Empress Sunmyeonghyo

Empress Sunmyeonghyo or literally known as Sunmyeong, the Filial Piety Empress (Korean: 순명효황후; Hanja: 純明孝皇后; RR: Sunmyeonghyohwanghu; 8 November 1872 – 23 October 1904[1]), of the Yeoheung Min clan, was the first wife and Crown Princess Consort of Crown Prince Yi Cheok, who later became the last emperor of the Korean Empire.

Empress Sunmyeonghyo
순명효황후
Empress consort of Korea (posthumously honored)
Crown Princess of Joseon
Tenure6 April 1882 – 13 October 1897
PredecessorCrown Princess Jo
SuccessorTitle and dynasty abolished
Crown Princess of Korea
Tenure13 October 1897 – 23 October 1904
PredecessorTitle established
SuccessorCrown Princess Yun
Born(1872-11-08)8 November 1872
Yangdeokbang, Gyedong District, Hanseong, Joseon Korea
Died23 October 1904(1904-10-23) (aged 31)
Kangtaesil, Gyeongun Palace, Hanseong, Korean Empire
Burial
Yureung
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1882⁠–⁠1904)​
Posthumous name
  • 순명비; 純明妃
  • 경현성휘순명효황후; 敬顯成徽純明孝皇后
HouseYeoheung Min clan (by birth)
Jeonju Yi clan (by marriage)
FatherMin Tae-ho
MotherInternal Princess Consort Jinyang of the Jincheon Song clan

Biography

Lady Min was born on 20 November 1872 into the Yeoheung Min clan to Min Tae-ho, leader of the Yeoheung Min clan, and his second wife, Lady Song of the Jincheon Song clan. It was said that her family was poor when she was young until her older brother, Min Yeong-ik, became the adoptive son of Min Seung-ho; who was a relative of the clan.

This was because Min Seung-ho was the adoptive son of Min Chi-rok, the father of Empress Myeongseong. Thus making her adoptive uncle the adoptive older brother of Empress Myeongseong who became Queen in 1866 which helped her family thrive.[2] Because the only son of her father was adopted, he adopted another son from a relative within their clan.

Lady Min also became the adoptive niece to Grand Internal Princess Consort Yeoheung and Grand Internal Prince Heungseon. Making her be adoptive cousins with Min Yeong-hwan, Min Yeong-chan, Prince Heungchin, and Emperor Gojong. Through her 4th great-grandfather, Min Jin-won, she was also a 4th great-grandniece to Queen Inhyeon, and a descendant of Queen Wongyeong. She is also a distant degree cousin of Empress Myeongseong.

She became Crown Princess Consort when she married Crown Prince Yi Cheok on 6 April 1882 at the age of 11. She was known as Crown Princess Consort Min (세자빈 민씨).

With the marriage, it granted her parents royal titles: her father was given the title of “Internal Prince Yeoeun” (여은부원군; 驪恩府院君; Yeoeunbuwongun), and her mother was given the title of “Internal Princess Consort Jinyang of the Jincheon Song clan” (진양부부인 진천 송씨; 鎭陽府夫人 鎭川 宋氏; Jinyangbubuin Jincheon Songssi). Her father's other two wives were also given royal titles as well since Lady Min was their step-daughter.

The princess, aged 22, was a witness to her mother-in-law's assassination on 8 October 1895, when she stood in front of the Empress, attempting to protect her.[3] This may have contributed to her early death, as she was plagued by severe depression thereafter.[3]

In 1897, when the Korean Empire became established, her royal title changed to Imperial Crown Princess Consort Min (황태자비 민씨; 皇太子妃 閔氏; Hwangtaejabi Minssi).

