Sukbin Hong

Sukbin Hong
Royal Consort of the Senior First Rank
Bornafter 1417
Joseon
Diedafter 1485
Joseon
Consort ofKing Munjong
Issue1 daughter
Clan
DynastyYi
FatherHong Sim
MotherLady, of the Papyeong Yun clan
Korean name
Hangul
숙빈 홍씨
Hanja
肅嬪 洪氏
RRSukbin Hongssi
MRSukpin Hongssi

Sukbin Hong (Korean: 숙빈 홍씨; Hanja: 肅嬪 洪氏), or Concubine Suk,[a] of the Namyang Hong clan, was a consort of King Munjong, the fifth monarch of Joseon.[1]

Biography

Early life

Lady Hong was most likely born during the reign of King Sejong. The exact date and year of birth is not clear, but the Veritable Records of the Joseon Dynasty mention that she was younger than Queen Hyeondeok.[2] Her father was Hong Sim, who would later become governor of Hanseong (한성판윤), and her mother was a lady from the Papyeong Yun clan.

Her younger brother, Hong Eung (홍응), was a member of the State Council during the reign of King Seongjong.[3]

In 1466, her nephew, Hong Sang (홍상), married Princess Myeongsuk, the only daughter of Crown Prince Uigyeong and Queen Insu.[4][5]

Through her maternal line, she was a first cousin of Soyong Yun (소용 윤씨), another one of King Munjong's consorts; a first cousin once removed of Queen Jeonghui; a second cousin twice removed of Queen Janggyeong and Yun Im; a second cousin three times removed of Queen Munjeong and Yun Won-hyeong; and a third cousin once removed of Queen Jeonghyeon.

Life in the palace

In 1431, when King Munjong was still crown prince, Lady Hong was officially selected as his consort, alongside Lady Gwon (posthumously Queen Hyeondeok) and Lady Jeong (later known as Soyong Jeong).[6][7] The three of them were officially appointed as consorts of the crown prince of the junior fourth rank (승휘; seunghwi) and entered the palace together.[8]

Despite Lady Hong being closest to the crown prince at the time when Crown Princess Bong was deposed, King Sejong chose Lady Gwon as the new crown princess, because she was older, held the higher rank, and had already given birth to two children, including Princess Gyeonghye.

Meanwhile, Lady Hong gave birth to a daughter in 1441, but the child died in 1444.[9]

After King Munjong acceded to the throne, she was promoted to royal consort of the junior first rank (귀인; gwiin) and given the authority to manage the Internal Court since the position of queen was empty.

In 1452, a few months after Danjong succeeded his father, Lady Hong was elevated to the senior first rank (빈; bin), with the honorific title suk (숙), meaning "respectful".[10][11]

She moved into a residence that had belonged to the late Grand Prince Anpyeong and stepped down from her position as leader of the Internal Court following Danjong's marriage to Queen Jeongsun.

Later life

Lady Han's last appearance in official records was in 1485. It remains unknown when she died and where her tomb is located.

Titles

  • During the reign of King Sejong (r. 1418–1450):
    • Lady, of the Namyang Hong clan (남양 홍씨; 南陽洪氏)
      • Hong Sim's daughter (홍심의 딸)
      • Lady Hong (홍씨; 洪氏)
    • Seunghwi[b] (승휘; 承徽; from 5 May 1431), consort of the crown prince of the junior fourth rank
  • During the reign of King Munjong (r. 1450–1452):
    • Gwiin[c] (귀인; 貴人; from 1450), royal consort of the junior first rank
  • During the reign of King Danjong (r. 1452–1455):
    • Concubine Suk[a] (숙빈; 肅嬪; from 30 August 1452), royal consort of the senior first rank

Family

  • Father: Hong Sim (홍심; 1398–1456)
  • Mother: Lady, of the Papyeong Yun clan (파평 윤씨)
  • Sibling(s)
  • Consort of: King Munjong (문종대왕; 15 November 1414 – 10 June 1452)
  • Issue
    • Unnamed daughter (1441–1444)

Ancestry

Ancestors of Sukbin Hong
Hong Yu-ryong
(홍유룡)
Hong Deok-bo
(홍덕보)
Hong Sim
(홍심)
Concubine Suk
Yun Cheok
(윤척)
Yun Seung-rye
(윤승례)
Lady, of the Jeonui Yi clan
(전의 이씨)
Yun Gyu
(윤규)
Seong Yeo-wan
(성여완)
Lady, of the Changnyeong Seong clan
(창녕 성씨)
Lady, of the Papyeong Yun clan
(파평 윤씨)

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 The literal translation of bin (빈; 嬪) is "concubine". Combined with the honorific title suk (숙; 肅), the full meaning is "Respectful Concubine".
  2. ↑ lit. ''Lady of Inherent Glory''
  3. ↑ lit. ''Noble Lady''

References

  1. ↑ 조선왕조실록. Veritable Records of the Joseon Dynasty (in Korean). Retrieved 21 July 2021.
  2. ↑ "Joseon Wangjo Sillok" <18th year of Sejong> (28 December 1436) part. 1 (in Korean).
  3. ↑ 홍응 (in Korean). Archived from the original on 14 April 2015. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
  4. ↑ Joseon Wangjo Sillok:
    • 《조선왕조실록》 세조 12년(1466) 12월 19일 1번째 기사
    • 《조선왕조실록》 중종 8년(1513) 4월 9일 3번째 기사
  5. ↑ 조선왕조실록. Veritable Records of the Joseon Dynasty (in Korean). Retrieved 21 July 2021.
  6. ↑ 조선왕조실록. Veritable Records of the Joseon Dynasty (in Korean). Retrieved 21 July 2021.
  7. ↑ 《조선왕조실록》 세종 13년(1431) 1월 19일 6번째 기사
  8. ↑ 《조선왕조실록》 세종 13년(1431) 3월 15일 3번째 기사
  9. ↑ 《조선왕조실록》 세종 27년(1444) 12월 4일 1번째 기사
  10. ↑ 《조선왕조실록》 단종 즉위년(1452) 8월 7일 2번째 기사
  11. ↑ 조선왕조실록. Veritable Records of the Joseon Dynasty (in Korean). Retrieved 21 July 2021.