Taejo of Joseon

Taejo of Joseon (11 October 1335 – 24 May 1408),[lower-roman 3] born Yi Seong-gye (Korean: 이성계; Hanja: 李成桂), later Yi Dan (Korean: 이단; Hanja: 李旦), was the founder and first ruler of the Joseon dynasty of Korea. He ascended to the throne in 1392, after being the main figure in the overthrowing of the Goryeo dynasty. Taejo abdicated in 1398 during a strife between his sons and died in 1408.

Not to be confused with Taejo of Goryeo or Taejong of Joseon.

Taejo of Joseon
朝鮮太祖
조선 태조
Portrait of King Taejo
Grand King Emeritus of Joseon
Tenure5 September 1398 – 24 May 1408
SuccessorTaejong
King of Joseon
Reign17 July 1392 – 5 September 1398
CoronationSuchang Palace, Gaegyeong
PredecessorDynasty established
Gongyang as King of Goryeo
SuccessorJeongjong
BornYi Seong-gye (이성계, 李成桂)
11 October 1335
Ssangseong Prefectures, Great Yuan
(present-day Kŭmya County, South Hamgyŏng Province, North Korea)
Died24 May 1408(1408-05-24) (aged 72)
Byeoljeon Hall, Gwangyeonru Pavilion, Changdeok Palace, Hanseong, Joseon
Burial
Geonwonneung Mausoleum, Dongguneung Cluster, Guri, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea
Spouse(s)
​
​
(m. 1351; died 1391)​

​
(died 1396)​
Issue
among others...
Era dates
Used the era name of the Ming dynasty:
Hongwu/Hongmu (洪武, 홍무): 1392–1398
Posthumous name
Temple name
Taejo (태조, 太祖)
ClanJeonju Yi clan
DynastyHouse of Yi
FatherYi Ja-chun
MotherLady Choe of the Yeongheung Choe clan
ReligionKorean Buddhism
Signature
Military career
Allegiance Goryeo
Years of service1356–1392
RankCommander-in-Chief of the Three Armies
Battles/wars
Korean name
Hangul
Hanja
Revised RomanizationTaejo
McCune–ReischauerT'aejo
Birth name
Hangul
Hanja
Revised RomanizationI Seonggye, later I Dan
McCune–ReischauerYi Sŏnggye, later Yi Tan
Courtesy name
Hangul
Hanja
Revised RomanizationJunggyeol & Gunjin
McCune–ReischauerChunggyŏl & Kunjin
Art name
Hangul
Hanja
Revised RomanizationSongheon & Songheongeosa
McCune–ReischauerSonghŏn & Songhŏn'gŏsa
Joseon monarchs
Taejo 1392–1398
Jeongjong 1398–1400
Taejong 1400–1418
Sejong 1418–1450
Munjong 1450–1452
Danjong 1452–1455
Sejo 1455–1468
Yejong 1468–1469
Seongjong 1469–1494
Yeonsangun 1494–1506
Jungjong 1506–1544
Injong 1544–1545
Myeongjong 1545–1567
Seonjo 1567–1608
Gwanghaegun 1608–1623
Injo 1623–1649
Hyojong 1649–1659
Hyeonjong 1659–1674
Sukjong 1674–1720
Gyeongjong 1720–1724
Yeongjo 1724–1776
Jeongjo 1776–1800
Sunjo 1800–1834
Heonjong 1834–1849
Cheoljong 1849–1864
Gojong 1864–1907

After becoming king, Taejo emphasized continuity over change. No new institutions and no massive purges occurred during his reign. The dynasty that he installed was mostly dominated by the same ruling families and officials that had served the previous regime.[4] He re-established amicable relations with Japan and improved relations with Ming China.[5][6][7]

Biography

Early life

Taejo's father was Yi Ja-chun, an official of Korean ethnicity serving the Mongol-led Yuan dynasty.[8] Taejo's mother, Lady Choe, was of Chinese origin[4] from a prominent family originally from Deungju (Anbyeon County) in present-day North Korea. Her father was a Korean chiliarch under the Yuan dynasty who commanded a mingghan. She later moved to Hamgyong, in Goryeo.[9]

Historical context

By the late 14th century, the 400-year-old Goryeo dynasty established by Wang Geon in 918 was tottering, its foundations collapsing from years of war and de facto occupation by the disintegrating Mongol Empire. The legitimacy of Korea itself was also becoming an increasingly disputed issue within the court, as the ruling house failed not only to govern the kingdom effectively, but was also affected by generations of forced intermarriage with members of the Yuan imperial family and by rivalry amongst various branches of the royal family, with King U's mother being a known commoner, thus leading to rumors disputing his descent from King Gongmin.

