Picture it. Sicily 1942. We were get'tin to know the Yanks pretty well by now . . . . . !
I digress.
The Joseon dynasty. Even the name sounds majestic ! They were the last royal and later imperial dynasty of Korean history. They ruled from 1392 - 1897, making them the longest ruling Confucian dynasty.
There must have been something about these guys to make them last this long ? !
They saw the height of classical Korean culture, trade, science, literature and technology. They very cleverly imported and adapted Chinese culture.
However, the dynasty was severely weakened during the late 16th and 17th centuries with invasions by neighboring Japan and Qing. This led to the kingdom becoming a Qing tributary state.
I'm getting ahead of myself.
Emperor Taejo Gangheon Jiin Gyeun Eungcheon Jotong Gwanghun Yeongmyeong Seongmun Sinmu Jeongeui Gwangdeok Go of Korea.
He was born plain Yi Seong-gye in 1335. Son of a minor Mongol official, whose ethnicity was Korean, he rose through the ranks to General and seized the throne in 1392.
King Taejo worked hard to improve the status of the penninsula with it's neighbours. He established Seoul as the capital of the new dynasty.
The location was considered ideal according to geomantic theory, with mountains to the north and a river to the south. It is also strategically located about midway down the Korean Peninsula.
(By this thinking, would Birmingham have become the capital city of England? ! Oill give it foive ! ('Joke' for our older readers).
Gyeongbokgung Palace was built as the main palace compound with four other palaces dotted around the city. Seoul served as the residence of the King and royal family members as well as the seat of government.
Palaces and shrines dominated the cityscape, while the leading scholars and best products of the dynasty were concentrated here, at the pinnacle of Joseon culture.
The Seoul royal palaces embody the governing ideology of Joseon, which stressed ritual property, virtue and frugality. The numerous pavilions on the palace grounds went through changes along with fluctuating fortunes of the dynasty.
They convey romantic tales of princes and princesses and enlightening anecdotes of sage rulers. The king and his subjects would stroll around the lotus pond, composing poems and discussing matters of state.
Within the palace compounds the careful placement of the buildings reflects the fundamental philosopy of the Joseon rulers, who wished to establish a framework for governance according to Confucian propreity and virtue.
Much later, King Sejong established the Hall of Worthies here, a royal research institute and cultivated excellent scholarship in every scholarly discipline of his day. His greatest achievement being the invention of Hangeul, an indigenous writing system. ' The Correct Sounds to Instruct the People' was authored by him and explained the principles behind the new alphabet as well as the proper way to use it.
The state hall has now become National Treasure No. 223.
But let's get back to King Taejo. He liked the women ! He married Queen Shin-Ui 1337-1391 and fathered 6 sons and 2 daughters. She died before Taejo became King.
Then he married Queen Shindoek 1356-1396. They had Yi Bang-beon 1st Son; Yi Bang-Seok 2nd Son and Princess Gyeongsun Only Daughter. After the early death at 40 of Queen Shindoek, I guess he looked for solace in a Sincere Consort and an Anonymous Consort, no issue and 2 Princesses with whom he had 2 more daughters.
Now Taejo needed to sort out his heir apparent and as in most families there were issues.
(I really wanted to insert pics of Phil Mitchell and his brother but the machine wasn't co-operating. Grrr !)
Yi Bang-won, the 5th son frorm the first marriage helped his father the most but he was at loggerheads with the prime minister. So in 1392 Taejo appointed Yi Bang-Seok, the 2nd son of the 2nd wife as Prince Royal, or successor to the throne.
Unfortunately, as I said earlier his Mother suddenly died just 40 years of age.
While the king was still in mourning, in true 'Eastenders' style, Yi Bang-seok conspired to kill off his brothers to secure his position in court.
'Yer must be off yer rocker, bruvver'!
Yi Bang-won, 5th son 1st marriage, found out and killed both sons from second marriage and the prime minister (remember, he didn't like him?)
This incident became kinown as First Strife of Princes. (DVD boxed set 'Clash of the Tight Ones £9.99 rrp)
Well, things came to a head when King Taejo, poor lad, driven mad by his sons and still mourning Queen Shindoek, crowned 2nd son Yi Bang-gwan as the new ruler.
I guess Yi Bang-gwan just wasn't up for this role as he immediately invested Yi Bang-won, 5th son 1st marriage, as heir presumptive and abdicated.
Yi Bang-won assumed the throne of Joseon at long last as King Taejong.
He ddied in May 1408.
His father, King Taejo, was raised to the rank of Emperor in 1899 by Gojung, the Gwangmu Emperor, who had proclaimed the Korean Empire in 1897.
TO BRING THIS STORY UP TO DATE . . . . I further discovered that after the annexation of Korea by Japan in 1910, the Princes and Princesses were forced to leave for Japan. They were top be re-educated and married.
The Crown Prince lost his status in Japan at the end of WWII. He returned to Korea in 1963 after an invitation by the Republican government.
Unfortunately, he suffered a stroke as his plane landed in Seoul and was rushed to hospital. He never recovered and died in 1970.
His brother Imperial Prince Ui had died in 1955 in Korea so the people officially. considered this to be the end of the Royal line.
Many descendants live throughout USA, Canada and Brazil, having settled elsewhere out of Korea.
Prince Yi Seok is a son of Prince Gang of Korea, a fifth son of Gojong of Korea and is a professor of history lecturing at Jeonju University, Republic of Korea.
The monarchy was abolished in 1910 by Japan and following Japan's defeat in WWII, North Korea was organized as a communist regime and South Korea as a republic.
Many tombs are on top of the mountain in Jangju. They are descendants from the great King of Joseon, Seongjeong (9th ruler of Joseon Dynasty). This mountain belongs to the4 member of the royal family named Yi Won born in 1958.
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