Princess Gyeongsuk

Princess Gyeongsuk (Hangul: 경숙옹주, Hanja: 敬淑翁主; 1439 - 1482) was a Joseon Dynasty Princess. She was the daughter of Munjong of Joseon and Consort Sa-Chik of the Yang clan. She was born as the only illegitimate issue of King Munjong who survived infancy and her mother, Lady Yang was the only Crown Prince’s concubine recorded with the title ''Sa-chik'' (사칙, 司則), which was the old term for the title ''Su-chik'' (수칙, 守則).

Biography

Princess Gyeongsuk was born in 1439 to King Munjong and Consort Sa-chik of the Yang clan. She was the younger half-sister of Princess Gyeonghye and the older half-sister of King Danjong.

On 16 April 1454 (lunar calendar), during the 2nd year King Danjong’s reign, she was arranged to marry Kang Ja-Sun of the Jinju Kang clan, given the title of Lord Banseong (강자순 반성위). In 1482, she suddenly died and left no issue. The cause of the princess’s death is unknown, but after her death in 1482, (the 13th year reign of King Seongjong), Kang received Yi Gil-Sang (이길상, 李吉祥)'s daughter, Lady Yi of the Gyeongju Yi clan, as his concubine.

Court officials had found her death suspicious and asked King Seongjong to investigate or to punish Kang’s actions. But the king dismissed the pleads of the officials stating that the Princess had died before Kang took in Yi Gil-sang’s daughter as his concubine. This debate continued until King Jungjong finally put an end to this matter by acknowledging Lady Yi as Kang's legal wife, despite having a lower status and rank compared with the Princess.

Her tomb was located in Songneung-ri, Jingeon-myeon, Yangju-gun, Gyeonggi-do (now San 78, Songneung-ri, Jingeon-eup, Namyangju-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korean). Her husband, Kang Ja-sun, and his concubine, Lady Yi of the Gyeongju Yi clan, are also buried with the Princess. Although they were buried together, but the Princess's tomb was below the area of Kang’s reserved spot for his mound. While Lady Yi’s spot was situated below the Princess’s tomb, signifying that she is lower for her status when compared to the Princess.

Family

* Father - King Munjong of Joseon (조선 문종) (15 November 1414 - 1 June 1452)
** Grandfather - King Sejong of Joseon (조선 세종) (7 May 1397 - 30 March 1450)
** Grandmother - Queen Soheon of the Cheongsong Sim clan (소헌왕후 심씨) (13 October 1395 - 19 April 1446)
* Mother - Royal Consort Sa-Chik of the Yang clan (사칙 양씨)
* Legal mother - Queen Hyeondeok of the Andong Kwon clan (현덕왕후 권씨) (17 April 1418 - 10 August 1441)
* Sibling(s)
** Unnamed younger sister (1450 - 1451)
* Husband - Kang Ja-sun (강자순,姜子順), Lord Banseong, Duke Gungan (반성위 공안공, 班城尉 恭安公) (1443 - ?) — No issue.
** Father-in-law - Kang Hui, Prince Daeho (대호군 강휘, 大護軍 姜徽) (? - 1459)
** Mother-in-law - Lady Lee of the Incheon Lee clan (정부인 인천 이씨, 貞夫人 仁川 李氏)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gyeongsuk, Princess
15th-century Korean people
1439 births
1482 deaths
Princesses of Joseon