Within the kingdom, influential aristocrats, generals, and ministers struggled for royal favor and vied for domination of the court, resulting in deep divisions among various factions. With the ever-increasing number of raids against Goryeo conducted by Japanese pirates (widely known as wokou) and the Red Turbans, those who came to dominate the royal court were the reformed-minded Sinjin aristocracy and the opposing Gweonmun aristocracy, as well as generals who could actually fight off the foreign threats—namely Yi Seong-gye and his rival Choe Yeong. As the Ming dynasty started to emerge, the Yuan forces became more vulnerable, and by the 1350s, Goryeo regained its full independence, although Yuan remnants effectively occupied northeastern territories with large garrisons of troops.

Military career

Yi Seong-gye started his career as a military officer in 1360, and would eventually rise up the ranks of the Goryeo army.[4] In October 1361, he killed Park Ui, who rebelled against the government. In the same year, when the Red Turbans had invaded and captured Gaegyeong, he helped the recapture of the capital with 3,000 men. In 1362, when General Naghachu invaded Goryeo, Yi Seong-gye was appointed as a commander and defeated him.[10]

General Yi had gained power and respect during the late 1370s and early 1380s by pushing Mongol remnants off the peninsula and also by repelling the well-organized Japanese pirates in a series of successful engagements.[4] Following in the wake of the rise of the Ming dynasty under Zhu Yuanzhang (the Hongwu Emperor), the royal court in Goryeo split into two competing factions: the group led by General Yi (supporting the Ming) and the camp led by General Choe (supporting the Yuan).

When a Ming messenger came to Goryeo in 1388 (14th year of King U) to demand the return of a significant portion of Goryeo's northern territory, General Choe seized the opportunity and played upon the prevailing anti-Ming atmosphere to argue for the invasion of the Liaodong Peninsula (Goryeo claimed to be the successor of the ancient kingdom of Goguryeo; as such, restoring Manchuria as part of Korean territory was a tenet of its foreign policy throughout its history).

A staunchly opposed Yi Seong-gye was chosen to lead the invasion; however, at Wihwa Island on the Amrok River, he made a momentous decision known as the Wihwado Retreat (위화도 회군, 威化島 回軍; lit. "Turning back from Wihwa Island" or "Return from Wihwa Island"), which would alter the course of Korean history. Knowing of the support he enjoyed both from high-ranking government officials and the general populace, he decided to revolt and return back to Gaegyeong to secure control of the government.

Yi Seong-gye remains the last Korean ruler with a military background up until the 20th century.[4]

Revolt

General Yi swept his army from the Amrok River straight into the capital, defeated forces loyal to the king (led by General Choe, whom he proceeded to eliminate), and forcibly dethroned King U in a de facto coup d'état, but did not ascend to the throne right away. Instead, he placed on the throne King U's eight-years-old son, King Chang, and following a failed restoration attempt of the former monarch, had both of them put to death. Yi Seong-gye, now the undisputed power behind the throne, soon forcibly had a distant royal relative named Wang Yo (posthumously King Gongyang) crowned as the new ruler. After indirectly enforcing his grasp on the royal court through the puppet king, he proceeded to ally himself with Sinjin aristocrats such as Jeong Do-jeon and Jo Jun.

One of the most widely known events that occurred during this period was in 1392, when one of Yi Seong-gye's sons, Yi Bang-won, organized a party for the renowned scholar and statesman Jeong Mong-ju, who refused to be won over by General Yi despite their numerous correspondences in the form of archaic poems, and continued to be a faithful supporter of the old dynasty. Jeong Mong-ju was revered throughout Goryeo, even by Yi Bang-won himself, but in the eyes of the supporters of the new dynasty he was seen as an obstacle which had to be removed. After the party, he was killed by five men on the Seonjuk Bridge. This bridge has now become a national monument in North Korea, and a brown spot on one of the stones is said to be one of Jeong Mong-ju's bloodstains that turns red when it rains.

