Seongjong of Joseon facts for kids

Seongjong of Joseon (19 August 1457 – 20 January 1495), personal name Yi Hyeol (Hangul: 이혈, Hanja: 李娎), was the ninth ruler of the Joseon Dynasty of Korea. In 1469 he succeeded his uncle, King Yejong, and ruled until 1494.

Biography

Early Life

Seongjong was the 9th King of the Joseon period of Korea. He was born as the second son of Crown Prince Uigyeong and Crown Princess Su of the Cheongju Han clan. His father however died few months after his birth. In 1461, he became Prince Jasan (자산군) but he became Prince Jalsan (잘산군) in 1468. In 1467, as Prince Jasan, he married with daughter of Han Myeong-hoe. When he accessed to the throne, his father (1438–1457) was elevated to the status of King Deokjong and his mother (1437–1504) to Queen Insu.

When Yejong of Joseon died without any more sons, Queen Jeonghui decided him as the successor for the throne.

Reign

Since Seongjong was only 12 when he was crowned, his grandmother Queen Jeonghui ruled the nation in his name, along with his mother Queen Insu, and Queen Ansun. All of the queens except Queen Jeonghui survived until the reign of Yeonsangun of Joseon, which brought confusion later. As Seongjong began his reign, he gave a posthumous title of king to his father. He made deers, which lived in the palace, live in his father's grave. In 1476, at the age of 19, he began to govern the country in his own name. Paper, written in hangul, notifying Seongjong's govern was given to his officials.

When he started his reign, his queen was vacant since his first wife died previously. He decided to marry with Queen Yun. Seongjong was not negligent about learning when he was young, which made him have a conference with his officials three times a day, which was a tradition of Joseon but not was followed well.

His reign was marked by the prosperity and growth of the national economy, based on the laws laid down by kings Taejong, Sejong, and Sejo. He himself was a gifted ruler. In 1474, the code of law, first ordered by King Sejo, was completed and put into effect. Seongjong also ordered revisions and improvements to the code.

Besides the law, he also encouraged Confucian scholars; He greatly expanded Hongmungwan (Hangul: 홍문관; Hanja: 弘文館), the royal library and advisory council to the king at the same time, and strengthened so-called Three Offices (Hongmungwan, Office of Inspector General, Office of Censors) as check and balance on the Royal Court. For the first time since King Sejong, he brought many liberal Confucian scholars to his court, whose political views went against those of the conservative officials (members of the nobility) who had helped kings Taejong and Sejo to power. In this way he made his rule more effective by appointing able administrators regardless of their political views. His policy resulted in many positive innovations, increasing his number of supporters. The king himself was an artist and scholar, and liked to argue about the finer points of politics with more liberal scholars. He encouraged scholars to publish numerous books about geography and social etiquette, for example, as well as areas of knowledge that benefited the common people.

It was under Seongjong's reign that the Widow Remarriage Ban (1477) was enacted, which strengthened pre-existing social stigma against women who remarried by barring their sons from public office. In 1489, Seongjong condemned a woman of the royal clan, Yi Guji, when it was discovered that she had cohabited with her slave after being widowed.

He also sent several military campaigns against the Jurchens on the northern border in 1491, like many of his predecessors. The campaign, led by Gen. Heo Jong (Hangul: 허종; Hanja: 許琮), was successful, and the defeated Jurchens led by Udige (兀狄哈) retreated to the north of Amrok River. King Seongjong was succeeded by his son, Yeonsangun and thereafter by another of his sons, Jungjong.

Family

• Biological father: Deokjong of Joseon (1438 – 2 September 1457) (Hangul: 조선 덕종)
  • Grandfather: King Sejo of Joseon (2 November 1417 – 23 September 1468) (Hangul: 조선 세조)
  • Grandmother: Queen Jeonghui of the Papyeong Yun clan (8 December 1418 – 6 May 1483) (Hangul: 정희왕후 윤씨)
• Adoptive father: Yejong of Joseon (12 February 1450 – 31 December 1469) (조선 예종)
• Mother: Queen Sohye of the Cheongju Han clan (7 October 1437 – 11 May 1504) (소혜왕후 한씨)
  • Grandfather: Han Hwak (1400 – 11 September 1456) (Hangul: 한확)
  • Grandmother: Lady Hong of the Namyang Hong clan (1403 – 1450) (Hangul: 남양 홍씨)
• Adoptive mother: Queen Ansun of the Cheongju Han clan (18 April 1445 – 3 February 1499) (안순왕후 한씨)

Consorts and their Respective Issue(s)

