Styles and titles in the Joseon Dynasty
During the Joseon Dynasty royal titles and styles (forms of address) had been extensive and complex. The general title of the king was wang (왕, 王) , while Gojong of Korea crowned himself hwangje (황제), or emperor, a title that was only allowed for Chinese emperors.[1] Official titles came with official forms of address, depending on who the addressee was and by whom he or she was addressed.
Royal family
Naming
Rulers in Korea (following Chinese customs) had several names, changing with their titles. Sons were given children's names, and when they were appointed crown prince, they were given an adult name and the crown prince name. When they became king, they were addressed as such, personal names were not used. After the death of a king, he was given several names. One is the temple name (묘호, myoho), which he was given when his spirit tablet was placed at Jongmyo Shrine. This is the name by which hisorians usually refer to Joseon kings. The myoho could end in either jo (조, 祖, "founder") or jong (종, 宗). The preceding syllable was an adjective suitable for the king. The other name was the posthumous name (시호, siho). This is a longer name, made up of adjectives characteristic of the king's rule.[2][3][4] For example Gyeongjong of Joseon's posthumous name was Gyeongjong Gakgong Deokmun Ingmu Sunin Seonhyo Daewang (경종각공덕문익무순인선효대왕), while his temple name was Gyeongjong.
Titles and styles
Forms of address were combined with names, titles or both, for example:
- Taejo daewang mama ("His Royal Highness [the departed] great king Taejo")
- Donggung mama (used by older relatives); seja joha (His Royal Highness the Crown Prince)
- Gongju agissi (in childhood); gongju mama (in adulthood) (Her Royal Highness, the Princess)
Title | Forms of address | Explanation | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Revised Romanization | Hangul | Hanja | RR | Hangul | Hanja | |
Gongju | 공주[5] | 公主 | Agissi Mama |
아기씨 마마 |
– 媽媽 |
Title and form of address of the daughter of the king and the queen (princess). Agissi was used in childhood, Mama was used in adulthood. |
Gun Wangja |
군[6] 왕자 |
君 王子 |
Daegam | 대감 | 大監 | Title and form of address for the king's son born from a concubine, or the king's grandson born from a son not appointed crown prince. They were addressed as wangja before adulthood. |
Gunbuin | 군부인[7] | 郡夫人 | Mama | 마마 | 媽媽 | Wife of a prince addressed as "Gun". |
Gunwi | 군위 | 君尉 | Buma | 부마[8] | 駙馬 | The king's son in law, a princess' husband. |
Ongju | 옹주[9] | 翁主 | Agissi Mama |
아기씨 마마 |
– 媽媽 |
Princesses born to a concubine. |
Bubuin | 부부인[10] | 府夫人 | Mama | 마마 | 媽媽 | Wife of a prince bearing the title of "Daegun". |
Budaebuin | 부대부인[11] | 府大夫人 | Mama | 마마 | 媽媽 | Wife of a Daewongun |