Reign

In 1392 (4th year of King Gongyang's reign), Yi Seong-gye forced the king to abdicate, exiled him to Wonju (where he and his family were secretly executed), and crowned himself as the new monarch, thus ending Goryeo's 475 years of rule.[11] In 1393, he changed his dynasty's name to Joseon.[12]

One of his early achievements was the improvement of relations with the Ming; this had its origin in Taejo's refusal to attack their neighbour in response to raids from Chinese bandits.[6][7] Shortly after his accession, he sent envoys to inform the court at Nanjing that a dynastic change had taken place.[13] Envoys were also dispatched to Japan, seeking the re-establishment of amicable relations. The mission was successful, and Shōgun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu was reported to have been favorably impressed by this embassy.[5] Envoys from the Ryūkyū Kingdom were received in 1392, 1394 and 1397, as well as from Siam in 1393.[13]

In 1394, the new capital was established at Hanseong (present-day Seoul).[14][15]

When the new dynasty was officially promulgated, the issue of which son would be the successor was brought up. Although Yi Bang-won, Taejo's fifth son by his first wife Queen Sinui, had contributed the most to assisting his father's rise to power, he harbored a profound hatred against two of Taejo's key allies in the court, Jeong Do-jeon and Nam Eun.

Both sides were fully aware of the mutual animosity and constantly felt threatened. When it became clear that Yi Bang-won was the most worthy successor to the throne, Jeong Do-jeon used his influence to convince the king that the wisest choice would be the son that he loved most, not the son that he felt was best for the kingdom.

In 1392, the eighth son of King Taejo (the second son of Queen Sindeok), Yi Bang-seok was appointed as crown prince. After the sudden death of the queen in 1396 and while Taejo was still in mourning for his second wife, Jeong Do-jeon began conspiring to pre-emptively kill Yi Bang-won and his brothers to secure his position in court.

In 1398, upon hearing of this plan, Yi Bang-won immediately revolted and raided the palace, killing Jeong Do-jeon, his followers, and the two sons of the late Queen Sindeok. This incident became known as the "First Strife of Princes" (제1차 왕자의 난). Aghast at the fact that his sons were willing to kill each other for the throne and psychologically exhausted by the death of his second wife, Taejo immediately crowned his second son Yi Bang-gwa (posthumously King Jeongjong), as the new ruler.

Thereafter, Taejo retired to the Hamhung Royal Villa and maintained distance with his fifth son for the rest of his life. Allegedly, Yi Bang-won sent emissaries numerous times, and each time the former king killed them to express his firm decision not to meet his son again. This historical anecdote gave birth to the term "Hamhung Chasa" (함흥차사, 咸興差使), which means a person who never comes back despite several nudges.[16] However, recent studies have found that Taejo did not actually kill any of the emissaries. Those subjects were killed during revolts, which coincidentally occurred in the Hamhung region.[17]

In 1400, King Jeongjong pronounced his younger brother Yi Bang-won as heir presumptive and voluntarily abdicated. That same year, Yi Bang-won assumed the throne of Joseon at long (posthumously King Taejong).

King Taejo died ten years after his abdication, on 24 May 1408, in Changdeok Palace. He was buried at Geonwonneung (건원릉), Dongguneung Cluster, in the city of Guri, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea.[18] The tomb of his umbilical cord is in Geumsan County, South Chungcheong Province, also in South Korea.

