Jungjong (Korean: 중종; Hanja: 中宗; 25 April 1488 – 9 December 1544),[1] personal name Yi Yeok (이역; 李懌), firstly titled Grand Prince Jinseong (진성대군; 晉城大君), was the 11th monarch of the Joseon dynasty of Korea. He succeeded to the throne after the deposition of his elder half-brother, the tyrannical Yeonsangun.[2]
In September 1506, on the day Yeonsangun was deposed, soldiers belonging to the coup's leaders surrounded the house of Grand Prince Jinseong. He was about to commit suicide, thinking that his older half-brother was finally going to kill him, but after being dissuaded by his wife, Lady Shin (later known as Queen Dangyeong), Grand Prince Jinseong found himself becoming the eleventh king of Joseon.
Jo Gwang-jo's reforms
Jungjong worked hard to wipe out the remnants of Yeonsangun's era by reopening Sungkyunkwan (the royal university) and the Office of Censors (which criticizes inappropriate actions of the king). However, during the early days of his reign, the new king could not exert the royal power freely as those who put him on the throne held immense control over the country. When three of the main leaders of coup died of old age or natural causes in the next eight years, Jungjong began to assert his authority and carried out large-scale reforms with the help of Jo Gwang-jo and other Sarim scholars, despite much opposition from conservative nobles who had participated in the 1506 rebellion.
Jo Gwang-jo strengthened local autonomy by establishing a self-governing system called Hyangyak, promoted Confucian writings by translating them into hangul (Korean native script) and distributing them widely, pursued a land reform that would distribute land more equally between the rich and poor, and introduced a supplementary system to recruit talents for the government. He believed that any talented people, including slaves, should be appointed as officials regardless of social status. The Annals of the Joseon dynasty state that during his time as Inspector General (Daesaheon; 대사헌), he enforced the laws strictly so that no official dared to receive a bribe or exploit the local populace.[3]
While Jungjong and Jo Gwang-jo shared a common passion for the reformist agenda, the former was chiefly interested in solidifying royal authority whereas the latter was more concerned with neo-Confucian ideology, according to which those who rule must be a virtuous example to the rest.[4] Jo's uncompromising character and frequent remonstrations also began to irritate the king.
In late 1519, the conservative officials came up with a plan to further weaken Jo Gwang-jo's influence; they used honey to write Ju Cho Wi Wang ("Ju Cho will be King"; 주초위왕, 走肖爲王) on mulberry leaves so that caterpillars would leave behind the same words as if in supernatural manifestation. When the hanja characters 走 (ju) and 肖 (cho) are put together, they form the character 趙 (jo), and the expression's meaning changes to "Jo [Gwang-jo] will be King". The incident was reminiscent of another occurrence that took place before the fall of the Goryeo dynasty, when the phrase Mok Ja Deuk Guk ("Son of wood will gain the country"; 목자득국, 木子得國) became popular. In this case, the combined characters 木 ("wood") and 子 ("son") form the character 李 ("yi"), which was the surname of General Yi Seong-gye (later known as King Taejo, the founder of Joseon).
The only living leader of the 1506 coup, Hong Gyeong-ju (홍경주, 洪景舟), used this event to heighten Jungjong's suspicions and fears. Finally, in January 1520, Jo Gwang-jo was executed on charges of factionalism and many of his followers were exiled, while his radical reform programs were abruptly abandoned. The incident became known as the Third Literati Purge (Gimyo Sahwa; 기묘사화, 己卯士禍).[5]
Rule of in-laws
After Jo Gwang-jo's elimination, Jungjong never had the chance to rule on his own again. His reign was marked by tumultuous struggle among various conservative factions, each of them backed by one of the king's wives or concubines.
In 1524, Nam Gon and Shim Jung ousted the corrupt official Gim Ahn-ro (김안로, 金安老), but he managed to return to power and took revenge by accusing Royal Noble Consort Gyeong (one of the king's concubines) of plotting against the crown prince, which led to her execution along with her only son, Prince Bokseong. Following this case, Gim Ahn-ro started using the protection of the crown prince as an excuse to begin a reign of terror against his enemies, and even attempted to depose Jungjong's third wife, Queen Munjeong, after she gave birth to a son (the future King Myeongjong). He eventually met his downfall at the hands of the queen's brothers, Yun Won-ro and Yun Won-hyeong. Despite these events, Yun Im, older brother of the late Queen Janggyeong and an ally of Gim Ahn-ro, was able to maintain his standing and preserve his nephew's position as heir to the throne.
The scholars and officials now gathered around two new centers of power and each group developed into separate political factions. Yun Im's party became known as "Greater Yun" and the Yun brothers' party as "Lesser Yun". Their conflict caused the Fourth Literati Purge (Ulsa Sahwa; 을사사화, 乙巳士禍) after Jungjong's death.