Buwongun | 부원군[12] | 府院君 | Daegam | 대감 | 大監 | The queen's father, translates roughly to "Prince" and his form of address as "His lordship". |
Sangwang | 상왕[13] | 上王 | Jeonha | 전하 | 殿下 | Former king, who abdicated the throne in favour of his son. |
Seondawang | 선대왕[14] | 先大王 | Mama | 마마 | 媽媽 | A deceased king's title and form of address. See also: Daewang |
Daebi | 대비[15] | 大妃 | Mama | 마마 | 媽媽 | The Queen Dowager |
Daegun | 대군[16] | 大君 | Daegam | 대감 | 大監 | The king and the queen's son, not entitled to be crown prince. ("Grand Prince", "His Lordship") |
Taesangwang | 태상왕[17] | 太上王 | Jeonha | 전하 | 殿下 | A king who abdicated before a Sangwang |
Taesangwangbi | 태상왕비[17] | 太上王妃 | Mama | 마마 | 媽媽 | Queen of a Taesangwang |
Daewang | 대왕[18] | 大王 | Mama | 마마 | 媽媽 | Deceased formed king, see also: Seondaewang |
Daewangdaebi | 대왕대비[19] | 大王大妃 | Mama | 마마 | 媽媽 | Great-grandmother of the king |
Daewongun | 대원군[20] | 大院君 | Mama | 마마 | 媽媽 | When a king's father was not himself king before, he was given this title. It approximately means "grand prince". |
Wang[21] Jusang[22] |
왕 주상 임금 나랏님 국왕 금상 상감 대전 과인 |
王 下上 – – 國王 今上 上監 大殿 寡人 |
Jeonha | 전하 | 殿下 | The current king. He was addressed in different ways depending on the speaker and the situtation. |
Wangbi Jungjeon |
왕비[29] 중전[30] |
王妃 中殿 |
Mama | 마마 | 媽媽 | The current queen. |
Wanghu | 왕후[31] | 王后 | Mama | 마마 | 媽媽 | A queen's posthumous title. |
Wangdaebi | 왕대비[32] | 王大妃 | Mama | 마마 | 媽媽 | A tebi címet viselő özvegy királynénál idősebb női királyi családtag, például a király nagyanyja vagy nagynénje viselte ezt a titulust. A female royal relative older than a daebi, for example the king's grandmother or aunt |
Wangseja Seja Donggung[33] |
왕세자[34] |
王世子 世子 東宮 |
Jeoha Jeoha Mama |
저하 저하 마마 |
邸下 邸下 媽媽 |
The heir to the throne. |
Wangsejabin Sejabin Bingung |
왕세자빈[36] 세자빈[36] 빈궁[37] |
王世子嬪 世子嬪 嬪宮 |
Mama | 마마 | 媽媽 | Wife of the heir to the throne, the crown princess. |
Wangseje | 왕세제[38] | 王世弟 | Jeoha | 저하 | 邸下 | The king's brother when appointed crown prince (heir to the throne) |
Wangseson | 왕세손[39] | 王世孫 | Hapa | 합하 | 閤下 | The crown prince's son. |
Wonja | 원자[40] | 元子 | Mama | 마마 | 媽媽 | Title and form of address of the king's eldest son, before he is appointed crown prince. |
Sources: Royalark[41][42] |
Consorts and concubines
Consorts and concubines of the king in the harem (hugung, 후궁/ 後宮) had a certain rank, according to which their titles and forms of address were formulated.[41] Titles came with the form of address of mama (마마 / 媽媽).
Ranks in order after the queen:
Hangul | Hanja | Revised romanization | Rank |
---|---|---|---|
Consorts (bi, 비) | |||
귀비 | 貴妃 | Gwibi | senior 1 (정1품)[43] |
숙비 | 淑妃 | Sukbi | |
원비 | 元妃 | Wonbi | |
덕비 | 德妃 | Deokbi | |
현비 | 賢妃 | Hyeonbi | |
Concubines (Gwibin, 귀빈) | |||
빈 | 嬪 | Bin[44] | senior 1 (정1품) |
