing Uibin also meant losing a place for him to lean on inside the palace. He already looked so old when he was still in his late 30s, growing white hairs. In the series, Yi San was also almost turning 50 years old when he died in his sleep. Being the object of scrutiny and feeling the immense pressure of having Sado as his father, bearing him the title of the criminals son. Other Royal Protocols produced by Jeongjo for Munhyo were: Jeongjos second son (later Sunjo) was born after that in 1790, but his investiture ceremony was held when he was already 11, unlike the usual practice of investing a Crown Prince at the age of 8 or 9. Maybe everyone involved just decided to let the matter go, from how they were said to be living in peace with each other. During his 52-year reign, Yeongjo accomplished a number of important reforms in various fields including political organization, culture, and industry. I dont really like the eunuchs or concubines by nature; even when I dont distance myself from them, I naturally grow distant from them. Maybe this was also how she became a reason for Lady Hyegyeong to cheer herself up during her difficult days before; a younger Uibin would be playing around with the other court maids and spent time with the princesses transcribing novels. She was the daughter of Seong Yunu and Lady Im. It was probably both a huge blessing and proof of the favour she received for Uibin to be pregnant right after she was graced by the king. Eulogy: A eulogy is a speech or piece of writing to praise or honor someone, typically a . While it doesn't appear on his tombstone, it is a fitting self-tribute. It was painful for both Uibin and Jeongjo to lose their daughter. As for Sukjong, who was able to take in Lady Jang Huibin as his concubine despite her belonging to his superior was due to the approval by the superior herself, Queen Jangryeol (also known as Queen Dowager Jaui, Injos second consort and the main figure of the Yesong Dispute) due to Huibins family background as a Southerner. Ia membuat beberapa upaya untuk mereformasi dan meningkatkan negara Joseon. Born on August 6, 1753, she was one of eight children. Lady Hyegyeong then took the young Lady Seong under her wings and Lady Seong started to serve her. Questions? It was said that Lady Seong was the only woman he loved amongst his wives. Jeongjo was also displeased upon learning that Lady Hyegyeongs younger brother Hong Nagim was close friends with Jeong Hu-gyeom. Even if he could not personally visit them, Jeongjo would personally write the words he wanted to convey and ordered his official to visit on his stead. The name was derived from the character yeon for banquet and conversation in leisure and hwa for harmony. Even when Uibin gave birth to Crown Prince Munhyo in 1782, the Delivery Office set up for Hwabins supposed delivery the year before was still established (normally, the Delivery Office was a temporary organ and would be dissolved about a week after the birth of a royal baby) and the Delivery Office for Hwabin was in operation for 30 months.. From this, it could be implied that Uibin received Jeongjos grace after the 4th or 5th month in 1780. There were even discussions about the Delivery Office later but Jeongjo forbade further discussion, probably to protect Uibins humble background. Upholding simplicity is not about saving your wealth in a box; its about being frugal with your luck.. In 1795 when she turned 60 and long after her husband died, she wrote . L'epitaffio la scritta su una lapide in ricordo del suo "proprietario". Without the kings intention of raising her status, a favoured concubine would not have any guarantee for her rank in the system. Their family was quite poor, and at the time of Lady Seong's birth, her father worked as a steward for Hong Bong-han, the maternal grandfather of King Jeongjo. But then, it was a totally different case for court maids, who had to go through the special coming-of-age ceremony only for court maids after 15 years of their entrance to the palace. No, I dont think there is any record of any Chinese emperors doing the same. Looking at various records, there was no mention of Jeongjo showing interest in or bestowed his grace upon any court maid. Munhyo was considered a royalty, while Uibin was of the Sr. 1 rank, lower than him. He was preceded by his grandfather King Yeongjo (r. 1724-1776) and succeeded by his son King Sunjo (r. 1800-1834). When Uibin was still alive, Jeongjo was thinking of having only her as the mother to his children. However, Lady Hyegyeongs natal family lived in solitude away from any attention. It was actually taboo for one to covet something or someone belonging to his superior since it was considered unfilial, and this was the reason for Yeongjos anger; Sado was obsessed with Bing-ae, a court maid who served Sados legal grandmother, Queen Inwon. The horrific execution of his father left Lee San nothing but struggles for his succession to the throne. Uibins Delivery Office (hosancheong) was lower than that