As the royal court was weakened by the continual internal conflict, foreign powers driven away by earlier monarchs returned with much greater effect. Japanese pirates often plundered the southern coastal regions, while the Jurchens attacked the northern frontier numerous times, bleeding the army dry.
The throne passed to his eldest legitimate son, Crown Prince Yi Ho (posthumously honored as King Injong), who died without issue less than a year later and was succeeded by his younger half-brother, Grand Prince Gyeongwon (today known as King Myeongjong).
While Jungjong was a good and able administrator especially during the reform period led by Jo Gwang-jo, historians see him as a fundamentally weak king who was too easily swayed by both Jo Gwang-jo and the conservative ministers who placed him on the throne. Sometimes, he is seen as a tragic figure who was forced to become king and to depose his loving wife under the pressure of the coup leaders, who also killed her father. More recently, some historians have suggested that Jungjong was not actually manipulated by his ministers and in-laws, but rather used them to get rid of one another to strengthen royal authority albeit not successfully. In either case, Jungjong's reign was marred by much confusion, violence, corruption, and court intrigues. He has been especially criticized for allowing the Third Literati Purge and executing Jo Gwang-jo on false charges.
^Married Kim Hui (김희, 金禧) (? - 1531), a son of Kim Ahn-ro. They had a daughter, Kim Seon-ok (김선옥, 金善玉) (1531 - ?), who married Queen Munjeong’s nephew, Yun Baek-won (윤백원, 尹百源) (1528 - 1589).
^Married Han Gyeong-rok (한경록, 韓景祿) and had 4 children (3 sons and 1 daughter)
^Married Gu Sa-ahn (구사안, 具思顔) (1523 - 22 April 1562) and had an adoptive son, Gu Hong (구홍, 具弘)
^Her husband’s younger brother, Gu Sa-maeng (구사맹, 具思孟) (1531 - 1604), is the father of Queen Inheon of the Neungseong Gu clan (the wife of King Wonjong and mother of King Injo)
^Married Shin Ui (신의, 申檥) (1530 - 1584), and had a son, Shin Sa-jeong (신사정, 申士楨) (1546 - 1593). Her husband was the adoptive grandson of Princess Hyesuk (a daughter of King Seongjong)
^Biological daughter of Park Su-rim; adopted daughter of Park Won-jong (the maternal uncle of Queen Janggyeong), one of the minority officials who helped Jungjong rise to the throne.
^Married Princess Consort Yun of the Papyeong Yun clan (군부인 파평 윤씨, 郡夫人 坡平尹氏) (19 July ? - 10 August 1530), and had 3 children (1 daughter and 2 adoptive sons). His daughter, Yi Woo-hwan (이운환, 李雲環), married Choi Ye-su (최예수, 崔禮秀) of the Jeonju Choi clan (전주 최씨, 全州 崔氏).
^His adoptive sons were Yi Gyun, Prince Haseong (하성군; the future King Seonjo), but when he was adopted by Queen Insun, he adopted the 6th (illegitimate) son, Yi Geon, Prince Ohkang (오강군 이건;1560 - 1648), of his younger half-brother, Prince Haean.
^Married Kim In-gyeong (김인경, 金仁慶) (1515 - 1583) of the Gwangsan Kim clan (광산 김씨, 光山 金氏), and had an adoptive son, Kim Ho-su (김호수, 金虎秀)
^Married Hong Yeo (홍여, 洪礪) (? - 1533), and had a daughter, Hong Ok-hwan (홍옥환, 洪玉環) (1531 - ?), who married Yun Ho (윤호, 尹琥) (a grandson of Yun Im and a grandnephew of Queen Janggyeong)
^Daughter of Hong Gyeong-ju (홍경주, 洪景舟) (? - 20 June 1521), one of the minority officials who helped Jungjong rise on the throne, and Lady Kwon of the Andong Kwon clan (안동 권씨, 安東 權氏)
^Her mother, Lady Kwon of the Andong Kwon clan, is the maternal granddaughter of Jeong In-ji
^Married Princess Consort Pajing of the Haeju Jeong clan (파징군부인 정씨, 波澄郡夫人 鄭氏) (1513 - 1560), and had 2 children (1 daughter and 1 adoptive son). His wife was the adoptive great-granddaughter of Princess Gyeonghye
^His adoptive son, Yi In, Prince Hareung (하릉군 이인, 河陵君 李鏻), is the older brother of King Seonjo.
^Married Princess Consort Jeong (군부인 정씨) and had 1 daughter. Adopted Yi Geon, Prince Munseong (문성군 이건, 文城君 李健), the 4th son of his first cousin Yi Su-ryeon, Prince Annam (안남군 수련, 安南君 李壽鍊). Prince Annam was the second son of Prince Gyeongmyeong (son of King Seongjong by his concubine, Royal Consort Sug-ui of the Namyang Hong clan).
