Queen Myeongui

For other uses, see Princess Yeondeok.

Queen Myeongui 명의왕후
Queen consort of Goryeo
Tenure	1099–1105
Coronation	1099
Predecessor	Queen Sasuk
Successor	Queen Gyeonghwa
Queen dowager of Goryeo
Tenure	1105–1112
Coronation	1105
Predecessor	Queen Dowager Sasuk
Successor	Queen Dowager Gongye
Monarch	King Yejong (son)
Born	c.1054/5 Jeongju-si, Gaeseong-bu, Gaegyeong-si, Goryeo
Died	14 July 1112 (aged about late 60s / early 70s) Sinbak Temple, Gaeseong-bu, Gaegyeong-si, Goryeo
Burial	August 1112 Sungneung tomb
Spouse	Sukjong of Goryeo ​ (m. 1079)​
Issue	Wang U Princess Daeryeong Princess Heungsu Princess Ansu Wang Pil Wang Jing-eom Wang Bo Wang Hyo Wang Seo Princess Boknyeong Wang Gyo
Regnal name Princess Myeongbok (명복궁주; 明福宮主; from before 1079)[1] Princess Yeondeok (연덕궁주; 延德宮主)[1] Queen Mother Myeongui (명의태후; 明懿太后; from 1105)[1] Grand Queen Mother Myeongui (명의왕태후; 明懿王太后; from 1108)[1] Posthumous name Grand Queen Mother Yuga Gwanghye Myeongui 유가광혜명의왕태후 (柔嘉光惠明懿王太后)
House	Chŏngju Yu clan
Father	Yu Hong
Mother	Lady Kim, of the Gyeongju Kim clan[2]

Queen Myeongui of the Chŏngju Yu clan (Korean: 명의왕후 유씨; Hanja: 明懿王后 柳氏; d. 8 August 1112) was a Korean queen consort as the first and primary wife of King Sukjong of Goryeo and the mother of most of his children.[3]

Biography

Marriage and palace life

She married Sukjong when he was still known as Duke Gyerim (계림공). Before 1079, she was given royal title as Princess Myeongbok (명복궁주; 明福宮主) while live in Myeongbok Palace and later changed into Princess Yeondeok (연덕궁주; 延德宮主) when she moved to Yeondeok Palace. Her mother, Lady Kim was formally called as "Grand Lady of the Nakrang State" (낙랑국대부인; 樂浪國大夫人).[4]

Then, following her husband who ascended the throne as a King, she become a Queen Consort in 1099. But, in the Goryeosa, there was some misunderstood because her name after become a queen consort, her clan name was written as Yi clan (이씨; 李氏) which this wasn't her clan.^[clarification needed]

However, on 10 November 1105, her husband passed away and their oldest son, Wang U ascended the throne as Yejong of Goryeo those making Yu honoured both of Queen Mother (태후; 太后) and Grand Queen Mother (왕태후; 王太后) in 1105. Beside Yejong, she bore Sukjong 6 other sons and 4 daughters. After that, she was given Sungmyeong Mansion (숭명부; 崇明府) in Cheonhwa Hall (천화전; 天和殿) as her residence and affiliated institution. As a queen mother, her birthday was also specially celebrated.

Later life

Death

On 8 August 1112, the queen mother caught an illness and died suddenly after went to recuperation outside the palace at her old age in Sinbak Temple.[5] On 8th month (Lunar calendar) in the same year, she was buried in Sungneung Tomb (숭릉; 崇陵) and received her posthumous name.[6]

Funeral

During her funeral, the Liao dynasty sent their envoys to mourn. But, seeing this, the internal court said:

Your Majesty the King, isn't this the first time they've been to the Queen Mother's ancestral rites?, Congratulations on showing such courtesy to the In State!

("임금님, 쟤네들이 태후님 제사 지내러 온 건 이번이 처음 아닌가요? 인국(隣國)이 이런 예우(禮)를 보여준걸 축하드립니다!").

Posthumous name

• In 1140 (18th year reign of King Injong), name Yu-ga (유가; 柔嘉) was added.
• In October 1253 (40th year reign of King Gojong), name Gwang-hye (광혜; 光惠) was added to her posthumous name too.

[7]

References

1. 이야기 고려왕조실록 (상) [The History of Annals of the Goryeo Dynasty] (in Korean). Korean History Research Institute: Taoreum. 2009. ISBN 9788996200833.
2. Daughter of Kim Won-hwang (김원황). 《최계방 묘지명》 妣金氏封樂浪郡大夫人中樞使兵部尙書元晃之女 明懿大后母之姉也)
3. Min Young (2005). 고려이야기 1(창비 아동문고 158) [Goryeo Story 1 (Changbi Children's Library 15] (in Korean). Changbi Publishers. ISBN 9788936441586.
4. Kim Ki-duk (1995). 국대부인(國大夫人). Encyclopedia of Korean Culture (in Korean). Retrieved July 3, 2021.
5. 고려시대 史料 Database. db.history.go.kr (in Korean). Retrieved August 5, 2021.
6. [사진으로 보는 北 고려왕릉] ⑲100명 넘는 왕후·왕비묘는 어디 있을까. Newsis (in Korean). Retrieved August 6, 2021.
7. [한국여성인물사전] 52. 명의왕태후. EToday (in Korean). Retrieved August 5, 2021.

External links

• Queen Myeongui on the Encyclopedia of Korean Culture (in Korean).
• Queen Myeongui on Goryeosa (in Korean).
• 명의왕후 on Doosan Encyclopedia (in Korean).