Queen Gonghye

Not to be confused with Queen Gongye.
Queen Gonghye
공혜왕후
恭惠王后
Queen consort of Joseon
Tenure 31 December 1469 – 30 April 1474
Predecessor Queen Ansun
Successor Queen Yun
Born 17 November 1456
Yeonhwabang, Kingdom of Joseon (Current Yeonji-dong and Yeongeon-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea)
Died 9 May 1474 (aged 17)
Guhyeonjeon Hall, Changdeok Palace, Hanseong, Kingdom of Joseon
Burial
Sunneung Tomb, Samneung Cluster, Paju, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1467⁠–⁠1474)​
Names
Han Song-yi (한송이, 韓松伊)
Posthumous name
  • Queen Hwiui Sinsuk Gonghye
    • 휘의신숙공혜왕후
    • 徽懿愼肅恭惠王后
Clan Cheongju Han clan (by birth)
Jeonju Yi clan (by marriage)
Dynasty House of Yi (by marriage)
Father Han Myeong-hoe, Internal Prince Sangdang
Mother Internal Princess Consort Hwangryeo of the Yeoheung Min clan
Religion Korean Buddhism
Korean name
Hangul
공혜왕후
Hanja
恭惠王后
Revised Romanization Gonghye Wanghu
McCune–Reischauer Konghye Wanghu
Birth name
Hangul
한송이
Hanja
韓松伊
Revised Romanization Han Song-yi
McCune–Reischauer Han Song-i

Queen Gonghye (Korean: 공혜왕후, Hanja: 恭惠王后; 17 November 1456 – 9 May 1474), of the Cheongju Han clan (Korean: 청주 한씨, Hanja: 淸州 韓氏), was the first wife of King Seongjong, 9th monarch of Joseon. She was the Queen of Joseon from 1469 until her death in 1474.

Life

Han Song-yi was born November 17, 1456, into the Cheongju Han clan, as the youngest child of Han Myeong-hoe and his wife, Lady Min of the Yeoheung Min clan. Through her mother, Lady Han Song-yi was a second cousin of Queen Jeongsun. Through her father, Lady Han was also a third cousin twice removed of Queen Ansun, the second wife of King Yejong.

In 1460, her third older sister, Han Naeng-yi, who was 15 years old, married Yi Hwang, Crown Prince Haeyang and became the Crown Princess of Joseon. Her mother become “Internal Princess Consort Hwangryeo” (황려부부인, 黃驪府夫人), and her father was granted the title of “Internal Prince Sangdang” (상당부원군, 上黨府院君). However, she died in 1461, due to postpartum illness, five days after giving birth to Yi Bun, Grand Prince Inseong. Posthumously, she was honoured as Queen Jangsun.

On January 12, 1467, when Han Song-yi was 10 years old, she married Yi Hyeol, Prince Jalsan, the youngest son of Crown Prince Uigyeong. She was granted the title of “Princess Consort Cheonan” (천안군부인), and her parents kept the same royal titles.

It was said that Jalsan's grandfather, King Sejo, intended to have Lady Han as a concubine for Jalsan, but Crown Princess Consort Han, the biological mother of the Prince, had sought to make Song-yi her daughter-in-law after seeing her through a window of Heo Gye-ji’s house (허계지, 許繼智).

In 1470, with her father’s influence, Jalsan became King Seongjong, the 9th ruler of the Joseon Dynasty and Lady Han's status changed from Princess Consort to Queen. Her mother-in-law, now honoured as Queen Insu, was strict with her, but she taught the young Queen thoroughly in accordance with Confucian ethics such as having her read The Story of Yeolnyeo (열녀전).

When the Queen couldn’t get pregnant, King Seongjong had started to take concubines. Without despising the women, Song-yi prepared and presented the clothes to them. She also gave jewelry and pieces of clothing as gifts to the concubines.

In 1473, she moved to her hometown, where the home of her parents were at, because of an illness and Seongjong made sure to visit her in order to check on her condition. The Queen recovered and moved back into the palace, but within the last months of the same year, her illness reappeared. Because her health didn’t improve, Song-yi requested to move her residence to Changdeok Palace, and the three Queen Dowagers (Jaseong, Insu and Inhye), as well the King, tended to her. Her parents were also granted permission to enter the palace and take care of their youngest daughter, but the Queen’s sickness didn’t seem to go away.

Lady Han's parents did not eat as she was in bad health, but she urged them to eat as they have been starving for days while staying by her side.