Although the Crown Princess and Crown Prince were at the age and stage to have an heir, they did not have children of their own. This was probably due to the Coffee Poisoning Plot that might have gotten her husband infertile from the poison.[4][5]

She died on 5 November 1904 in Kangtaeil, Gyeongun Palace (now known as Deoksu Palace), before her husband was enthroned.[6] The 13-year-old Yun Jeung-sun was selected and arranged to take her position as crown princess consort in 1907.

She was firstly given the posthumous title of Primary Consort Sunyeol (순열비; 純烈妃; Sunyeolbi), but it was soon changed to Primary Consort Sunmyeong (순명비; 純明妃; Sun-myeongbi). Her title was once again changed to her well-known posthumous title, Empress Sunmyeonghyo (순명효황후; 純明孝皇后; Sunmyeonghyohwanghu), when Sunjong became emperor on 19 July 1907.[7]

Empress Sunmyeong was first buried in Nae-dong, Yongmasan, Yangju, Gyeonggi Province where the Neungho at the time was called Yugangwon.[8] She was then moved to Geumgok-dong, Namyangju where the Neungho was changed to Yureung[9] when Sunjong died in 1926. The crown princess is buried with her husband and his second wife, Empress Sunjeong. In 1970, by order of President Park Chung-hee, construction of the Seoul Children's Grand Park started and opened the following year in the Yugangwon (Now Gwangjin-gu, Seoul).[10]