Family

Consorts and their respective issue(s):

  1. Queen Sinui of the Cheongju Han clan (신의왕후 한씨) (September 1337 – 23 September 1391)[lower-roman 6][lower-roman 7]
    1. Yi Bang-u, Grand Prince Jinan (진안대군 이방우) (1354 – 15 January 1394), first son[lower-roman 8][lower-roman 9]
    2. Yi Bang-gwa, Grand Prince Yeongan (영안대군 이방과) (26 July 1357 – 24 October 1419), second son
    3. Yi Bang-ui, Grand Prince Ikan (익안대군 이방의) (1360 – 29 October 1404), third son[lower-roman 10][lower-roman 11]
    4. Yi Bang-gan, Grand Prince Hoean (회안대군 이방간) (1364 – 10 April 1421), fourth son[lower-roman 12][lower-roman 13][lower-roman 14]
    5. Yi Bang-won, Grand Prince Jeongan (정안대군 이방원) (13 June 1367 – 8 June 1422), fifth son
    6. Yi Bang-yeon, Grand Prince Deokan (덕안대군 이방연) (1370 – 1388), sixth son
    7. Princess Gyeongshin (경신공주) (? – 22 March 1426), second daughter[lower-roman 15][lower-roman 16]
    8. Princess Gyeongseon (경선공주), third daughter[lower-roman 15][lower-roman 17][lower-roman 18][lower-roman 19]
  2. Queen Sindeok of the Goksan Gang clan (신덕왕후 강씨) (14 June 1356 – 13 August 1396)[lower-roman 20][lower-roman 21]
    1. Princess Gyeongsun (경순공주) (? – 1407), first daughter[lower-roman 22][lower-roman 15][lower-roman 23][lower-roman 24]
    2. Yi Bang-beon, Grand Prince Muan (무안대군 이방번) (1381 – 6 October 1398), seventh son[lower-roman 25][lower-roman 26]
    3. Yi Bang-seok, Grand Prince Uian (의안대군 이방석) (1382 – 6 October 1398), eighth son[lower-roman 25][lower-roman 26]
  3. Consort Seong of the Wonju Won clan (성비 원씨) (? – 1449)[lower-roman 27][lower-roman 28][lower-roman 29]
  4. Royal Lady Jeonggyeong of the Goheung Yu clan (정경궁주 유씨)[lower-roman 30][lower-roman 31][lower-roman 32]
  5. Princess Hwaui of the Gim clan (화의옹주 김씨) (? – 1428)[lower-roman 33]
    1. Princess Sukshin (숙신옹주) (? – 1453), fifth daughter[lower-roman 34][lower-roman 35]
  6. Lady Chandeok of the Ju clan (찬덕 주씨)[lower-roman 36]
    1. Princess Uiryeong (의령옹주) (? – 1466), fourth daughter[lower-roman 37]
  7. Palace Lady Gim (궁인 김씨)

Ancestry

One of the many issues demonstrating the early strained relationship between Joseon and Ming was the debate of Taejo's genealogy, which began as early as 1394[29] and became a sort of diplomatic friction that lasted over 200 years. The Collected Regulations of the Great Ming erroneously recorded "Yi Dan" (Taejo's personal name) as the son of Yi In-im, and that Yi Dan killed the last four kings of Goryeo, thereby establishing Ming's opinion of Taejo as an usurper first and foremost, from the time of the Hongwu Emperor when he repeatedly refused to acknowledge him as the new sovereign of the Korean Peninsula. The first mention of this error was in 1518 (about 9 years after the publication),[30] and those who saw the publication made petitions towards Ming demanding for redress, among others Left Chanseong Yi Gye-maeng and Minister of Rites Nam Gon, who wrote Jonggye Byeonmu (종계변무, 宗系辨誣).[31] It took until 1584 (after many Ming envoys had seen the petitions), through Chief Scholar Hwang Jeong-uk, that the issue was finally addressed. The Wanli Emperor commissioned a second edition in 1576 (covering the years between 1479 and 1584). About a year after its completion, Yu Hong saw the revision, and returned to Joseon with the good news.[32][33]

Legacy

Despite the fact that he overthrew Goryeo and purged officials who remained loyal to the previous dynasty, many regard him as a revolutionary and a decisive ruler who deposed the inept, obsolete and crippled governing system to save the nation from many foreign forces and conflicts.

Safeguarding domestic security led the Koreans to rebuild and further discover their culture. In the midst of the rival Yuan and Ming dynasties, Joseon encouraged the development of national identity which was once threatened by the Mongols. However, some scholars, particularly in North Korea,[34] view Taejo as a mere traitor to the old regime and bourgeois apostate, while paralleling him to General Choe Yeong, a military elite who conservatively served Goryeo to death.

