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Sunjo of Joseon

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Not to be confused with Seonjo of Joseon.

Sunjo
순조
純祖
Heavily damaged portrait of King Sunjo
King of Joseon
ReignAugust 1800 – 13 December 1834
PredecessorJeongjo
SuccessorHeonjong
RegentCrown Prince Yi Yeong (1827–1830)
Born29 July 1790
Jibokheon Hall, Changgyeonggung, Hanseong, Joseon
Died13 December 1834(1834-12-13) (aged 44)
Hoesangjeon Hall, Gyeonghuigung, Hanseong, Joseon
Burial
Illeung Mausoleum, Heonilleung, Seoul, South Korea
Spouse(s)
​
(m. 1802)​
Issue
among others...
Names
Yi Gong (이공; 李玜)
Posthumous name
  • Joseon: King Munan Mujeong Yeonggyeong Seonghyo the Great (문안무정영경성효대왕; 文安武靖英敬成孝大王)
  • Korean Empire: Emperor Munan Mujeong Yeonggyeong Seonghyo Suk (문안무정영경성효숙황제; 文安武靖英敬成孝肅皇帝)
Temple name
Sunjong (순종; 純宗) → Sunjo (순조; 純祖)[1]
ClanJeonju Yi
DynastyYi
FatherJeongjo of Joseon
MotherRoyal Noble Consort Su
ReligionKorean Confucianism (Neo-Confucianism)
Signature
Korean name
Hangul
순종, later 순조
Hanja
純宗, later 純祖
Revised RomanizationSunjong, later Sunjo
McCune–ReischauerSunjong, later Sunjo
Birth name
Hangul
이공
Hanja
李玜
Revised RomanizationI Gong
McCune–ReischauerI Kong
Monarchs of Korea
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 1864–1897

Sunjo (Korean: 순조; Hanja: 純祖; 29 July 1790 – 13 December 1834), personal name Yi Gong (이공; 李玜), was the 23rd monarch of the Joseon dynasty of Korea. He was the second son of King Jeongjo by his concubine, Royal Noble Consort Su of the Bannam Park clan.

Biography

He was born with the title of His Royal Highness Prince Yi Gong on 29 July 1790 (18 June 1790 in lunar calendar). Upon the death of his father, King Jeongjo, Yi Gong ascended to the throne at age 10 on 4 July 1800, lunar calendar.

In 1802, aged 13, King Sunjo married Lady Kim, known posthumously as Queen Sunwon, daughter of Kim Jo-sun, who was a leader of the Andong Kim clan.

Since he ascended the throne at a young age, Queen Dowager Jeongsun, the second queen of King Yeongjo, ruled as queen regent, which allowed her to wield power over state affairs. Queen Jeongsun's influence was to such extent that during Sunjo's reign, the status of Lady Hyegyŏng, the mother of Jeongjo and the grandmother of Sunjo, became a point of contention. During Jeonjo's reign, Lady Hyegyŏng was treated with respect and as the mother of King Jeongjo despite the fact that Lady Hyegyŏng was married to Crown Prince Sado who had been forced to commit suicide during the reign of Yeongjo, which had greatly affected Hyegyeong's status due to the controversy surrounding Sado's suicide. Following Sunjo's ascension, her status was lowered and despite Sunjo's efforts to reverse this later in his reign, they were unsuccessful.[2]

Despite King Sunjo's efforts to reform politics, the fundamental principles of government deteriorated. The state examination became disordered and corruption in the government personnel administration prevailed. This resulted in disorder in society and various riots broke out among the people, including the revolt by Hong Gyeong-nae in 1811–1812.[3] The Ogajaktongbeop (五家作統法), a census registration system to group five houses as one unit, was carried out in this period, and oppression against Catholicism began in earnest.[4]

Korean diplomatic ship 1811

In 1811 the last diplomatic envoys were sent by Korea to Japan. Based on records of that trip, a reconstruction of the diplomatic vessel has been made for the National Maritime Museum of Korea.

King Sunjo died after reigning for 35 years in 1834 at the age of 44. He was first buried next to Jangneung, Paju, the tomb of King Injo and Queen Inryeol but later moved to Illeung, Seoul as the Feng Shui at the old site was deemed to be unfavourable.[5]

Family

  • Father: King Jeongjo of Joseon (조선의 정조; 28 October 1752 – 18 August 1800)
    • Grandfather: King Jangjo of Joseon (조선의 장조; 13 February 1735 – 12 July 1762)
    • Grandmother: Queen Heongyeong of the Pungsan Hong clan (헌경왕후 홍씨; 6 August 1735 – 13 January 1816)
  • Mother: Royal Noble Consort Su of the Bannam Park clan (수빈 박씨; 8 May 1770 – 26 December 1822)
    • Grandfather: Park Jun-won (박준원; 1739–1807)
    • Grandmother: Lady Won of the Wonju Won clan (원주 원씨; 1740–1783)

Consort(s) and their respective issue

Ancestry

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Biological son of Grand Internal Prince Jeongye and Grand Internal Princess Consort Yongseong.

References

  1. ^ Bestowed in 1834 and 1857, respectively.
  2. ^ Lim, Hye Ryun (September 2015). "The changes of Hyegyonggung`s status at the time of King Yeongjo`s reign to King Sunjo`s one". 조선시대사학회. 74.
  3. ^ Seok Hwa, Kang (2022). "A Study on the Progress for the Jungju Castle Battle occurred in 1812 and the Comparison of the Capabilities of the Government Forces with the Rebel Armies". Korea Journal Central. 124. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  4. ^ "Cultural Heritage, the source for Koreans' Strength and Dream". Cultural Heritage Administration. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
  5. ^ "Heonilleung Royal Tomb Seoul, Korea". Exploring Korea. Archived from the original on 6 September 2013. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
Sunjo of Joseon
Born: 1790 Died: 1834
Regnal titles
Preceded by King of Joseon
1800–1834
with Queen Jeongsun (1800–1805) 		Succeeded by
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