Queen Inhyeon
Encyclopedia
Queen Inhyeon (1667–1701) was the second Queen consort
of King Sukjong of Joseon
and one of the best known Queens
of the Joseon Dynasty
. Her life has been portrayed in many Korean historical dramas.
: 민유중, Hanja
: 閔維重) (1630–1687) and his second wife, Lady Song of the Eunjin Song clan.
She married King Sukjong
as his second Queen Consort in 1681, at the age of 14. When so-ui However, Jang Ok-jeong
produced a son
in 1688, it created a bloody dispute called Gisa literati purges (기사사화). During this time, Sukjong wanted to give this eldest son (entitled the wonja, literally the "First Son") the title of "Crown Prince" and wanted to promote Lady Jang from So-ui to Hui-bin.
This action was opposed by the Noron faction, which supports Queen Inhyeon led by Song Si-yeol
, and this was supported by the Soron faction, which supports Lady Jang. Sukjong became angry at the opposition, and many were killed including Song Si-yeol
. Many, including Inhyeon and her family, were forced into exile. Queen Inhyeon was deposed, while Jang so-ui became Jang hui-bin, and then became the third Queen Consort.
Later in 1694, Sukjong, feeling remorse at his temperamental actions, gave in to a movement for Inhyeon's reinstatement, which was led by the Soron (this event was called the Gapsul Hwanguk (갑술환국)) She was brought back to the palace and was reinstated as Queen Consort, with Lady Jang being demoted to hui-bin.
In 1701, aged 34, she became ill and died of an unknown disease (some sources say that she was poisoned).
It has been said that Sukjong, while mourning for Inhyeon, dreamed of her in a sobok dress drenched with blood. Sukjong asked Inhyeon of how she died, but Inhyeon didn't say anything, but pointed in to the direction of Jang Hui-bins chambers. Sukjong awoke, then went into Jang's chambers. While approaching, he heard music and sounds of laughter. Eavesdropping, he saw Jang Hui-bin with Shamanist
priestesses in her chambers, praying for the Queen's death, while striking a figurine with arrows. When this was discovered by Sukjong, Lady Jang was executed for her actions by poison.
One of the Queen's ladies in waiting wrote a book called Inhyeon Wanghu Jeon (Hangul
: 인현왕후전, Hanja
: 仁顯王后傳, Queen Inhyeon's Story), which still exists today. She is buried in Myeongreung (명릉) in Gyeonggi Province, and Sukjong was later buried near her in the same area. She has no issue to Sukjong.
. Emperor Gojong's mother, Lady Yeoheung, was also a member of the Yeoheung Min clan (a great-great-granddaughter of Inhyeon's second brother Min Jin-won).
Queen consort
A queen consort is the wife of a reigning king. A queen consort usually shares her husband's rank and holds the feminine equivalent of the king's monarchical titles. Historically, queens consort do not share the king regnant's political and military powers. Most queens in history were queens consort...
of King Sukjong of Joseon
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...
and one of the best known Queens
Queen consort
A queen consort is the wife of a reigning king. A queen consort usually shares her husband's rank and holds the feminine equivalent of the king's monarchical titles. Historically, queens consort do not share the king regnant's political and military powers. Most queens in history were queens consort...
of the Joseon Dynasty
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...
. Her life has been portrayed in many Korean historical dramas.
Biography
Born into the Yeoheung Min clan, she was the second daughter of Min Yu-jung (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...
: 민유중, 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...
: 閔維重) (1630–1687) and his second wife, Lady Song of the Eunjin Song clan.
She married 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...
as his second Queen Consort in 1681, at the age of 14. When so-ui However, Jang Ok-jeong
Jang Hui-bin
Lady Jang Hui-bin is one of the best known royal concubines of the Joseon Dynasty.-Biography:She was the daughter of Jang Hyeong and Lady Yun of the Papyeong Yun clan, her personal name was Jang Ok-jeong .Ok-jeong became a lady-in-waiting to Queen Dowager Jangnyeol at the recommendation of...
produced a son
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...
in 1688, it created a bloody dispute called Gisa literati purges (기사사화). During this time, Sukjong wanted to give this eldest son (entitled the wonja, literally the "First Son") the title of "Crown Prince" and wanted to promote Lady Jang from So-ui to Hui-bin.