of Hwabin (sansilcheong), but hers was actually planned one month from her expected delivery date. Lady Yoon Hwabin was the second selected concubine, entering the palace in 1780. Jeongjo was always reserved and did not even approach any woman before, and unlike other kings, he did not even take in any favoured concubine of his own. Even if there is any books written by Korean Studies scholars in English, they are mostly focused on Jeongjo and his reign, including his kingship and various policies during his tenure as the King of Joseon. To lose his loved ones in the same year. Sung Deok-Im (Lee Seyoung) is a court lady. Originally, she was buried about 100 steps from her son, Crown Prince Munhyo. Yungneung () is the joint tomb of King Jangjo (1735-1762) and Queen Heongyeong (1735-1815). This took place few days after Munhyos birth. Of course, it was only natural for a king to prefer someone he personally chose instead of the selected concubines, who might appear as his duties to marry. King Jeongjo (28 October 1752 - 18 August 1800) was the 22nd ruler of the Joseon Dynasty of Korea (r. 1776-1800). It was said that Lady Seong was the only woman he loved amongst his wives. Daughter of Yu Chang-yeon (, ) and the niece of Yu Gye-jo (, ). [1] He later became a military officer, but resigned in 1761, due to embezzlement accusations. The myo-type of tombs were for other royal relatives, as well as concubines. They were not official but rather him pouring out his heart, words one couldnt help but tear up reading them: I used to smile while looking at you, but now there is only silence inside the palace. Why are you there, buried in a place where there is no one around? Her residence Yeonhwadang Hall was the second highest in status (the name dang was below kings residence jeon in status) and she actually began living there from her days as special favoured court lady. But the trace was found in the Diary of the Royal Secretariat. Its easier to read in vernacular Chinese but I only found a few thoughtful social media posts about the historical Jeongjo/Uibin. There was a letter written by a young Jeongjo addressed to his maternal aunt, asking her to give his socks to his cousin since they were too small for him. 1 63 116 Gia @aesolstice Nov 21, 2021 No one can imagine the pain King Jeongjo have to bear that year. ), He interrogated his maternal uncle Hong Nagim himself under the suspicion of conspiring with Jeong Hu-gyeom. So, it wasnt that Jeongjo liked her because she was young or that he had any unnecessary ambition, but it was because of strong love which made him unable to forget Uibin despite the rejection. The special treatment for Uibin did not end there. Do you know where it is written that she went away after the birth to recover her health? There were talks about toxemia being the cause, but there were also views that she was mentally shocked with the death of her children. Late Joseon Period. 60 years later, the same tree bloomed during Jeongjos reign in 1782, and Crown Prince Munhyo was born in the same year. It was impossible for a Crown Prince and a royal concubine to be interred in the same area, but Jeongjo built Munhyo and Uibins tombs next to each other. Hence, one could not help but to wonder if his promotion was indeed thanks to Uibins influence. He used to play there and was close with his cousin Hong Su-young, the son of Lady Hyegyeongs eldest brother Hong Nagin. Moreover, he aged faster and his hair turned white at the end of his 30s. One of Jeongjos life goals was to honour his father Sado, and the honouring of Lady Yi Yeongbin (Sados birth mother was also a much-needed task at hand. King Jeongjo the Great (1752 -1800) was a benevolent reformer who provided employment to 700,000 common people with good wages and excellent benefits while building his prized project, the Suwon . From the letters he exchanged with his trusted subjects in his later years, it seemed that Jeongjo only switched between working and studying all the time, even forgetting to sleep every day. The prince was Seong Eui-bin (Seong Deok-im) 's son and was later called Prince Munhyo. The previous kings even had children during the time they were unwell, but it was a peculiar thing for Jeongjo. In order not to bring over any issue regarding the heir, he did not even lay a hand on other women after Uibin became his concubine. It cant be helped that people tend to view the history using their modern lens, when the condition and situation back then were so different as compared to us now. Kim Jong-su was also the same person who wrote the appeal to impeach Hong Guk-young per Jeongjos request. She married Yi San, then known as the Crown Prince's son, in 1762 at the age . His birth mother Lady Seong was later bestowed with the rank Bin with the title Ui, hence to be referred to as Uibin. In 1927, in the records of Japanese government figures prepared by the Inspection Bureau of the Gyeongseong . But then, in history, Sados outrageous relationship with the court maids