귀인 | 貴人 | Gwiin | junior 1 (종1품) |
소의 | 昭儀 | Soui | senior 2 (정2품) |
숙의 | 淑儀 | Sugui | junior 2 (종2품) |
소용 | 昭容 | Soyong | senior 3 (정3품) |
숙용 | 淑容 | Sugyeong | junior 3 (종3품) |
소원 | 昭媛 | Sowon | senior 4 (정4품) |
숙원 | 淑媛 | Sugwon | junior 4 (종4품) |
Crown prince's concubines[45] | |||
양제 | 良娣 | Yangje | junior 2 (종2품) |
양원 | 良媛 | Yangwon | junior 3 (종3품) |
승휘 | 承徽 | Seunghwi | junior 4 (종4품) |
소훈 | 昭訓 | Sohun | junior 5 (종5품) |
Sources: Royalark[41][42][46] |
Royal court
Hangul | Hanja | Revised Romanization | Rank | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Court ladies (Gungnyeo, 궁녀)[47] | ||||
상궁 | 尙宮 | Sanggung | senior 5 (정5품) | |
상의 | 尙儀 | Sangui | ||
상복 | 尙服 | Sangbok | junior 5 (종5품) | |
상식 | 尙食 | Sangsik | ||
상침 | 尙寢 | Sangchim | senior 6 (정6품) | |
상공 | 尙功 | Sanggong | ||
상정 | 尙正 | Sangjeong | junior 6 (종6품) | |
상기 | 尙記 | Sanggi | ||
전빈 | 典賓 | Jeonbin | senior 7 (정7품) | |
전의 | 典衣 | Jeoni | ||
전선 | 典膳 | Jeonseon | ||
전설 | 典設 | Jeonseol | junior 7 (종7품) | |
전제 | 典製 | Jeongje | ||
전언 | 典言 | Jeoneon | ||
전찬 | 典贊 | Jeonchan | senior 8 (정8품) | |
전식 | 典飾 | Jeonshik | ||
전약 | 典藥 | Jeonyak | ||
전등 | 典燈 | Jeondeung | junior 8 (종8품) | |
전채 | 典彩 | Jeonchae | ||
전정 | 典正 | Jeonjeong | ||
주궁 | 奏宮 | Jugung | senior 9 (정9품) | |
주상 | 奏商 | Jusang | ||
주각 | 奏角 | Jugak | ||
주변징 | 奏變徵 | Jubyeonjing | junior 9 (종9품) | |
주징 | 主徵 | Jujing | ||
주우 | 奏羽 | Juu | ||
주변궁 | 奏變宮 | Jubyeongung | ||
Eunuchs (naesi, 내시)[48] | ||||
상선 | 尙膳 | Sangseon | junior 2 (종2품) | |
상온 | 尙醞 | Sangon | senior 3 (정3품) | |
상다 | 尙茶 | Sangda | ||
상약 | 尙藥 | Sangyak | junior 3 (종3품) | |
상전 | 尙傳 | Sangjeon | senior 4 (정4품) | |
상책 | 尙冊) | Sangchaek | junior 4 (종4품) | |
상호 | 尙弧 | Sangho | senior 5 (정5품) | |
상탕 | 尙帑 | Sangtang | junior 5 (종5품) | |
상세 | 尙洗 | Sangse | senior 6 (정6품) | |
상촉 | 尙燭 | Sangchok | junior 6 (종6품) | |
상훼 | 尙煊 | Sanghwe | senior 7 (정7품) | |
상설 | 尙設 | Sangseol | junior 7 (종7품) | |
상제 | 尙除 | Sangje | senior 8 (정8품) | |
상문 | 尙門 | Sangmun | junior 8 (종8품) | |
상경 | 尙更 | Sanggyeong | senior 9 (정9품) | |
상원 | 尙苑 | Sangwon | junior 9 (종9품) | |
References
- ↑ Ian Mladjov. "KOREA (HANGUK/JOSEON)" (pdf). University of Michigan. Retrieved 2014-04-01.
- ↑ "Rediscovering aesthetics of Jongmyo Shrine". Korea Times. Retrieved 2015-12-09.
- ↑ "Korea: Notes". archontology.org. Retrieved 2015-12-09.
- ↑ "조선시대 국왕호칭의 종류와 의미 The Kinds and Meaning of King's Name in the Chosun Dynasty". 역사와경계 (in English and Korean). NRF (52): 46–67. 2004. Retrieved 2015-12-09.
- ↑ "공주" (in Korean). Naver Dictionary. Retrieved 2014-04-03.
- ↑ "군" (in Korean). Britannica Korea. Retrieved 2014-04-03.
- ↑ "군부인" (in Korean). Naver Dictionary. Retrieved 2014-04-03.
- ↑ "부마" (in Korean). Naver Dictionary. Retrieved 2014-04-03.
- ↑ "옹주" (in Korean). Britannica Korea. Retrieved 2014-04-03.