This action was opposed by the Noron faction, which supports Queen Inhyeon led by Song Si-yeol
Song Si-yeol
Song Si-yeol , also known by his penname U-am, was a Joseon Dynasty-era politician and Korean Neo-Confucianism scholar and philosopher. Born in Okcheon, North Chungcheong, Korea, he was known for his concern with the problems of the common people...
, and this was supported by the Soron faction, which supports Lady Jang. Sukjong became angry at the opposition, and many were killed including Song Si-yeol
Song Si-yeol
Song Si-yeol , also known by his penname U-am, was a Joseon Dynasty-era politician and Korean Neo-Confucianism scholar and philosopher. Born in Okcheon, North Chungcheong, Korea, he was known for his concern with the problems of the common people...
. Many, including Inhyeon and her family, were forced into exile. Queen Inhyeon was deposed, while Jang so-ui became Jang hui-bin, and then became the third Queen Consort.
Later in 1694, Sukjong, feeling remorse at his temperamental actions, gave in to a movement for Inhyeon's reinstatement, which was led by the Soron (this event was called the Gapsul Hwanguk (갑술환국)) She was brought back to the palace and was reinstated as Queen Consort, with Lady Jang being demoted to hui-bin.
In 1701, aged 34, she became ill and died of an unknown disease (some sources say that she was poisoned).
It has been said that Sukjong, while mourning for Inhyeon, dreamed of her in a sobok dress drenched with blood. Sukjong asked Inhyeon of how she died, but Inhyeon didn't say anything, but pointed in to the direction of Jang Hui-bins chambers. Sukjong awoke, then went into Jang's chambers. While approaching, he heard music and sounds of laughter. Eavesdropping, he saw Jang Hui-bin with Shamanist
Shamanism
Shamanism is an anthropological term referencing a range of beliefs and practices regarding communication with the spiritual world. To quote Eliade: "A first definition of this complex phenomenon, and perhaps the least hazardous, will be: shamanism = technique of ecstasy." Shamanism encompasses the...
priestesses in her chambers, praying for the Queen's death, while striking a figurine with arrows. When this was discovered by Sukjong, Lady Jang was executed for her actions by poison.
One of the Queen's ladies in waiting wrote a book called Inhyeon Wanghu Jeon (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...
: 인현왕후전, 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...
: 仁顯王后傳, Queen Inhyeon's Story), which still exists today. She is buried in Myeongreung (명릉) in Gyeonggi Province, and Sukjong was later buried near her in the same area. She has no issue to Sukjong.
Full posthumous name
- Hyogyeong Sukseong Jangsun Wonhwa Uiyeol Jeongmok Inhyeon Wanghu
- 효경숙성장순원화의열정목인현왕후
- 孝敬淑聖莊純元化懿烈貞穆仁顯王后
Family
- Father
- Min Yu-jung (Hangul: (민유중), Hanja: 閔維重)
- Mother
- Lady Song of the Eunjin Song clan (Hangul: 은진 송씨, Hanja: 恩津 宋氏), Min Yu-jung's second wife
- Siblings
- Min Jin-hu (Hangul: 민진후, Hanja: 閔鎭厚) (1659–1720), great-great-great-grandfather of Empress MyeongseongEmpress MyeongseongEmpress Myeongseong , also known as Queen Min, was the first official wife of King Gojong, the twenty-sixth king of the Joseon dynasty of Korea...
- Min Jin-won (Hangul: 민진원, Hanja: 閔鎭遠) (1664–1736)
- Lady Min (Hangul: 민씨, Hanja: 閔氏), Min Yu-jung's eldest daughter
- Lady Min (Hangul: 민씨, Hanja: 閔氏), Min Yu-jung's third daughter
- Min Jin-hu (Hangul: 민진후, Hanja: 閔鎭厚) (1659–1720), great-great-great-grandfather of Empress Myeongseong
Trivia
Inhyeon's eldest brother Min Jin-hu's great-great-great-granddaughter would eventually marry Inhyeon's step-great-great-great-great-adoptive-grandson, the future Emperor Gojong of the Korean Empire, becoming the famous Empress MyeongseongEmpress Myeongseong
Empress Myeongseong , also known as Queen Min, was the first official wife of King Gojong, the twenty-sixth king of the Joseon dynasty of Korea...
. Emperor Gojong's mother, Lady Yeoheung, was also a member of the Yeoheung Min clan (a great-great-granddaughter of Inhyeon's second brother Min Jin-won).