Munjong of Joseon

문종 文宗 | cor-type = Enthronement | reign-type1 = Tenure | reg-type1 = Monarch

| issue-link = #Family | issue-pipe = among others...

• Gyeongtae (Jingtai) ()
• Ming dynasty: Gongsun () | house-type = Clan

Munjong (; 15 November 1414 – 10 June 1452), personal name Yi Hyang (), was the fifth monarch of the Joseon dynasty of Korea. As the eldest son (and the sickly son) of Sejong the Great and Queen Soheon, he succeeded to the throne in 1450.

Biography

Yi Hyang was the longest serving heir apparent during the Joseon period, holding the position for a record 29 years.

In January 1421, Sejong instructed that his eight-year-old son be educated by scholars from the Hall of Worthies, then in October the same year, he was invested as crown prince and sent to study at the Sungkyunkwan. From 1442 until his own ascension to the throne in 1450, Yi Hyang served as regent and took care of state affairs during the final years of his father's reign, as Sejong developed various illnesses and disorders.

Most of his achievements were during his time as crown prince. Although credit is primarily given to Chang Yŏngsil for inventing the water gauge, the Veritable Records of the Joseon Dynasty affirm that it was the prince who found measures of water levels in the ground. Yi Hyang also contributed to the development of the Korean vernacular script (today known as Hangul).

Reign

Yi Hyang ascended to the throne as King Munjong in 1450, and his reign marked the beginning of an imbalance of power at the Joseon court. Gim Bi-hwan describes the "interaction of the royal authority, administrative power, remonstrative power, and the collective authority of scholars outside the office," before Munjong as contributing to a situation that allowed the country to function constitutionally. During Munjong's reign, however, the balance collapsed, setting the stage for his brother to lead a coup d'etat in 1452 against Munjong's son.

Munjong's reign also saw the demolition of Gyejodang Hall, a building within Gyeongbokgung Palace, a facility that was used by Munjong when he was crown prince to handle state affairs on behalf of his father, Sejong and to greet foreign envoys.

During the reign of Munjong, books such as the Goryeosa and the Goryeosa Jeolyo were written. He was also deeply interested in military matters, and reformed the army into five sas from the previous twelve.

Munjong died on 10 June 1452 at the age of 37, likely of septicemia caused by infected boils. He was succeeded by his eldest son Danjong, who was only 12 at the time and was forced to abdicate in 1455 in favor of his uncle Grand Prince Seyong, who became King Sejo.

Marriage

Munjong was first married to Lady Gim of the (old) Andong Gim clan, between 1427 and 1429. She reportedly used witchcraft to gain his love. She also burned the shoes of Munjong's concubine, and made her drink the ashes with alcohol. When her father-in-law, King Sejong, found out about these actions, he deposed her.

The same year his first wife was ousted, Munjong remarried to Lady Bong of the Haeum Bong clan. She was deposed in 1436, when it was discovered that she had a homosexual love affair with one of her palace maids named So-ssang ().

Lastly, in 1437, Lady Gwon of the Andong Gwon clan became the third wife of Munjong, while he was still the crown prince. Originally a concubine, she gave birth to two daughters, one of whom was Princess Gyeonghye, and to Yi Hong-wi, Mujong's only surviving son, who later became King Danjong. Lady Gwon died in 1441, soon after the birth of her son, and when her husband took the throne, she was posthumously honored as "Queen Hyeondeok" (Hyeondeok Wanghu; 현덕왕후, 顯德王后).

Family

Parents

• Father: King Sejong of Joseon (; 15 May 1397 – 8 April 1450)
• Mother: Queen Soheon of the Cheongsong Shim clan (; 12 October 1395 – 19 April 1446)

Consorts and issue

• Crown Princess Hwi of the (old) Andong Gim clan (; 1410–1429)
• Crown Princess Sun of the Haeum Bong clan (; 1414–1436)
• Queen Hyeondeok of the Andong Gwon clan (; 17 April 1418 – 10 August 1441)
  • First daughter (1434–1438)
  • Princess Gyeonghye (; 1436 – 30 December 1473), second daughter
  • Crown Prince Yi Hong-wi (; 9 August 1441 – 7 November 1457), first son
• Royal Noble Consort Suk of the Namyang Hong clan (; 1426–?)
  • Fourth daughter (1443–1447)
• Royal Consort Sug-ui of the Nampyeong Mun clan (; 1426–1508)
• Royal Consort So-yong of the Munhwa Yu clan (; 1423–?)
• Royal Consort So-yong of the Andong Gwon clan (; 1424–?)
• Royal Consort So-yong of the Dongnae Jeong clan ()
  • Second son
• Royal Consort So-yong of the Papyeong Yun clan ()
• Court Lady Yang (; 1423–?)
  • Princess Gyeongsuk (; 1439–1482), third daughter
  • Fifth daughter (1450–1451)
• Court Lady Jang (; 1426–?)
  • Third son (1446–1447)

Ancestry

() () () () () / (吾魯思不花)|17=17. Queen Uihye of the Yeongheung Choe clan (의혜왕후 최씨)|boxstyle_5=background-color: #9fe;|18=18. Han Gyeong, Internal Prince Ancheon(안천부원군 한경)|20=20. Min Byeon(민변)|24=24. Shim Ryong(심룡)|13=13. Lady Mun of the Incheon Mun clan(인천 문씨)|15=15. Lady Gim of the Yeongju Gim clan(영주 김씨)|19=19. Lady Shin of the Saknyeong Shin clan (삭녕 신씨)|22=22. Song Seon (송선)|25=25. Lady Gim(김씨)|21=21. Lady Heo of the Yangcheon Heo clan (양천 허씨)|23=23. Lady Ha of the Dalseong Ha clan(달성 하씨)|26=26. Mun Pil-dae()}}

References

Sources

• {{cite book
• {{cite journal
• {{cite journal

References

1. "Restored crown prince's hall opened for first time in 110 years".
2. link. [[Encyclopedia of Korean Culture]]
3. https://koreascience.kr/article/JAKO201404065095277.page