Royal Noble Consort
Encyclopedia
Royal Noble Consort was the title of royal concubines of Korean kings (including the Three Kingdoms
, Unified Silla
, Goryeo
and Joseon Dynasty
periods). During the Joseon Dynasty
(not including the Korean Empire at the end of Joseon), they were part of the ne-goong (내궁) and ranked beneath the queen, but above low-ranked concubines and court ladies (rank 5a and below). This meant that Royal Noble Consorts from rank 1 to 4 were considered part of the Royal Family.
Thus, the Queen Consort
(joong-jeon 중전) was followed by 4 categories of high-ranked royal consorts, with 2 levels each. Level a (jeong, 정) ranked above level b (jong, 종):
1a. Bin 빈 (嬪): Royal Noble Consort rank 1
1b. Gui-in 귀인 (貴人)
2a. So-ui 소의 (昭儀): Royal Noble Consort rank 2
2b. Sook-ui 숙의 (淑儀)
3a. So-yeong 소용 (昭容): Royal Noble Consort rank 3
3b. Sook-yeong 숙용 (淑容)
4a. So-won 소원 (昭媛): Royal Noble Consort rank 4
4b. Sook-won 숙원 (淑媛)
For the rank of Bin, the King or Queen consort would attach a prefix in association with the character/personality of the Royal Consort, such as Hee Bin (Hee = Radiant), Sook Bin (Sook = Clarity/Purity), Ui Bin (Ui = Appropriate/Fitting), and so forth. However, they are all of the same rank "Bin" so they are all of equal rank.
5a. sang-goong (상궁 or 尙宮) and sang-ui (상의 or 尙儀)
Court Ladies who served directly under the royal family members, and the head manager of their assigned department. Depending on their role and department, there would be internal ranking within the sang-goongs. For example, a sang-goong who served the Queen has higher authority and ranking than a sang-goong who serves a prince, princess, and/or concubine. A sang-goong could also become a "Royal Concubine" if the King showed favor. They would be called "Favored Sang-Goong" and would be considered the highest rank of the 5a. However, since they are still in the rank of 5, the "Favored Sang-goong" would not be considered a member of the royal family, part of the ne-goong, and considered a Royal Noble Consort. Instead, they would just be known as a concubine of the rank of "Sang-goong." However, the Favored Sang-goong would have a sang-goong of her own to serve her.
5b to 9b. Rankings of the "working class" palace ladies and girls. Palace ladies are usually admitted into the palace from a young age. Therefore, the palace becomes their primary residence. They are not allowed to leave the palace except on special occasions with the permission of the "higher-ups."
Three Kingdoms
The Three Kingdoms period was a period in Chinese history, part of an era of disunity called the "Six Dynasties" following immediately the loss of de facto power of the Han Dynasty rulers. In a strict academic sense it refers to the period between the foundation of the state of Wei in 220 and the...
, Unified Silla
Unified Silla
Unified Silla or Later Silla is the name often applied to the Korean kingdom of Silla, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, when it conquered Baekje in 660 and Goguryeo in 668, unifying the southern portion of the Korean peninsula...
, Goryeo
Goryeo
The Goryeo Dynasty or Koryŏ was a Korean dynasty established in 918 by Emperor Taejo. Korea gets its name from this kingdom which came to be pronounced Korea. It united the Later Three Kingdoms in 936 and ruled most of the Korean peninsula until it was removed by the Joseon dynasty in 1392...
and 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...
periods). During 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...
(not including the Korean Empire at the end of Joseon), they were part of the ne-goong (내궁) and ranked beneath the queen, but above low-ranked concubines and court ladies (rank 5a and below). This meant that Royal Noble Consorts from rank 1 to 4 were considered part of the Royal Family.
Thus, the Queen Consort
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...
(joong-jeon 중전) was followed by 4 categories of high-ranked royal consorts, with 2 levels each. Level a (jeong, 정) ranked above level b (jong, 종):
1a. Bin 빈 (嬪): Royal Noble Consort rank 1
1b. Gui-in 귀인 (貴人)
2a. So-ui 소의 (昭儀): Royal Noble Consort rank 2
2b. Sook-ui 숙의 (淑儀)
3a. So-yeong 소용 (昭容): Royal Noble Consort rank 3
3b. Sook-yeong 숙용 (淑容)
4a. So-won 소원 (昭媛): Royal Noble Consort rank 4
4b. Sook-won 숙원 (淑媛)
For the rank of Bin, the King or Queen consort would attach a prefix in association with the character/personality of the Royal Consort, such as Hee Bin (Hee = Radiant), Sook Bin (Sook = Clarity/Purity), Ui Bin (Ui = Appropriate/Fitting), and so forth. However, they are all of the same rank "Bin" so they are all of equal rank.