His diplomatic policy successes in securing Korea in the early modern period is notable.[35][36][37]

See also

References
  1. Taejong Sillok vol. 16, 7 August 1408, entry 3
  2. Gojong Sillok vol. 39, 23 December 1899, entry 1
  3. Taejong Sillok vol. 16, 13 October 1408, entry 1
  4. Seth, Michael J. (2019). A Brief History of Korea: Isolation, War, Despotism and Revival: The Fascinating Story of a Resilient But Divided People. Tuttle Publishing. ISBN 9781462921119.
  5. "Korea–Japan Relations → Early Modern Age → Foreign Relations in Early Joseon". Archived from the original on 28 October 2009. Retrieved 8 November 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  6. Hussain, Tariq (2006). Diamond Dilemma: Shaping Korea for the 21st Century. Seoul Selection USA. p. 45. ISBN 9781430306412.
  7. Hodge, Carl Cavanagh (2008). Encyclopedia of the Age of Imperialism, 1800–1914. Vol. II. Greenwood Press. p. 401. ISBN 9780313334047.
  8. Taejo Sillok vol. 5, 28 April 1394, entry 3
  9. "의혜왕후(懿惠王后) – 한국민족문화대백과사전" [Queen Uihye – Encyclopedia of Korean Culture]. encykorea.aks.ac.kr (in Korean). Retrieved 30 December 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  10. "태조(太祖) – 한국민족문화대백과사전" [Taejo – Encyclopedia of Korean Culture]. encykorea.aks.ac.kr (in Korean). Retrieved 28 May 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  11. "조선왕조실록 – 태조가 백관의 추대를 받아 수창궁에서 왕위에 오르다" [Veritable Records of the Joseon dynasty – Taejo ascends to the throne at Suchang Palace]. sillok.history.go.kr (in Korean). Retrieved 28 May 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  12. "조선왕조실록 – 국호를 조선으로 정하는 예부의 자문" [Veritable Records of the Joseon dynasty – Advice to change the name of the country to Joseon]. sillok.history.go.kr (in Korean). Retrieved 28 May 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  13. Fang, Zhaoying; Goodrich, Luther Carrington (1976). Dictionary of Ming Biography, 1368–1644. Vol. II. Columbia University Press. p. 1601. ISBN 9780231038331.
  14. "Seoul municipality website". Archived from the original on 15 May 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  15. "About Seoul → History → General Information → Center of Korean Culture". Archived from the original on 3 December 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  16. "함흥차사(咸興差使) – 한국민족문화대백과사전" [Hamheung Chasa – Encyclopedia of Korean Culture]. encykorea.aks.ac.kr (in Korean). Retrieved 6 June 2019.
  17. Kim, Cheol-hyun (24 February 2016). "이성계는 '함흥차사'를 죽이지 않았다" [Yi Seong-gye did not kill 'Hamheung Chasa']. asiae.co.kr (in Korean). Retrieved 6 June 2019.
  18. "Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty". 29 July 2009. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
  19. Taejo Sillok vol. 1, year 1, entry 2
  20. Taejong Sillok vol. 21, year 11, entry 1
  21. Taejo Sillok vol. 15, year 7, entry 1
  22. Taejo Sillok vol. 13, year 7, entry 2
  23. Taejo Sillok vol. 13, year 7, entry 1
  24. Taejong Sillok vol. 11, year 6, entry 3
  25. Sejong Sillok vol. 5, 15 October 1419, entry 5
  26. Taejo Sillok vol. 13, year 7, entry 1
  27. Taejong Sillok vol. 1, 23 March 1401, entry 2
  28. Taejong Sillok vol. 9, 14 February 1405, entry 3
  29. Taejo Sillok vol. 6, 14 July 1394, entry 1
  30. Jungjong Sillok vol. 32, 3 June 1518, entry 1
  31. Jungjong Sillok vol. 33, 3 July 1518, entry 1
  32. Seonjo Sillok vol. 22, 23 April 1588, entry 1
  33. Seonjo Sillok vol. 22, 19 May 1588, entry 1
  34. "[Feature] Chosun: North Korea's Love-Hate Relationship with History". New Focus International. 31 May 2013. Archived from the original on 19 October 2016. Retrieved 10 September 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  35. Kang, Jae-eun (2005). The Land of Scholars: Two Thousands Years of Korean Confucianism. Homa & Sekey Books. p. 172. ISBN 978-1931907378.
  36. "Northeast Asian History Foundation". Archived from the original on 3 March 2009. Retrieved 11 January 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  37. "Korea–China relations → Early Modern Period → Korea–China relations during Joseon". Archived from the original on 26 October 2009. Retrieved 11 January 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)