^His daughter Yi Gae, Lady Yi of the Jeonju Yi clan (정경부인 이개, 貞敬夫人 李介; 1545 - 1610) married Sim Chong-gyeom (심충겸, 沈忠謙) (1545 - 1594); who was the younger brother of Queen Insun and the nephew of Yi Ryang. They eventually became the 5th great-grandparents of Queen Danui (the wife of King Gyeongjong)
^Daughter of Ahn Tan-dae (안탄대, 安坦大) and Lady Hwang (정경부인 황씨, 貞敬夫人 黃氏)
^Married Princess Consort Gyeongyang of the Sunheung Ahn clan (경양군부인 순흥 안씨, 景陽郡夫人 順興安氏) (10 August 1522 - 25 July 1594), and had an adoptive son
^Married Han Gyeong-woo (한경우, 韓景祐) (1522 - ?) of the Cheongju Han clan, and had 4 children 1 son, Han Jin (한진, 韓璡); 1541- ?) and 3 daughters: Han Yeong-suk (한영숙, 韓英淑); 1545 - ?), Han Gyeon-suk (한견숙, 韓堅淑); 1547 - ?), and Han Jong-suk (한종숙, 韓終淑); 1552 - ?).
^Married Princess Consort Yeongga of the Andong Kwon clan (영가부부인 권씨, 永嘉郡夫人 權氏), and had a son, Yi Jong-rin, Prince Pungsan (풍산군 이종린, 豊山君 李宗麟) (1538 - 8 September 1611). Through his son, he was a grandfather to 18 grandchildren.
^With a concubine, he had 4 children (3 sons and 1 daughter)
^Married Princess Consort Jinsan of the Jinju Ryu clan (진산군부인 진주 류씨) (1506 - 1532), daughter of Ryu (류홍, 柳泓, and had no issue.
^Remarried to Princess Consort Ikchang of the Geochang Shin clan (익창군부인 거창 신씨; 1514 - 1567), and had a daughter, Yi Ye-yeong (이예영, 李禮英;1535 - ?) who married Kim Gyu (김규, 金戣) of the Huicheon Kim clan.
^With 6 different concubines, he had 6 sons and 4 daughters
^Known before as Royal Consort Suk-yong (숙용 김씨, 淑容 金氏)
^Married Gu Han (구한, 具澣) (1524 - 1558), and had 6 children (3 sons, 3 daughters). Her youngest daughter, Gu Hyo-saeng (구효생, 具孝生; 1556 - ?), married a descendant of Grand Prince Imyeong, Yi Jin (이진, 李瑱; 1553 - ?)
^Her younger sister, Yi Eun-dae (상궁 은대, 銀代), was a court lady within the palace, and was only mentioned in the annals with their mother in 1544 for the funeral of Princess Hyojeong
^Married Song In (송인, 宋寅;31 July 1517 - 18 August 1584) of the Yeosan Song clan, and had a son, Song Yu-ui (송유의, 宋惟毅;1536 - 1591). She eventually adopted two more sons from her husband’s concubine. Song In’s paternal aunt eventually became the sister-in-law to Queen Jeonghyeon’s nephew, Yun Jin (윤진, 尹珍), and the grandmother to Princess Consort Namyang of the Namyang Hong clan (남양군부인 홍씨;1544 - 1569), the wife of King Seonjo’s older, Prince Hawon.
^Her mother-in-law, Lady Nam of the Uiryeong Nam clan (의령 남씨; 1492 - ?) was the second daughter of Nam Gon.
^Married Jo Ui-jeong (조의정, 趙義貞;1521- 1548) of the Hanyang Jo clan, and had a son, Jo Cheon-gye (조천계, 趙天啓;1539 - ?). He later married Lady Kang of the Jinju Kang clan (진주 강씨, 晉州 姜氏) and had a son, Jo Ryeong (조령, 趙玲;1561 - ?).
Jungjong of Joseon House of YiBorn: 16 April 1488 Died: 29 November 1544
Regnal titles
Preceded byYeonsangunKing of Joseon 18 September 1506 – 28 November 1544
Succeeded byInjong
# denotes that the king was deposed and never received a temple name.
^Those who were listed were not reigning monarchs but posthumously recognized; the year following means the year of recognition.
^Only the crown princes that didn't become the king were listed; the former year indicates when one officially became the heir and the latter one is that when one died/deposed. Those who ascended to the throne were excluded in the list for simplification.
^The title given to the biological father, who never reigned, of the kings who were adopted as the heir to a precedent king.
^The de jure monarch of Korea during the era was the Emperor of Japan, while the former Korean emperors were given nobility title "King Yi" instead.
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