Consort Kanghuizhuangshuli (康惠莊淑麗妃; late 14th century – 1424), of the Korean Cheongju Han clan, was a consort of the

Yongle Emperor The Yongle Emperor (; pronounced ; 2 May 1360 – 12 August 1424), personal name Zhu Di (), was the third Emperor of the Ming dynasty, reigning from 1402 to 1424. Zhu Di was the fourth son of the Hongwu Emperor, the founder of the Ming dyn ...

Biography

Joseon sent a total of 114 women as tribute to the

Ming dynasty The Ming dynasty (), officially the Great Ming, was an imperial dynasty of China, ruling from 1368 to 1644 following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan dynasty. The Ming dynasty was the last orthodox dynasty of China ruled by the Han peo ...

, consisting of 16 virgin girls including Lady Han who was chosen as an imperial concubine of the

because of her outstanding beauty. In 1421, she was implicated in the alleged plot which resulted in the mass execution in the emperor's

harem Harem ( Persian: حرمسرا ''haramsarā'', ar, حَرِيمٌ ''ḥarīm'', "a sacred inviolable place; harem; female members of the family") refers to domestic spaces that are reserved for the women of the house in a Muslim family. A har ...

, where many of the emperor's

concubines Concubinage is an interpersonal and sexual relationship between a man and a woman in which the couple does not want, or cannot enter into a full marriage. Concubinage and marriage are often regarded as similar but mutually exclusive. Concubi ...

, their maids and eunuchs were executed, accused of having participated in a murder plot against the emperor. She managed to avoid being executed but was imprisoned. When the emperor died in 1424, she belonged to the 30 people executed in order to join the emperor by being buried with him. After the

Hongxi Emperor The Hongxi Emperor (16 August 1378 – 29 May 1425), personal name Zhu Gaochi (朱高熾), was the fourth Emperor of the Ming dynasty, reigned from 1424 to 1425. He succeeded his father, the Yongle Emperor, in 1424. His era name "Hongxi" means ...

ascended, Consort Li knelt down and begged the new emperor to let her return to Joseon to support her elderly mother but the Hongxi Emperor didn't allow her and ordered to have Consort Li hanged and buried with the late emperor. Consort Li was posthumously granted the title of ''Consort Kanghuizhuangshuli''.

Family

Consort Li was born in the Cheongju Han clan, one of the most proeminent korean clans who produced 6 Queens during the

Joseon Dynasty Joseon (; ; Middle Korean: 됴ᇢ〯션〮 Dyǒw syéon or 됴ᇢ〯션〯 Dyǒw syěon), officially the Great Joseon (; ), was the last dynastic kingdom of Korea, lasting just over 500 years. It was founded by Yi Seong-gye in July 1392 and r ...

. *Father: Han Yeong-jeong (한영정, 韓永矴) *Mother: Lady Kim of the Uiseong Kim clan (정경부인 의성 김씨) (? - 13 March 1423) *Three younger brothers: **First younger brother:

Han Hwak Han Hwak (Hangul: 한확, Hanja: 韓確); 1400 1456), nicknamed Ganyijae (간이재), was a politician and a diplomat during the Joseon period of Korea. He served as Left State Councillor. Han Hwak is mostly known by his second daughter, the Que ...

(한확, 韓確; 1400 – 1456) served as Left State Councillor and Right State Councillor during the

Joseon dynasty Joseon (; ; Middle Korean: 됴ᇢ〯션〮 Dyǒw syéon or 됴ᇢ〯션〯 Dyǒw syěon), officially the Great Joseon (; ), was the last dynastic kingdom of Korea, lasting just over 500 years. It was founded by Yi Seong-gye in July 1392 and r ...

. He is the father

Queen Insu Queen Sohye (舊1437-09-08 - 舊1504-04-27), of the Cheongju Han clan, was the only wife of Crown Prince Uigyeong. She never was the consort of a reigning king. Nevertheless, she was honored as Queen Insu (인수왕후) and later as Queen Dowager ...

, mother of the future

King Seongjong of Joseon Seongjong of Joseon (19 August 1457 – 20 January 1495), personal name Yi Hyeol (Korean: ; Hanja: ), was the ninth ruler of the Joseon dynasty of Korea. Before succeeding his uncle, King Yejong, he was known as Grand Prince Jalsan (Korean: ...

. *Younger sister: Han Gye-ran (한계란, 韓桂蘭) (1410 - 1483), Consort Gongshen; consort of the

Xuande Emperor The Xuande Emperor (16 March 1399 31 January 1435), personal name Zhu Zhanji (朱瞻基), was the fifth Emperor of the Ming dynasty, reigned from 1425 to 1435. His era name "Xuande" means "proclamation of virtue". Ruling over a relatively ...

Titles

*During the reign of the Hongwu Emperor (r. 1368–1398): **Lady Han, of the Cheongju Han clan (清州韓氏) *During the reign of the

(r. 1402– 1424): **Consort Li (麗妃) ** ''Consort Kanghuizhuangshuli'' (康惠莊淑麗妃)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Han, Consort Year of birth unknown 1424 deaths Consorts of the Yongle Emperor 15th-century Chinese women