Notes
  1. Gojong notably omitted the posthumous name bestowed by China on Taejo, as a sign of the country's "independence" from the Qing dynasty.[2]
  2. The title Gangheon (강헌, 康獻) was bestowed by the Ming dynasty, and was added to Taejo's posthumous name.[3]
  3. The records of the Ming dynasty contain rumors according to which Taejo was born between 1336 and 1338.
  4. Also known by the Mongolian name Ulus Bukha (吾魯思不花).
  5. In 1392, Taejo honored his agnatic ancestors to the 4th degree and their primary wives with the titles of "King" (Wang; 왕) and "Consort" (Bi; 비), respectively.[19] In 1411, Taejong upgraded the earlier honors by bestowing them the temple names "Progenitor" (Jo; 조) with the style of "the Great (King)" (Daewang; 대왕), and the title of "Queen" (Wanghu; 왕후).[20] As a result, Yi Ja-chun and Lady Choe were honored by Taejo as "King Hwan" (환왕) and "Consort Ui" (의비), and by Taejong with the temple name "Hwanjo the Great" (환조대왕) and posthumous name "Queen Uihye" (의혜왕후).
  6. Daughter of Han Gyeong, Internal Prince Ancheon and Duke Gyeongmin (안천부원군 경민공 한경); and Lady Shin of the Saknyeong Shin clan (삭녕 신씨), also known as Grand Madame Shin of the Samhan State (삼한국대부인 신씨).
  7. In 1393, she was posthumously titled by Taejo as "Consort Jeol" (Jeolbi; 절비), while Jeongjong honored her with the posthumous name "Queen Sinui" (신의왕후) in 1398.[21] In 1408, Taejong further honored her by upgrading the rank from "Queen" to "Grand Queen" (Wangtaehu; 왕태후), but the decision was reverted by King Sukjong in 1683. Elevated during the Korean Empire to "Sinui, the Empress Go" (신의고황후).
  8. Married Lady Ji of the Chungju Ji clan (충주 지씨), also known as Grand Madame Ji of the Samhan State (삼한국대부인 지씨).
  9. His wife's younger sisters became concubines of his second brother, King Jeongjong: Royal Noble Consort Seong (성빈) and Royal Consort Sug-ui (숙의).
  10. Married Lady Choe of the Dongju Choe clan (동주 최씨), also known as Grand Madame Choe of the Samhan State (삼한국대부인 최씨), and had issue (1 son and 2 daughters).
  11. With his concubine, Lady Yi of the Goseong Yi clan (고성 이씨), he had 1 son.
  12. Married Lady Min of the Yeoheung Min clan and had issue (1 son).
  13. Remarried to Lady Hwang of the Miryang Hwang clan and had issue (1 son and 2 daughters).
  14. Married for the third time to Lady Geum of the Gimpo Geum clan (김포 금씨), also known as Grand Princess Consort Geumneung (금릉부부인), and had issue (2 sons).
  15. As a legitimate daughter of the king, her title properly translates to "Royal Princess" (Gongju; 공주, 公主).
  16. Married Yi Ae (이애), birth name Yi Baek-gyeong (이백경), created Internal Prince Sangdang (상당부원군); eldest son of Yi Geo-yi, Internal Prince Seowon and Duke Mundo (서원부원군 문도공 이거이), the killer of Grand Prince Uian.
  17. Married Shim Jong (심종), created Prince Cheongwon (청원군); sixth son of Shim Deok-bu, Duke Jeongan and Count Cheongseong (정안공 청성백 심덕부) (1328 – 1401).
  18. Her older brother-in-law was Shim On, whose eldest daughter later became Sejong's primary wife (posthumously known as Queen Soheon).
  19. Died after 1466.
  20. Youngest daughter of Gang Yun-seong, Internal Prince Sangsan and Duke Munjeong (상산부원군 문정공 강윤성); and Lady Gang of the Jinju Gang clan (진주 강씨), also known as Internal Princess Consort Jinsan (진산부부인).
  21. Continued to be known as "Consort Hyeon" (Hyeonbi; 현비) after her death and not granted a posthumous name due to Taejong's enmity towards her and her sons. In 1669, at the recommendation of Song Si-yeol, Hyeonjong granted her a place at the Royal Shrine and the posthumous name of "Queen Sindeok" (신덕왕후). Elevated during the Korean Empire to "Sindeok, the Empress Go" (신덕고황후).
