Sanggung
Encyclopedia
Sanggung was an official title of the senior 5th rank (正五品; Jong 5 pum), the highest attainable for gungnyeo
, a lady-in-waiting
during the Joseon Dynasty
of Korea
. Female officers with the title were assigned to govern the inner affairs of the palace. When a regular nain
served for more than 15 years, she would be awarded with an ornamental hairpin for a sanggung. Therefore, a newly appointed sanggung usually ranged in 35–45 years old. A court lady at the rank of sanggung was treated well enough to live in her own house with servants.
The title first appears in Goryeosa
("History of Goryeo"), a complied book about the Goryeo
period. In the chapter of the book titled Baekgwanji (百官志), regarding all official titles, there were posts named sanggung (尙宮, managing the palace), sangchim (尙寢, managing bedding
), sangsik (尙食 managing food), and another sangchim (尙針, managing sewing) during the reign of King Hyeonjong
. The book also has another record that Lady Han was appointed as sanggung in March of 1031, the 22nd year of the king's reign. These records prove that the sanggung system had existed since the Goryeo period.
As a system on naemyeongbu (內命婦) which refers to women at court with a rank including queen and lady-in-waiting was revised since the foundation of the Joseon Dynasty
, female officers with the title, sanggung began to manage inner affairs of the court in general as the highest position of the gunggwan (literally a palace officer). The naemyeongbu was largely divided into naegwan (literally "internal offices") and gunggwan according to Gyeongguk daejeon
. The former refers to a king's concubines or a crown prince's consort while gunggwan are female officers with a rank.
The social status of sanggung generally belonged to the yangin (common people) class, distinguished from naegwan in policy.
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...
, a lady-in-waiting
Lady-in-waiting
A lady-in-waiting is a female personal assistant at a royal court, attending on a queen, a princess, or a high-ranking noblewoman. Historically, in Europe a lady-in-waiting was often a noblewoman from a family highly thought of in good society, but was of lower rank than the woman on whom she...
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...
of Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
. Female officers with the title were assigned to govern the inner affairs of the palace. When a regular nain
Nain
Nain may refer to:* Nain rug, name of a traditional pattern and design of Persian carpet* North American Interfaith Network* Nain, assistant court ladies of KoreaPlaces* Nain, Iran, a city in Iran* Nain County, an administrative subdivision of Iran...
served for more than 15 years, she would be awarded with an ornamental hairpin for a sanggung. Therefore, a newly appointed sanggung usually ranged in 35–45 years old. A court lady at the rank of sanggung was treated well enough to live in her own house with servants.
The title first appears in Goryeosa
Goryeosa
The Goryeosa or History of Goryeo is the principal surviving history of Korea's Goryeo Dynasty. It was composed nearly a century after the fall of Goryeo, during the reign of King Sejong...
("History of Goryeo"), a complied book about the 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...
period. In the chapter of the book titled Baekgwanji (百官志), regarding all official titles, there were posts named sanggung (尙宮, managing the palace), sangchim (尙寢, managing bedding
Bedding
Bedding refers to the materials laid above the mattress of a bed for hygiene, warmth, to protect the mattress, and for decorative effect. Bedding is the removable and washable portion of a human sleeping environment. It is more easily and economically replaced than the bed itself...
), sangsik (尙食 managing food), and another sangchim (尙針, managing sewing) during the reign of King Hyeonjong
Hyeonjong of Goryeo
Hyeonjong of Goryeo was the 8th ruler of the Goryeo dynasty of Korea. He was a grandson of Emperor Taejo. He was appointed by the military leader Gang Jo, whom the previous Emperor Mokjong had called upon to destroy a plot by Kim Chi-yang.In 1010, The Khitan attacked again during an internal...
. The book also has another record that Lady Han was appointed as sanggung in March of 1031, the 22nd year of the king's reign. These records prove that the sanggung system had existed since the Goryeo period.
As a system on naemyeongbu (內命婦) which refers to women at court with a rank including queen and lady-in-waiting was revised since the foundation 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...
, female officers with the title, sanggung began to manage inner affairs of the court in general as the highest position of the gunggwan (literally a palace officer). The naemyeongbu was largely divided into naegwan (literally "internal offices") and gunggwan according to Gyeongguk daejeon
Gyeongguk daejeon
Gyeongguk daejeon is a complete code of laws that comprises every law, acts, customs, ordinances to have been released since the late period of the Goryeo Dynasty to the early Joseon Dynasty. It had been a basis for the over 500 years-long Joseon Dynasty in politics...
. The former refers to a king's concubines or a crown prince's consort while gunggwan are female officers with a rank.
The social status of sanggung generally belonged to the yangin (common people) class, distinguished from naegwan in policy.
Types of sanggung
- Jejo sanggung (提調尙宮) - also called Keunbang sanggung. They had the highest position among gungnyeo, and they are responsible for the management of properties. They serve the king with many other ladies-in-waiting in his palace, receive the king's order and have political power.
- Bujejo sanggung (副提調尙宮) - also called Arigo sanggung (阿里庫尙宮) manages the properties in the warehouse of palace.
- Jimil sanggung (至密尙宮) - also called Daeryeong sanggung (待令尙宮) waited closely to the king.
- Bomo sanggung (保姆尙宮) - literally meaning "a nurse sanggung" took care of princes and princesses.
- Sinyeo sanggung (侍女尙宮) - literally meaning "a maid-in-waiting sanggung" assists jimil saggung with books and ceremony.
- Gamchal sanggung (監察尙宮) - literally meaning "an inspector sanggung" inspected and give the punishment to gungnyeo.
See also
- GungnyeoGungnyeoGungnyeo 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...
- Dae Jang GeumDae Jang GeumDae Jang Geum is a 2003 epic South Korean television series directed by Lee Byung Hoon and produced by MBC. Starring Lee Young Ae, it tells the tale of an orphaned kitchen cook who went on to become the king's first female physician...
- Shadows in the PalaceShadows in the PalaceShadows in the Palace is a 2007 South Korean film directed by Kim Mee-jeung. This is Kim Mee-jeung's first feature film, but she has previously worked as part of the directing staff in The King and the Clown and Shadows in the Palace was filmed on the same set as The King and the Clown...
- Korean royal court cuisineKorean royal court cuisineKorean royal court cuisine was the style of cookery within Korean cuisine traditionally consumed at the court of the Joseon Dynasty, which ruled Korea from 1392 to 1910. There has been a revival of this cookery style in the 21st century...