during his days as the Crown Prince was the reason for Yeongjos wrath. Unfortunately, their bliss did not last forever. In Jeongjos first year as the king (1776), He ordered for Princess Hwawan to kill herself, He sent Jeong Hu-gyeom into exile before sentencing him to death by poisoning, He also did the same thing with Hong In-han (these people were not punished under the account of treason but for being a hindrance to Jeongjos ascension to the throne. Please come back to the palace. Even after the 3-year mourning period ended, he continued to do so. Hyeonjong soon welcomed the birth of his son, who would later become Sukjong. An epitaph has three parts. Change). She was the daughter of Kim Si-muk ( Hangul: , Hanja: ) and his wife Lady Hong of the Namyang Hong clan ( Hangul: , Hanja: ). McCune-Reischauer. After his sisters passing, Hong Guk-young tried to make the son of Jeongjos half-brother Prince Euneon, Prince Sanggye, as his sisters adopted child. Except for his devoted filial piety towards his parents, there was no mention of his emotions in his official records (Veritable Records and Diary of the Royal Secretariat). When Queen Jeongsun carried out her Dowager Regency during Sunjos early reign, Subins family members were promoted in the court, and Subin was respected like a Dowager herself. The name would be mentioned so many times in the records over the years since Jeongjo would meet the officials there too, and the last mention of Junghuidang was few days before his death. She also lost her father around that time, while her brothers held office as a petty military officer. This was the only Royal Protocols detailing the investiture ceremony for a Crown Prince in Joseon Dynasty. Yi San, who was then King Jeongjo, then passed away in the year 1800 at the age of 47. Jeongjo made Munhyo his official heir right after the princess death, unlike the declaration of the Prince Royal title; at the time of Munhyos birth, Jeongjo was also dealing with the issue of Hwabins Delivery Office, so the declaration was pushed to two months later. From her point of view, she was still in the same conflicting position as the first proposal. King Jeongjo wrote her an epitaph, where he described his grief and declared his love for her. But then, other than Jeongjo, there was no record of kings who made use of this building. Hong Guk-young was an intelligent man with handsome features, coupled with his gift of eloquence and his quick wits, which earned him the adoration of Yeongjo himself. The birth mother of the Prince Royal (Crown Prince Munhyo) was Lady Seong soyong. Of course, a new building construction could be a necessity, but it was also a way for the king to express his love. However, the name was preserved and the annual rituals continued to be held. The proof of Jeongjos love for Munhyo was evident in the way he constructed a new building just for him. The person he wished to spend his life with was now beside him, and the birth of his son solved the issue of heir plaguing his court. But then, they probably had the grounds to do so, considering that the king was almost a middle-aged man but still without any heir yet and it was a pressing matter deserving of the worries of the court. Unlike ordinary noble ladies, she seemed to be happily running around at the same time growing up to be a lady with clear thoughts. Yi San. Even Princess Sukseon, Sunjos younger sister and Lady Park Subins daughter, did not get her title until Jeongjos death, although she was already 7 at that time. Jeongjo weathered so many happenings in between the first proposal and his enthronement at the age of 25, while Uibin continued to serve as a court maid and even transcribed a novel with Jeongjos sisters, Princesses Cheongyeon and Cheongseon. From what he wrote, it seems that he proposed to her personally rather than using a messenger. Behold, the raw and unedited translation of mine; not proofread, just pure tears. If it was indeed true, it was like painstakingly selecting concubines, only for the king to end up with a court maid and even had the much-sought heir through their relationship. His ambition was unrivaled. Jeongjo used to visit the House of Hong family (his maternal grandfather, Hong Bong-han's house) from time to time and spent a few days during each visit there in his early years. Both of them were chosen through official selection and had a royal wedding ceremony. In 1762, at the age of ten, she entered the royal palace as a gungnyeo. Lady Hyegyeong also said that her father Hong Bong-han used to be close with the family of Queen Jeongsun before, but the two families became enemies once Queen Jeongsun became Yeongjos consort. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. At that time, Jeongjo was staying in Changdeok Palace. Jeongjo expressed his delight after gaining himself a son in front of his courtiers in several instances. Died in utero as a result of her mother's death during the last month of her pregnancy. 