5a. sang-goong (상궁 or 尙宮) and sang-ui (상의 or 尙儀)
Court Ladies who served directly under the royal family members, and the head manager of their assigned department. Depending on their role and department, there would be internal ranking within the sang-goongs. For example, a sang-goong who served the Queen has higher authority and ranking than a sang-goong who serves a prince, princess, and/or concubine. A sang-goong could also become a "Royal Concubine" if the King showed favor. They would be called "Favored Sang-Goong" and would be considered the highest rank of the 5a. However, since they are still in the rank of 5, the "Favored Sang-goong" would not be considered a member of the royal family, part of the ne-goong, and considered a Royal Noble Consort. Instead, they would just be known as a concubine of the rank of "Sang-goong." However, the Favored Sang-goong would have a sang-goong of her own to serve her.
5b to 9b. Rankings of the "working class" palace ladies and girls. Palace ladies are usually admitted into the palace from a young age. Therefore, the palace becomes their primary residence. They are not allowed to leave the palace except on special occasions with the permission of the "higher-ups."
Notable Queens and Royal Noble Consorts
- Lady Mishil(540-600)
- Queen Jeheon of the Ham-an Yoon clanDeposed Queen Lady YunDeposed Queen Lady Yun or Waste Queen Lady Yun , 11th generation descendant of General Yun Kwan , was Joseon Dynasty's King Seongjong of Joseon's second wife...
(1445-1482) - Queen Jeonghui of the Papyeong Yoon clan(1418–1483)
- Queen Munjeong of the Papyeong Yun clanQueen MunjeongQueen Munjeong was the wife of King Jungjong of Joseon.She was of the Papyeong Yun clan. She was regent for her son King Myeongjong when he was still too young to rule by himself until 1565. Known as a good administrator, she continued to rule even after he reached the age of majority...
(1502-1565) - Queen Inhyeon of the Yeoheung Min clanQueen InhyeonQueen Inhyeon was the second Queen consort of King Sukjong of Joseon and one of the best known Queens of the Joseon Dynasty...
(1667-1701) - Royal Noble Consort Hui of the Indong Jang clanJang Hui-binLady 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...
(1659–1701) - Royal Noble Consort Suk of the Haeju Choi clanConsort Suk of the Choe clanRoyal Noble Consort Suk of the Choe clan was a concubine of King Sukjong of Joseon. She is best remembered as the birth mother of King Yeongjo of Joseon.-Biography:...
(1670-1718) - Queen Jeongseong of the Dalsung Seo clanQueen JeongseongQueen Jeongseong was the first wife and Queen Consort of King Yeongjo of Joseon, the 21st monarch of the Joseon Dynasty. She was a member of the Dalsung Seo clan.-Biography:...
(1692 - 1757) - Queen Jeongsun of the Gyeongju Kim clanQueen JeongsunQueen Jeongsun was a Queen consort of Korea as married to King Yeongjo , and the regent of Korea from 1800 to 1805 as the guardian of her minor step great-grandson, Sunjo of Joseon...
(1745 – 1805) - Queen Sunwon of the Andong Kim clanQueen SunwonQueen Sunwon was a Queen consort of Korea as the spouse of Sunjo of Joseon. She served as regent of Korea from 1834–1841 and from 1849-1852....
(1789 - 1857) - Queen Cheonin of the Andong Kim clanQueen CheoninQueen Cheolin , was a Queen consort of Korea and the wife of King Cheoljong of Joseon.-Biography:She was the daughter of Kim Mun-geun and Lady Min...
(1837 - 1878) - Empress Myeongseong of the Yeoheung Min clanEmpress 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...
(1873-1895, as Queen Consort) - Empress Sunjeong of the Haepyeong Yun clan (1894 – 1966)
See also
- Queen consortQueen consortA 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...
- Queen dowagerQueen DowagerA queen dowager or dowager queen is a title or status generally held by the widow of a deceased king. In the case of the widow of a deceased emperor, the title of empress dowager is used...
- Queen motherQueen motherQueen Mother is a title or position reserved for a widowed queen consort whose son or daughter from that marriage is the reigning monarch. The term has been used in English since at least 1577...
- Queen regnantQueen regnantA queen regnant is a female monarch who reigns in her own right, in contrast to a queen consort, who is the wife of a reigning king. An empress regnant is a female monarch who reigns in her own right over an empire....
- Concubine
- PolygamyPolygamyPolygamy is a marriage which includes more than two partners...