  22. While none of the birth dates of Taejo's daughters are known, she is believed to have been born around 1372.
  23. Married Yi Je (이제) (1365 – 6 October 1398), created Prince Heungan (흥안군) for services offered during Taejo's foundation of Joseon; son of Yi Il-lip (이인립) and nephew of Yi In-im (이인임) (? – 1388).
  24. Her husband was killed alongside Jeong Do-jeon's faction during the First Strife of the Princes.
  25. On 14 September 1406, Taejong bestowed upon his half-brothers Yi Bang-beon and Yi Bang-seok the posthumous names of "Prince Gongsun" (공순군) and "Prince Sodo" (소도군); Taejong never acknowledged the fact that his youngest brother was once a crown prince (Yi Bang-gwa stripped him of his title during the First Strife of Princes). In 1680, Sukjong elevated their posthumous names to "Grand Prince Muan" and "Grand Prince Uian".
  26. Both princes were slain during the onslaught of the First Strife of Princes. Jo Jun (조준) killed Yi Bang-beon out of the city gates; after his younger brother was stripped of his title as crown prince, Yi Geo-yi (father-in-law of his elder half-sister Princess Gyeongshin) and others, appeared from Yeongchumun Gate of Gyeongbok Palace and killed him.
  27. Eldest daughter of Won Sang, Duke Huijeong (희정공 원상); and Lady Son (손씨) (? – 1414).
  28. Entered the palace on 25 February 1398,[22] and was firstly known as Bin (빈, 嬪), which at the time wasn't a rank, but literally meant "concubine".
  29. Taejong treated Lady Won as his legal stepmother (계모) and in 1406, she became known as "Consort Seong" (Seongbi; 성비, 誠妃), after Taejong promoted her to Bi (비, 妃). This title was reminiscent of Goryeo, where it was given to the highest-level wives (the previous dynasty had a polygamous system which recognized multiple primary wives, as opposed to Joseon, where monogamy—a man could be married to one woman at a time, even if concubines were accepted—was enforced). It roughly translates to "Consort" and the rank was usually equivalent to that of a "Queen" (왕비, 王妃). After Taejo's death, a debate arose over whether she should be treated as his "main palace" (i.e. legal/primary wife). It was finally decided that her status was that of a concubine. Perhaps for this reason, the name on her tombstone is Seongbin (성빈, 誠嬪) instead of Seongbi (성비, 誠妃).
  30. Daughter of Yu Jun (유준).
  31. Lady Yu served as a palace maid under Queen Sindeok. In 1398, along with Chiljeomseon, Taejo bestowed on her the title of "Princess Jeonggyeong" (정경옹주).[23] Eight years later, in 1406, Taejong elevated her to "Royal Lady Jeonggyeong".[24]
  32. Her last recorded presence was during Sejong's first year of reign.[25]
  33. Known as Chiljeomseon, she was originally a courtesan in Gimhae. In 1398, Taejo bestowed on her the title of "Princess Hwaui".[26]
  34. Personal name Yi Myeo-ji (이며치).
  35. Married Hong Hae (홍해), created Prince Consort Dangseong (당성위); son of Hong Eon-su (홍언수).
  36. Chandeok (찬덕, 贊德) was a second junior rank (종2품) or third senior rank (정3품) that was part of the Internal Court (내명부, 內命婦) in early Joseon. Created during Taejo's era, it disappeared by the time of both Sejong's reign and Lady Ju's death.[27][28]
  37. Married Yi Deung (이등), created Prince Consort Gyecheon (계천위); son of Yi Gae (이개).

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