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:

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
[6]
왕자

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]
Imgeum[21]
Narannim[23]
Gukwang[24]
Geumsang[25]
Sanggam[26]
Daejeon[27]
Gwain[28]


주상
임금
나랏님
국왕
금상
상감
대전
과인

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]

세자[34]
동궁[35]

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)
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 Sanggungsenior 5 (정5품)
상의 尙儀 Sangui
상복尙服 Sangbokjunior 5 (종5품)
상식尙食Sangsik
상침 尙寢 Sangchimsenior 6 (정6품)
상공 尙功 Sanggong
상정 尙正 Sangjeong junior 6 (종6품)
상기 尙記 Sanggi
전빈 典賓 Jeonbinsenior 7 (정7품)
전의 典衣 Jeoni
전선 典膳 Jeonseon
전설 典設 Jeonseoljunior 7 (종7품)
전제 典製Jeongje
전언 典言 Jeoneon
전찬 典贊 Jeonchansenior 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 Jubyeonjingjunior 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 Sangonsenior 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

  1. Ian Mladjov. "KOREA (HANGUK/JOSEON)" (pdf). University of Michigan. Retrieved 2014-04-01.
  2. "Rediscovering aesthetics of Jongmyo Shrine". Korea Times. Retrieved 2015-12-09.
  3. "Korea: Notes". archontology.org. Retrieved 2015-12-09.
  4. "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.
  5. "공주" (in Korean). Naver Dictionary. Retrieved 2014-04-03.
  6. "군" (in Korean). Britannica Korea. Retrieved 2014-04-03.
  7. "군부인" (in Korean). Naver Dictionary. Retrieved 2014-04-03.
  8. "부마" (in Korean). Naver Dictionary. Retrieved 2014-04-03.
  9. "옹주" (in Korean). Britannica Korea. Retrieved 2014-04-03.
  10. "부부인" (in Korean). Naver Dictionary. Retrieved 2014-04-03.
  11. "부대부인" (in Korean). Naver Dictionary. Retrieved 2014-04-02.
  12. "부원군" (in Korean). Naver Dictionary. Retrieved 2014-04-02.
  13. "상왕" (in Korean). Daum Dictionary. Retrieved 2014-04-02.
  14. "선대왕" (in Korean). Daum Dictionary. Retrieved 2014-04-02.
  15. "대비" (in Korean). Naver Dictionary. Retrieved 2014-04-02.
  16. "대군" (in Korean). Naver Dictionary. Retrieved 2014-04-03.
  17. 1 2 "태상왕" (in Korean). Naver Dictionary. Retrieved 2014-04-02.
  18. "대왕" (in Korean and English). Daum Dictionary. Retrieved 2014-04-01.
  19. "대왕대비" (in Korean). National Institute of Korean History. Retrieved 2014-04-02.
  20. "대원군" (in Korean and English). Daum Dictionary. Retrieved 2014-04-01.
  21. 1 2 "왕" (in Korean). Naver Dictionary. Retrieved 2014-04-02.
  22. "주상" (in Korean). Naver Dictionary. Retrieved 2014-04-02.
  23. "나랏님" (in Korean). Daum Dictionary. Retrieved 2014-04-01.
  24. "국왕" (in Korean). Naver Dictionary. Retrieved 2014-04-02.
  25. "금상" (in Korean). Naver Dictionary. Retrieved 2014-04-02.
  26. "상감" (in Korean). Naver Dictionary. Retrieved 2014-04-02.
  27. "대전" (in Korean). Britannica Korea. Retrieved 2014-04-02.
  28. The king used to address himself this way. "과인" (in Korean). Daum Dictionary. Retrieved 2014-04-02.
  29. "왕비" (in Korean). Naver Dictionary. Retrieved 2014-04-02.
  30. "중전" (in Korean). Daum Dictionary. Retrieved 2014-04-02.
  31. "왕후" (in Korean). Naver Dictionary. Retrieved 2014-04-02.
  32. "왕대비". National Institute of Korean History. Retrieved 2014-04-02.
  33. Could only be used by older relatives
  34. 1 2 "왕세자" (in Korean). Daum Dictionary. Retrieved 2014-04-02.
  35. "동궁" (in Korean). Daum Dictionary. Retrieved 2014-04-02.
  36. 1 2 "왕세자빈" (in Korean). Naver Dictionary. Retrieved 2014-04-03.
  37. "빈궁" (in Korean). Naver Dictionary. Retrieved 2014-04-03.
  38. "왕세제" (in Korean). Naver Dictionary. Retrieved 2015-12-10.
  39. "왕세손" (in Korean). Naver Dictionary. Retrieved 2014-04-03.
  40. "원자" (in Korean and English). Daum Dictionary. Retrieved 2014-04-01.
  41. 1 2 3 "Styles and Titles". Royalark. Retrieved 2014-04-01.
  42. 1 2 "Glossary". Royalark. Retrieved 2015-12-13.
  43. "정일품" (in Korean). Academy of Korean Studies. Retrieved 2014-04-15.
  44. Had several different versions, like 희빈 (Huibin) / 숙빈 (Sukbin) / 경빈 (Gyeongbin) / 창빈 (Changbin) / 선빈 (Seonbin) etc.
  45. "궁인직" (in Korean). Academy of Korean Studies. Retrieved 2014-04-15.
  46. "궁궐(宮闕)" (in Korean). The Academy of Korean Studies. Retrieved 2015-12-13.
  47. "궁녀" (in Korean). Britannica Korea via Daum. Retrieved 2014-04-15.
  48. "내시부" (in Korean). Britannica Korea via Daum. Retrieved 2014-04-15.
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