- ↑ "부부인" (in Korean). Naver Dictionary. Retrieved 2014-04-03.
- ↑ "부대부인" (in Korean). Naver Dictionary. Retrieved 2014-04-02.
- ↑ "부원군" (in Korean). Naver Dictionary. Retrieved 2014-04-02.
- ↑ "상왕" (in Korean). Daum Dictionary. Retrieved 2014-04-02.
- ↑ "선대왕" (in Korean). Daum Dictionary. Retrieved 2014-04-02.
- ↑ "대비" (in Korean). Naver Dictionary. Retrieved 2014-04-02.
- ↑ "대군" (in Korean). Naver Dictionary. Retrieved 2014-04-03.
- 1 2 "태상왕" (in Korean). Naver Dictionary. Retrieved 2014-04-02.
- ↑ "대왕" (in Korean and English). Daum Dictionary. Retrieved 2014-04-01.
- ↑ "대왕대비" (in Korean). National Institute of Korean History. Retrieved 2014-04-02.
- ↑ "대원군" (in Korean and English). Daum Dictionary. Retrieved 2014-04-01.
- 1 2 "왕" (in Korean). Naver Dictionary. Retrieved 2014-04-02.
- ↑ "주상" (in Korean). Naver Dictionary. Retrieved 2014-04-02.
- ↑ "나랏님" (in Korean). Daum Dictionary. Retrieved 2014-04-01.
- ↑ "국왕" (in Korean). Naver Dictionary. Retrieved 2014-04-02.
- ↑ "금상" (in Korean). Naver Dictionary. Retrieved 2014-04-02.
- ↑ "상감" (in Korean). Naver Dictionary. Retrieved 2014-04-02.
- ↑ "대전" (in Korean). Britannica Korea. Retrieved 2014-04-02.
- ↑ The king used to address himself this way. "과인" (in Korean). Daum Dictionary. Retrieved 2014-04-02.
- ↑ "왕비" (in Korean). Naver Dictionary. Retrieved 2014-04-02.
- ↑ "중전" (in Korean). Daum Dictionary. Retrieved 2014-04-02.
- ↑ "왕후" (in Korean). Naver Dictionary. Retrieved 2014-04-02.
- ↑ "왕대비". National Institute of Korean History. Retrieved 2014-04-02.
- ↑ Could only be used by older relatives
- 1 2 "왕세자" (in Korean). Daum Dictionary. Retrieved 2014-04-02.
- ↑ "동궁" (in Korean). Daum Dictionary. Retrieved 2014-04-02.
- 1 2 "왕세자빈" (in Korean). Naver Dictionary. Retrieved 2014-04-03.
- ↑ "빈궁" (in Korean). Naver Dictionary. Retrieved 2014-04-03.
- ↑ "왕세제" (in Korean). Naver Dictionary. Retrieved 2015-12-10.
- ↑ "왕세손" (in Korean). Naver Dictionary. Retrieved 2014-04-03.
- ↑ "원자" (in Korean and English). Daum Dictionary. Retrieved 2014-04-01.
- 1 2 3 "Styles and Titles". Royalark. Retrieved 2014-04-01.
- 1 2 "Glossary". Royalark. Retrieved 2015-12-13.
- ↑ "정일품" (in Korean). Academy of Korean Studies. Retrieved 2014-04-15.
- ↑ Had several different versions, like 희빈 (Huibin) / 숙빈 (Sukbin) / 경빈 (Gyeongbin) / 창빈 (Changbin) / 선빈 (Seonbin) etc.
- ↑ "궁인직" (in Korean). Academy of Korean Studies. Retrieved 2014-04-15.
- ↑ "궁궐(宮闕)" (in Korean). The Academy of Korean Studies. Retrieved 2015-12-13.
- ↑ "궁녀" (in Korean). Britannica Korea via Daum. Retrieved 2014-04-15.
- ↑ "내시부" (in Korean). Britannica Korea via Daum. Retrieved 2014-04-15.