7th day of the 9th month Jeongjo was happy with the birth of Munhyo. This was the case for Crown Prince Sado and Lady Hyegyeong as recorded in her Memoirs. It was not known whether Lady Hyegyeong or her daughters ever knew about Jeongjo and Uibins close relationship at that time. It seems most likely that Uibin gave birth at her residence, which was Yeonhwadang. His sister was made the highest-ranked concubine Bin, which caused a conflict between him and Queen Hyoui. All his concubines before Lady Seong was concubines selected from noble families, with the aim to produce an air for the royal family. The contents of the memoirs were mostly centered around Lady Hyegyeongs natal family Pungsan Hong clan, so it was not so out of ordinary for Uibins name to be rarely mentioned or even left out altogether. (LogOut/ This would later backfire on them; her relative who was also the manager for her Delivery Office was sent into exile, and those who were affiliated with the office were also punished. Winston. (A story of a jujube tree beside Jonhyeongak Hall in Gyeonghui Palace, where Jeongjo spent his years as the nations heir. There was also suspicion of poisoning. On October 13, 1782, Lady Seong gave birth to her first child, Yi Sun (). Director: Jung Ji-In Writer: Kang Mi-Kang (novel), Jung Hae-Ri Network: MBC Episodes: 16 Release Date: November 12 - January 7 Plot: Set in the 18th century, "Red Sleeve" depicts a love story between King Jeongjo and royal concubine Uibin Sung. Well, it was natural if she ever found out at that point, since it would be so out of blue for Jeongjo to suddenly punish a maids servant without any reason..). I couldnt find the book, the other book I couldnt find translated to english is The Diary of Lady Sukchang. The Red Sleeve Cuff tells the real love story of Consort Uibin Song and King Jeongjo. It was not a sudden promotion for him since he already held office prior to Uibin becoming a concubine, but he was also the First State Councillor when Crown Prince Munhyo was officially designated the heir. It was not written where exactly she went to recover after the birth; the only mention of the place she went to recover was only after Munhyos unfortunate death, where she went to Gyeonghui Palace to take a break. The future Royal Consort was born on August 6, 1753, during the 29th year of King Yeongjo's reign, into the Changnyeong Seong. Regardless of that, even if Lady Hyegyeong happened to give her permission, would Uibin still accept it? In 1635, he followed his maternal uncle, Kim Cheon-seok, and in 1636, he learned to write from his maternal grandmother, Mrs. Chogye Jeong . (Yeongjos lifelong complex was about his birth origin, hence he spent his life honouring his birth mother, Lady Choi Sukbin. It was only that one of the people who asked for Lady Hyegyeong to pen the memoirs was no other than Subin, plus the memoirs were written at the zenith of Subins family glory, so it couldnt be helped for Lady Hyegyeong to frequently mention Subin. (Hong Nagim was freed of his charge), He sent Queen Jeongsuns brother Kim Kwi-ju into exile. While Uibin was still alive, Jeongjo did not even have any other woman in his heart. With Nadine Hart, Jaehan Pag. In addition to the epitaph and the written prayers, Jeongjo would write something on the memorial of her death anniversary. When Jeongjo was carrying his Prince Regency term, he visited Sados tomb and he could not hide his distaste over the poor condition of the place. From October 17, 2020 through March 31, 2021, the National Museum of Korea is holding the special exhibition The Story of History through Hangeul to commemorate the 574th anniversary of the proclamation of Hunmin Jeongeum (Correct Sounds for Edifying the People). Although she was known to be generous, she did not dare to distribute the wealth she gained through her rank as a concubine to her family members. I am simply captivated by Jeongjo & Uibins love story. With the exception of those related to Suwon Hwaseong Fortress, every single Uigwe or Royal Protocols produced during Jeongjo were directly or indirectly related to Crown Prince Munhyo. Even Sukjong, who was known to hate his selected concubine Lady Kim Yeongbin, treated her befitting her status as a noble..but that might be politically related as well. This was in the early Joseon Dynasty, so imagine how difficult it was in late Joseon, where rites and rules were the top priority for the kings and the crown princes. Even if it could turn out to be his weakness, he did not even mind about it. Jeongjo mentioned Uibins shrine for almost 300 times in the Diary and more than 100 times in the Diary of Self-Reflection. [11] He was born as the eldest of three sons and five daughters to his mother, Son Seong-nyeo (, 1873. Even when he was so busy with his official duties, Jeongjo would always read books and celebrate finishing a book by requesting meals to be prepared by his mother. King Jeongjo wrote her epitaph. It was a huge issue and even Hong Guk-young himself made use of that to make himself the royal in-laws.