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Im Seong-gu (임성구지) was a Korean intersex person from the early
The dates of Im Seong-gu's life are unknown, but part of it is recorded in the Veritable Records of the Joseon Dynasty, in Book 8 - the ''Veritable Records of Seonjo (Revised).'' In the annals, Im Seong-gu is referred to as a "man from
Joseon
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 re ...
period, whose life is recorded in the Veritable Records of the Joseon Dynasty.
Biography
The dates of Im Seong-gu's life are unknown, but part of it is recorded in the Veritable Records of the Joseon Dynasty, in Book 8 - the ''Veritable Records of Seonjo (Revised).'' In the annals, Im Seong-gu is referred to as a "man from Gilju
Kilju, sometimes romanized as Kilchu, is a county in North Hamgyong province, North Korea. The county seat is Kilju Town.
History
The area around Kilju was part of the ancient Goguryeo kingdom and was long inhabited by various Jurchen tribes. I ...
", who married a man and a woman. It also discusses how they were full of both ying and yang, which expressed itself through their gender. They were brought up as a girl, married, but the husband was shocked to see their body on the wedding night. They later re-married to a woman.
In 1548, the Joseon court decided that Im Seong-gu was disturbing society and exiled them. The Saganwon ( 사간원), the opposition to the monarchy, insisted that Im Seong-gu should be executed. However King Myeongjong of Joseon
Myeongjong of Joseon (3 July 1534 – 3 August 1567, r. 1545–1567) was the 13th king of the Joseon Dynasty of Korea. He was the second son of Jungjong, and his mother was Queen Munjeong, who was Jungjong's third queen.
He became king ...
forbade execution, stating that exile was enough. The annals discuss whether they should be killed, like other similar people in India. They also describes how Im Seong-gu wore men's and women's clothes.
Historiography
An alternative interpretation of the ''Veritable Records'' describes Im Seong-gu as a bisexual man.See also
*Sa Bangji
Sa Bangji (사방지,舍方知) was a Korean intersex person during the Joseon Dynasty.
Biography
Sa Bangji had hypospadias and reared as a feminine gender role. Sa learned sewing from their mother. Sa Bangji had sexual relationships with widows a ...
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Im, Seong-gu 16th-century Korean people Intersex people