Family
  • Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandfather
    • Min Hyo-son (민효손, 閔孝孫)[11][12]
  • Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandmother
    • Lady Yun of the Papyeong Yun clan (본관: 파평 윤씨); daughter of Yun Ji-kang (윤지강)
  • Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandfather
    • Min Yeo-jun (민여준, 閔汝俊) (1539–1599)
  • Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandmother
  • Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandfather
    • Min Gi (민기, 閔箕) (1568–18 January 1641)
  • Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandmother
    • Lady Hong of the Namyang Hong clan (남양 홍씨, 南陽 洪氏); daughter of Hong Ik-hyeon (홍익현, 洪翼賢)
  • Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandfather
    • Min Gwang-hun (민광훈, 閔光勳) (1595–1659); scholar during the reign of King Injong
  • Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandmother
    • Lady Yi of the Yeonan Yi clan (이씨, 李氏);[13] (본관: 연안 이씨, 이광정의 딸) daughter of Yi Gwang-jeong (이광정, 李光庭)
  • Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandfather
    • Min Yu-jung (민유중, 閔維重) (1630 - 29 June 1687); Queen Inhyeon’s father
  • Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandmother
    • Internal Princess Consort Eunseong of the Eunjin Song clan (은성부부인 은진 송씨, 恩城府夫人 恩津 宋氏); Min Yu-jung's second wife; (본관: 은진 송씨, 송준길의 딸) daughter of Song Jun-gil (송준길, 宋俊吉), Yeonguijeong during the reign of King Hyojong.
  • Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandfather
    • Min Jin-won (민진원, 閔鎭遠) (1664 - 1736); Queen Inhyeon’s second older brother
  • Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandmother
    • Lady Yun of the Papyeong Yun clan (윤씨) (본관: 파평윤씨); daughter of Yun Ji-seon (윤지선, 尹趾善) (1627 - 1704)
  • Great-Great-Great-Grandfather
    • Min Hyeong-su (민형수, 閔亨洙)[14][15]
  • Great-Great-Great-Grandmother
    • Lady Yi of the Yongin Yi clan (용인 이씨); daughter of Yi Se-hang (이세항)
  • Great-Great-Grandfather
    • Min Baek-sang (민백상, 閔百祥) (1711 - 1761)[16]
      • Adoptive Great-Great-Grandfather - Min Baek-heung (민백흥, 閔百興) (1714 - 1774)[17]
  • Great-Great-Grandmother
    • Lady Lee of the Ubong Lee clan (본관: 우봉 이씨); daughter of Lee Gu (이구)
  • Great-Grandfather
    • Min Hong-seob (민홍섭, 閔弘燮)
      • Adoptive Great-Grandfather - Min Sang-seob (민상섭, 閔相燮)
  • Grandfather
    • Min Chi-oh (민치오, 閔致五)
  • Grandmother
    • Lady Kim of the Gimhae Kim clan (김해 김씨, 金海 金氏); daughter of Kim Won-sik (김원식, 金元植)
  • Father
    • Min Tae-ho, Duke Chungmun, Internal Prince Yeoeun (여은부원군 충문공 민태호, 閔台鎬/閔泰鎬) (1834 - 18 October 1884); became the adoptive son of Min Chi-sam (민치삼, 閔致三)
      • Uncle - Min Gyu-ho (민규호, 閔奎鎬) (20 August 1836 - 15 October 1878)
        • Aunt - Lady Song of the Eunjin Song clan (은진 송씨, 恩津 宋氏)
          • Cousin - Min Yeong-so (민영소, 閔泳韶) (1852 - 1917)
            • Cousin-in-law - Lady Kim of the Andong Kim clan (안동 김씨)
            • Cousin-in-law - Lady Gwak of the Cheongju Gwak clan (청주 곽씨)
              • First cousin once removed - Min Chung-sik (민충식, 閔忠植) (24 December 1881 - 2 November 1933)[18]
      • Adoptive Aunt - Grand Internal Princess Consort Sunmok (순목대원비, 純穆大院妃) (3 February 1818 - 8 January 1898)
      • Adoptive Uncle - Min Seung-ho (민승호, 閔升鎬) (1830 - 1874)[19]
        • Adoptive Aunt - Lady Kim of the Gwangsan Kim clan (본관: 광산 김씨, 光山 金氏) (? - ? 23 April)
          • Unnamed adoptive cousin (? - 1874)
        • Adoptive Aunt - Lady Kim of the Yeonan Kim clan (본관: 연안 김씨, 延安 金氏) (? - ? 11 February)
        • Adoptive Aunt - Lady Yi of the Deoksu Yi clan (본관: 덕수 이씨, 德水 李氏) (? - ? 1 July)
      • Adoptive Uncle - Min Gyeom-ho (민겸호, 閔謙鎬) (1838 - 10 June 1882)
        • Adoptive Aunt - Lady Seo (서씨, 徐氏)
      • Adoptive Aunt - Lady Min of the Yeoheung Min clan (본관: 여흥 민씨, 驪興 閔氏) (1859 - 1942)
        • Adoptive Uncle - Ju Eung-seon of the Sinan Ju clan (주용선) (본관: 신안 주씨) (1853 - 1925)
          • Adoptive Cousin - Ju Yang-gyu (주양규) (1904 - 1999)
  • Mother
    • Step - Internal Princess Consort Paseong of the Paepyeong Yun clan (정경부인 증 파성부부인 파평 윤씨, 坡城府夫人 坡平 尹氏); Min Tae-ho’s first wife
    • Biological - Internal Princess Consort Jinyang of the Jincheon Song clan (정경부인 증 진양부부인 진천 송씨, 鎭陽府夫人 鎭川 宋氏); Min Tae-ho's second wife
    • Step - Internal Princess Consort Uichang of the Uiryeong Nam clan (의창부부인 의령 남씨, 宜昌府夫人 宜寧 南氏); Min Tae-ho’s third wife
  • Siblings
    • Older brother - Min Yeong-ik (민영익, 閔泳翊) (1860 - 1914);[20] became the adoptive son of Min Seung-ho
      • Nephew - Min Jeong-sik (민정식, 閔庭植) (1897 - 1952)
        • Grandnephew - Min Byeong-jae (민병해, 閔丙海) (1925 - 1945); went missing
        • Grandnephew - Min Byeong-ho (민병호, 閔丙湖) (1926 - ?)
        • Grandniece - Lady Min of the Yeoheung Min clan (여흥 민씨, 驪興 閔氏)
        • Grandniece - Lady Min of the Yeoheung Min clan (여흥 민씨, 驪興 閔氏)
        • Grandniece - Lady Min of the Yeoheung Min clan (여흥 민씨, 驪興 閔氏)
          • Grandnephew-in-law - Go Seok-jun (고석준, 高錫俊) of the Jeju Go clan
    • Adoptive younger brother - Min Yeong-rin (민영린, 閔泳璘) (1873 - 1 June 1932); son of Min Sul-ho (민술호, 閔述鎬)
  • Husband

