Jang Hui-bin
Encyclopedia
Lady Jang Hui-bin is one of the best known royal concubines of the Joseon Dynasty
.
: 장형, Hanja
: 張炯) and Lady Yun of the Papyeong Yun clan, her personal name was Jang Ok-jeong (Hangul
: 장옥정, Hanja
: 張玉貞).
Ok-jeong became a lady-in-waiting
to Queen Dowager Jangnyeol (King Injo's second queen) at the recommendation of Prince Dongpyeong (King Sukjong's first cousin once removed). In 1686, after a visit with his step-great-grandmother (Queen Dowager Jangryeol), King Sukjong
saw her and made her his concubine with the title of suk-won. In 1688, she was elevatedto so-ui, and in 1688 was elevated to the rank of hui-bin after giving birth to a son (the future King Gyeongjong
). She possibly had a second son, Prince Seongsu, but his identity is disputed. When Queen Inhyeon was deposed & forced into exile in May 1688, Jang hui-bin became Sukjong's third Queen Consort, backed by the Soron faction. Her son was made the Crown Prince.
Later, in 1694, with the reinstatement of Queen Inhyeon
, Jang was demoted back to hui-bin. In 1701, Queen Inhyeon died of an unknown disease. It has been said that Jang hui-bin was discovered by Sukjong in her chambers with her brother Jang Hui-jae and Shamanist priestess praying for Inhyeon's death (while striking a figurine with arrows) and her reinstatement. Jang hui-bin, her brother, and anyone involved was arrested and sentenced to death by poisoning, which was carried out on 10 October 1701. She was 42 years old.
After this, on the seventh day of the tenth month in the twenty-seventh year of his reign (1701), Sukjong passed a decree prohibiting concubines from being allowed to become Queens Consort in the future. Jang hui-bin left many folk stories behind including her greed over power, and a story involving right before her death with her son (then the Crown Prince (future King Gyeongjong
)).
Nevertheless, as the mother of the Crown Prince
, she was given the posthumous title "Lady Oksan, Great Concubine of the Palace; Prefectural Great Concubine of the Indong Jang clan" (대빈궁옥산부대빈장씨 大嬪宮玉山府大嬪張氏).
Joseon Dynasty
Joseon , was a Korean state founded by Taejo Yi Seong-gye that lasted for approximately five centuries. It was founded in the aftermath of the overthrow of the Goryeo at what is today the city of Kaesong. Early on, Korea was retitled and the capital was relocated to modern-day Seoul...
.
Biography
She was the daughter of Jang Hyeong (HangulHangul
Hangul,Pronounced or ; Korean: 한글 Hangeul/Han'gŭl or 조선글 Chosŏn'gŭl/Joseongeul the Korean alphabet, is the native alphabet of the Korean language. It is a separate script from Hanja, the logographic Chinese characters which are also sometimes used to write Korean...
: 장형, Hanja
Hanja
Hanja is the Korean name for the Chinese characters hanzi. More specifically, it refers to those Chinese characters borrowed from Chinese and incorporated into the Korean language with Korean pronunciation...
: 張炯) and Lady Yun of the Papyeong Yun clan, her personal name was Jang Ok-jeong (Hangul
Hangul
Hangul,Pronounced or ; Korean: 한글 Hangeul/Han'gŭl or 조선글 Chosŏn'gŭl/Joseongeul the Korean alphabet, is the native alphabet of the Korean language. It is a separate script from Hanja, the logographic Chinese characters which are also sometimes used to write Korean...
: 장옥정, Hanja
Hanja
Hanja is the Korean name for the Chinese characters hanzi. More specifically, it refers to those Chinese characters borrowed from Chinese and incorporated into the Korean language with Korean pronunciation...
: 張玉貞).
Ok-jeong became a lady-in-waiting
Gungnyeo
Gungnyeo is a Korean term referring to women waiting on the king and other royalty in traditional Korean society. It is short for "gungjung yeogwan", which translates as "a lady officer of the royal court". Gungnyeo includes sanggung and nain , both of which hold rank as officers...
to Queen Dowager Jangnyeol (King Injo's second queen) at the recommendation of Prince Dongpyeong (King Sukjong's first cousin once removed). In 1686, after a visit with his step-great-grandmother (Queen Dowager Jangryeol), King Sukjong
Sukjong of Joseon
Sukjong was the 19th king of the Joseon Dynasty of Korea from 1674 to 1720.- Biography :King Sukjong was born on 15 August 1661 to King Hyeonjong and Queen Myeongseong at Changdeok Palace. His given name was Yi Sun...
saw her and made her his concubine with the title of suk-won. In 1688, she was elevatedto so-ui, and in 1688 was elevated to the rank of hui-bin after giving birth to a son (the future King Gyeongjong
Gyeongjong of Joseon
Gyeongjong was the 20th king of the Joseon Dynasty of Korea. He was the son of Sukjong by Jang Hui-bin.In 1690, Gyeongjong's designation as heir to the throne precipitated a struggle between the Noron and the Soron faction, which supported Gyeongjong of Joseon...
). She possibly had a second son, Prince Seongsu, but his identity is disputed. When Queen Inhyeon was deposed & forced into exile in May 1688, Jang hui-bin became Sukjong's third Queen Consort, backed by the Soron faction. Her son was made the Crown Prince.
Later, in 1694, with the reinstatement of Queen Inhyeon
Queen Inhyeon
Queen Inhyeon was the second Queen consort of King Sukjong of Joseon and one of the best known Queens of the Joseon Dynasty...
, Jang was demoted back to hui-bin. In 1701, Queen Inhyeon died of an unknown disease. It has been said that Jang hui-bin was discovered by Sukjong in her chambers with her brother Jang Hui-jae and Shamanist priestess praying for Inhyeon's death (while striking a figurine with arrows) and her reinstatement. Jang hui-bin, her brother, and anyone involved was arrested and sentenced to death by poisoning, which was carried out on 10 October 1701. She was 42 years old.
After this, on the seventh day of the tenth month in the twenty-seventh year of his reign (1701), Sukjong passed a decree prohibiting concubines from being allowed to become Queens Consort in the future. Jang hui-bin left many folk stories behind including her greed over power, and a story involving right before her death with her son (then the Crown Prince (future King Gyeongjong
Gyeongjong of Joseon
Gyeongjong was the 20th king of the Joseon Dynasty of Korea. He was the son of Sukjong by Jang Hui-bin.In 1690, Gyeongjong's designation as heir to the throne precipitated a struggle between the Noron and the Soron faction, which supported Gyeongjong of Joseon...
)).
Nevertheless, as the mother of the Crown Prince
Gyeongjong of Joseon
Gyeongjong was the 20th king of the Joseon Dynasty of Korea. He was the son of Sukjong by Jang Hui-bin.In 1690, Gyeongjong's designation as heir to the throne precipitated a struggle between the Noron and the Soron faction, which supported Gyeongjong of Joseon...
, she was given the posthumous title "Lady Oksan, Great Concubine of the Palace; Prefectural Great Concubine of the Indong Jang clan" (대빈궁옥산부대빈장씨 大嬪宮玉山府大嬪張氏).