Yeong-bin Yi

Royal Noble Consort Yeong of the Lee Clan
영빈 이씨
Royal Noble Consort
Born 15 August 1696
Kingdom of Joseon
Died 23 August 1764(1764-08-23) (aged 78)
Changgyeong Palace, Hanseong
Spouse Yeongjo of Joseon
Issue Princess Hwapyeong
Princess Hwahyeop
Crown Prince Sado
Princess Hwawan
Clan Jeonui Lee
전의 이씨
Father Lee Yupen
Mother Lady Jeongyeong
Korean name
Hangul 영빈 이씨
Hanja 暎嬪 李氏
Revised Romanization Yeongbin Issi
McCune–Reischauer Yŏngpin Issi

Royal Noble Consort Yeong of the Jeonui Lee clan, alternatively known as Lady Seonhui, was consort to Yeongjo of Joseon and the mother of Crown Prince Sado.[1] She is most well-known for advising Yeongjo to execute their son, as the latter suffered serious mental disorders.[2]

Imperial life

Consort Yeong's royal seal

Consort Yeong gave birth to the heir apparent in 1735. Crown Prince Sado was not the first male child to be born to Yeongjo, but the death of Crown Prince Hyojang nearly seven years earlier, meant that the court was particularly pleased to welcome another son.[3] Yeongjo ordered Sado to be brought up in a palace quite far from the main residence, so Consort Yeong did not personally oversee his upbringing.[4] The ladies-in-waiting in charge of looking after the prince apparently slighted Consort Yeong frequently, as they considered her to be of common birth.[5]

Consort Yeong's daughter-in-law records that she was affectionate toward her children, but very strict and taught them, "as if she were not their mother."[6] However, she tended to her children personally when they fell ill.[7] When Lady Hyegyeong entered the court to marry Crown Prince Sado, Consort Yeong treated her as one of her own children, despite the fact that Lady Hyegyeong was expected to address Yeongjo's primary wife, Queen Jeongseong, as her mother-in-law.[6] In 1748, Princess Hwapyeong died in childbirth and Consort Yeong is recorded as having grieved excessively.[8]

After the death of his primary wife, Yeongjo married his second queen in 1759. Consort Yeong supported his decision to remarry and assisted in preparing the state celebrations.[9]

Consort Yeong was aware that Yeongjo disliked the crown prince, an issue that Queen Jeongseong discussed frequently with her.[10] She was also aware that Sado suffered serious mental illness and that he was killing ladies-in-waiting and eunuchs, as Lady Hyegyeong went to her for advice after Sado's first murder in 1757.[11] Though initially Consort Yeong wanted to talk to Sado, Lady Hyegyeong persuaded her not to, as she feared the consequences if Sado found out she had spoken to his mother.[12] In 1760, the crown prince lost his temper at a birthday celebration and cursed at his mother and children.[13] When Sado began to threaten Princess Hwawan to gain more personal freedoms, Consort Yeong attended their meetings, as she feared for her daughter's safety. During one meeting in 1760, she witness Sado threaten to, "slash Princess Hwawan with [his] sword."[14]

Execution of Prince Sado

On 4 July, 1762, Consort Yeong wrote to Lady Hyegyeong in response to the rumour that Crown Prince Sado had attempted to enter the upper palace to kill his father. In the letter, she apologised preemptively to her daughter-in-law.[15] On the same day, she spoke to Yeongjo and advised him that Sado's illness was uncontrollable. She stated that Sado should be removed, but his wife and son should not be killed.[16] After Yeongjo left, Consort Yeong apparently beat her chest and refused to eat.[17]

After the execution of her son, Lady Hyegyeong records that Consort Yeong transferred her love to her grandson. Yi San moved into the upper palace and slept in the same room as Consort Yeong, who organised his meals and study sessions.[18]

Death

Consort Yeong developed a tumor on her back and died on 23 August, 1764. In the opinion of her daughter-in-law, however, Consort Yeong's intense grief after the execution of her son also weakened her.[19]

Family

  • Father: Lee Yupen (이유번)
  • Mother: Lady Jeongyeong of the Hanyang Kim clan (정경부인 한양김씨)
  • Husband: Yi Geum, King Yeongjo of Joseon (31 October 1694 – 22 April 1776) (조선 영조)
    • Daughter: Princess Hwapyeong (27 April 1727 – 24 June 1748) (화평옹주)
      • Son-in-law: Geumseongwi Park Myeong-won (금성위 박명원)
    • Daughter: (1728 – 1731)
    • Daughter: (1729 – 1731)
    • Daughter: (1732 – 1736)
    • Daughter: Princess Hwahyeop (1733 – 1752) (화협옹주)
      • Son-in-law: Yeongseongwi Shin Gwang-su (영성위 신광수)
    • Son: Yi Seon, Crown Prince Sado (13 February 1735 – 12 July 1762) (이선 사도세자)
    • Daughter: Princess Hwawan (9 March 1738 – 10 June 1808) (화완옹주)
      • Son-in-law: Ilseongwi Jeong Jidal (1732 – 1757) (일성위 정치달)

References

Notes

  1. ↑ Kim (1974), p. 15.
  2. ↑ Kim (1974), p. 16.
  3. ↑ Kim (1974), p. 80.
  4. ↑ Kim (1974), p. 83.
  5. ↑ Kim (1974), p. 86.
  6. 1 2 Kim (1974), p. 51.
  7. ↑ Kim (1974), p. 58.
  8. ↑ Kim (1974), p. 92.
  9. ↑ Kim (1974), p. 69.
  10. ↑ Kim (1974), p. 126.
  11. ↑ Kim (1974), p. 132.
  12. ↑ Kim (1974), p. 131.
  13. ↑ Kim (1974), p. 147.
  14. ↑ Kim (1974), p. 149.
  15. ↑ Kim (1974), p. 176.
  16. ↑ Kim (1974), p. 175-176.
  17. ↑ Kim (1974), p. 177.
  18. ↑ Kim (1974), p. 75.
  19. ↑ Kim (1974), p. 195-196.

Works cited

  • Kim, Yang Hi Choi (1974). Hanjung Nok: Memoirs of an Yi Dynasty Court Lady (MA). Australian National University.
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