References
  1. In lunar calendar, the crown princess was born on 20 October 1872 and died on 28 September 1904
  2. "민영익 등 보빙사 큰절로 禮 갖춰" [Bobingsa, such as Min Yeong-ik, is equipped with a big bow]. JoongAng Ilbo (in Korean). 16 May 2009. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  3. "A Complete Guide to All 27 Joseon Kings". Pinpoint Korea. 20 April 2022. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  4. "Did you know that ...(22) The coffee plot". The Korea Times. 9 September 2011. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
  5. "September 11, coffee and Russia in 19th century Korea (part 1)". The Korea Times. 8 September 2018. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
  6. "'사라진 대한제국' 두 황제, 망국의 한 품고 이곳에 잠들다 ［유병갑의 조선왕릉 산책(29)］" [The two emperors of the 'disappeared Korean Empire' fall asleep here, embracing the resentment of ruin ［Yoo Byung-gap's Walk to the Royal Tombs of Joseon (29)］]. Hapt (in Korean). 27 December 2021. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  7. "황태자비의 시호를, 순명으로 고치다" [Correcting the crown prince's posthumous name to Sunmyeong]. Veritable Records of the Joseon Dynasty (in Korean). 22 November 1904. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  8. "Sports & Leisure - Seoul Metropolitan Government". Seoul Metropolitan Government. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  9. ［Arirang TV］ Hongneung and Yureung Royal Tombs, UNESCO World Heritage. Arirang Food & Travel. 8 May 2021. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  10. "Seoul Children's Grand Park, fun for everyone". KBS WORLD. 3 May 2011. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  11. Min is an ascendant of Queen Wongyeong’s grandfather's older brother, Min Yu (민유, 閔愉)
  12. His daughter became a concubine for King Yeonsangun
  13. Lady Yi is a maternal cousin of Heo Jeok; their grandmother, Lady Min, was the aunt of Royal Noble Consort Jeong of the Yeoheung Min clan (a concubine of King Seonjo) and the granddaughter of Princess Gyeongsuk (a daughter of King Seongjeong)
  14. His eldest daughter married Lady Hyegyeong's older brother; thus becoming an aunt-in-law to King Jeongjo
  15. His younger brother, Min Tong-su (민통수, 閔通洙), married Lady Song of the Eunjin Song clan (은진 송씨, 恩津 宋氏). Lady Song was the maternal great-granddaughter of Kim Gwang-chan (김광찬, 金光燦); the 5th great-grandfather of Queen Sunwon and Kim Jwa-geun, and the 6th great-grandfather of Queen Cheorin and Queen Hyoheyon
  16. His older sister married Lady Hyegyeong's older brother
  17. The younger brother of Min Baek-sang
  18. Married Lady Yi of the Hansan Yi clan (한산 이씨) and had one son, Min Byeong-jeung (민병증, 閔丙曾). Through his son and wife, Lady Jo of the Yangju Jo clan (양주 조씨), they had 1 daughter, Min Myeong-gi (민명기, 閔明基), and 4 sons: Min Seong-gi (민성기, 閔成基), Min Seok-gi (민석기, 閔石基), Min Cheol-gi (민철기, 閔鐵基), and Min Seon-gi (민선기, 閔善基)
  19. Became Min Chi-rok’s adoptive son and Empress Myeongseong’s adoptive older brother
  20. Died in Shanghai, China

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