1. Queen Gonghye of the Cheongju Han clan (8 November 1456 – 30 April 1474) (Hangul: 공혜왕후 한씨) — no issue.
2. Deposed Queen Yun of the Haman Yun clan (15 July 1455 – 29 August 1482) (Hangul: 제헌왕후 윤씨)
   1. Crown Prince Yi Yung (23 November 1476 – 20 November 1506) (Hangul: 왕세자 이융)
   2. Unnamed son (? – 1479)
3. Queen Jeonghyeon of the Papyeong Yun clan (21 July 1462 – 13 September 1530) (Hangul: 정현왕후 윤씨)
   1. Princess Sunsuk (1478 – 14 July 1488) (Hangul: 순숙공주)
   2. Unnamed daughter (1485 – 1486)
   3. Yi Yeok, Grand Prince Jinseong (16 April 1488 – 29 November 1544) (Hangul: 이역 진성대군)
   4. Unnamed daughter (1490 – 1490)
4. Royal Noble Consort Myeong of the Andong Kim clan (Hangul: 명빈 김씨)
   1. Princess Hwisuk (Hangul: 휘숙옹주)
   2. Princess Gyeongsuk (1483 – ?) (Hangul: 경숙옹주)
   3. Yi Jong, Prince Musan (1490 – 1525) (Hangul: 이종 무산군)
   4. Princess Hwijeong (Hangul: 휘정옹주)
5. Royal Consort Gwi-in of the Chogye Jeong clan (? – 1504) (Hangul: 귀인 정씨)
   1. Yi Hang, Prince Anyang (1480 – 1505) (Hangul: 이항 안양군)
   2. Yi Bong, Prince Bongan (1482 – 1505) (Hangul: 이봉 봉안군)
   3. Princess Jeonghye (1490 – 6 August 1507) (Hangul: 정혜옹주)
6. Royal Consort Gwi-in of the Yeongwol Eom clan (? – 1504) (Hangul: 귀인 엄씨)
   1. Princess Gongsin (1481 – 1549) (Hangul: 공신옹주)
7. Royal Consort Gwi-in of the Andong Kwon clan (1471 – 1500) (Hangul: 귀인 권씨)
   1. Yi Byeon, Prince Jeonseong (1490 – 1505) (Hangul: 이변 전성군)
8. Royal Consort Gwi-in of the Uiryeong Nam clan (Hangul: 귀인 남씨)
9. Royal Consort So-ui of the Yi clan (Hangul: 소의 이씨)
10. Royal Consort Suk-ui of the Namyang Hong clan (1457 – 1510) (Hangul: 숙의 홍씨)
    1. Princess Hyesuk (1478 – ?) (Hangul: 혜숙옹주)
    2. Yi Su, Prince Wanwon (1480 – 1509) (Hangul: 이수 완원군)
    3. Yi Nyeom, Prince Hoesan (1481 – 1512) (Hangul: 이념 회산군)
    4. Yi Don, Prince Gyeonseong (1482 – 1507) (Hangul: 이돈 견성군)
    5. Princess Jeongsun (Hangul: 정순옹주) (1486 – ?)
    6. Yi Hwoe, Prince Ikyang (Hangul: 이회 익양군) (1 July 1488 – 21 January 1552)
    7. Yi Chim, Prince Gyeongmyeong (1489 – 1526) (이침 경명군)
    8. Yi In, Prince Uncheon (1490 – 1524) (Hangul: 이인 운천군)
    9. Yi Hui, Prince Yangwon (1492 – 1551) (Hangul: 이희 양원군)
    10. Princess Jeongsuk (1493 – 8 February 1573) (Hangul: 정숙옹주)
11. Royal Consort Sug-ui of the Jinju Ha clan (Hangul: 숙의 하씨)
    1. Yi Sun, the Prince Gyeseong (1478 – 1504) (Hangul: 이순 계성군)
12. Royal Consort Sug-ui of the Jeong clan (Hangul: 숙의 정씨)
13. Royal Consort Sug-yong of the Cheongsong Shim clan (Hangul: 숙용 심씨) (1465 – 1515)
    1. Princess Gyeongsun (1482 – ?) (Hangul: 경순옹주)
    2. Princess Sukhye (1486 – 1525) (Hangul: 숙혜옹주)
    3. Yi Gwan, Prince Iseong (1489 – 1552) (Hangul: 이관 이성군)
    4. Yi Jeon, Prince Yeongsan (1490 – 11 June 1538) (Hangul: 이전 영산군)
14. Royal Consort Sug-yong of the Kwon clan (Hangul: 숙용 권씨)
    1. Princess Gyeonghwi (Hangul: 경휘옹주) (1489 – 1525)
    2. Unnamed prince
15. Royal Consort Sug-won of the Yun clan (Hangul: 숙원 윤씨) (? – 1533)

Notelist

See also

In Spanish: Seongjong de Joseon para niños