She died a couple of days later in Changdeok Palace’s Guhyeon Hall, at the age of 17 on May 9, 1474.

For her posthumous title, Seongjong used “Gong” (공,恭) to praise her for docilely serving her in-laws, and “Hye” (혜, 惠) for her generosity, tenderness, and kindness. Her title became Queen Gonghye (공혜왕후, 恭惠王后).

Her Neungho was called Sunhon (순혼, 順魂), and later became Sunneung. The Jeonho was set as Sogyeongjeon.

In the 4th year of Yeonsangun's reign (1498), she was honoured with Hwiuishinsuk (휘의신숙, 徽懿愼肅) to her posthumous title.

The Queen's memorial tablet is enshrined in Jongmyo's main hall and her tomb is located in Samneung, Bongilcheon-ri, Jori-eup, Paju-si, Gyeonggi Province.

Family

Parents

  • Father − Han Myeong-hoe (26 November 1415 – 28 November 1487) (한명회, 韓明澮)
  • Uncle − Han Myeong-jin (한명진, 韓明溍) (1426–1454). Wife: Lady Kwon of the Goryeong Kwon clan (고령 권씨, 安東 權氏)
    • a) Grandfather − Han Gi (1393–1429) (한기, 韓起)
      • b) Great-grandfather − Han Sang-jil (한상질, 韓尙質) (1350 - 10 January 1400/1410)
        • c) Great-great-grandfather − Han Su (한수, 韓脩) (1333–1384)
          • d) Great-great-great-grandfather - Han Gong-ui (한공의, 韓公義) (1307 - 1365)
        • c) Great-great-grandmother − Lady Kwon of the Andong Kwon clan (안동 권씨, 安東 權氏)
      • b) Great-grandmother − Princess Consort Changhwa of the Cheongpung Song clan (창화군부인 청풍 송씨, 昌化夫人 淸風 宋氏); Han Sang-jil’s 2nd wife
    • a) Grandmother − Lady Yi of the Yeoju Yi clan (증 정경부인 여주 이씨, 贈 貞敬夫人 驪州李氏)
  • Mother − Internal Princess Consort Hwangryeo of the Yeoheung Min clan (?–1479) (황려부부인 여흥 민씨, 黃驪府夫人 驪興 閔氏)
    • a) Grandfather − Min Dae-saeng (1372–1467) (민대생, 閔大生)
    • a) Grandmother − Lady Heo of the Yangcheon Heo clan (양천 허씨, 陽川 許氏)

Sibling(s)

  • Older sister − Lady Han of the Cheongju Han clan. Husband: Shin Ju (신주, 申澍) of the Goryeong Shin clan (고령 신씨, 高靈 申氏)
    • Nephew − Shin Jong-ho (신종호, 申從濩) (1456–1497)
      • Grandnephew − Shin Hang (신항, 申沆) (1477–1507). Wife: Princess Hyesuk (혜숙옹주, 惠淑翁主) (1478–?); King Seongjong’s eldest daughter
  • Older sister − Lady Han of the Cheongju Han clan. Husband: Yun Ban (윤반, 尹磻) of the Papyeong Yun clan (파평 윤씨, 坡平 尹氏)
  • Older sister − Han Naeng-yi (한냉이), Queen Jangsun of the Cheongju Han clan (장순왕후 한씨, 章順王后 韓氏) (22 February 1445 – 5 January 1462). Husband: King Yejong (예종, 睿宗) (14 January 1450 – 31 January 1469)
    • Nephew − Yi Bun, Grand Prince Inseong (인성대군 이분, 仁城大君 李糞) (31 December 1461 – 4 December 1463)
  • Older brother: Han Bo, Prince Namseong (낭성군 한보, 琅城君 韓堡) (1447–1522). Wife: Lady Yi of the Hansan Yi clan (한산 이씨); daughter of Yi Hun, Prince Hanseong (한성군 이훈)
    • Nephew − Han Gyeong-gi (한경기, 韓景琦) (1472–1529). Wives: (a) Lady Yi of the Jeonju Yi clan (전주 이씨, 淑人 全州 李氏); daughter of Yi Yi, Prince Gyerim (계림군 이이), (b) Lady Kim of the Eonyang Kim clan (언양 김씨, 淑人 彦陽 金氏))
    • Nephew − Han Gyeong-chim (한경침, 韓景琛) (1482–?). Wife: Princess Gongshin (공신옹주, 恭愼翁主) (1481–1549); King Seongjong’s third daughter

Consort

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