Queen Sohŏn (Korean:소헌왕후;Hanja:昭憲王后; 20 October 1395 – 28 April 1446), of the Cheongsong Shim clan, was the wife of Sejong the Great, the fourth monarch of Joseon, and the mother of King Munjong and King Sejo. Known as Queen Gong during her tenure, she was queen of Joseon from 1418 until her death in 1446.
Biography
Early life and lineage
The future Queen Sohŏn was born during the reign of King Taejo, as the eldest child among five sons and six daughters; two of her younger brothers were of concubine birth. Her father was Shim On, who would later become chief state councilor, and her mother was a lady from the prestigious Sunheung An clan.
Her younger brother, Shim Hoe (심회), also served as chief state councilor, and became an ancestor of Queen Insun and Queen Danui.
Her paternal uncle, Shim Jong (심종), was King Taejong's brother-in-law through his marriage to the king's younger sister, Princess Gyeongseon (경선공주), while another paternal uncle, Shim Jeong (심정), had married a niece of King Gongyang of Goryeo.
Marriage
In 1408, at the age of 13, Lady Shim married 11-year-old Prince Chungnyeong, the third son of King Taejong and Queen Wongyeong. She might have been chosen as a royal bride due to her connection to Princess Gyeongseon.
In 1418, upon Prince Chungnyeong appointment as crown prince, Lady Shim became crown princess and received the honorific title gyeong (경;lit.''respectful''). King Taejong abdicated shortly after and Lady Shim's husband acceded to the throne (posthumously King Sejong); she thus became queen and her honorific title was altered to gong (공;lit.''courteous'').
She was described as having a gentle and kind appearance but advocating strict adherence to laws and code of conduct.
Family downfall
Like her predecessor and mother-in-law, Queen Wongyeong, Lady Shim also experienced the collapse of her natal family because King Taejong didn't tolerate powerful in-laws influencing politics. She lost her uncle Shim Jeong, and her father Shim On, in 1418 and 1419, respectively. Her mother and remaining relatives were demoted to the slave class, and it wasn't until 1426 that King Sejong restored their official status.
Court officials brought up the topic of deposing Lady Shim during the purge of her family, but King Sejong fought back, citing her contributions to the management of the family and the fact that she had already given birth to two princes and was again pregnant at the time.
Rather than holding resentment toward King Sejong, Lady Shim was understanding and supportive of her husband through the ordeal. It was said that the internal court was at its most peaceful during her tenure. King Sejong also praised her for being a good leader for the women of the palace.
Death
Lady Shim died at the age of 50, at the residence of her second son, Grand Prince Suyang. She was buried within Yeongneung (영릉) in present-day Yeoju, Gyeonggi Province. King Sejong, who survived Lady Shim by four years, was later buried alongside her.
Legacy
Grand Prince Suyang commissioned the creation of the Seokbosangjeol after his mother's death, intending it to ease her passage to the next life. It was, however, also made available to the general population, to encourage the propagation of the Buddhist faith. It was translated from Chinese to Korea's native hangul, and as such represents the oldest form of indigenous Korean written text. The book was written at King Sejong's request, and was first published in 24 volumes in 1447. An original edition is held in the National Library of Korea, and has been designated as a Tangible Cultural Treasure.
↑In 1432, the system of conferring honorific titles upon the queen and crown princess was abolished.
↑Married Kang Seok-deok (강석덕), Internal Prince Jinyang (진양부원군; 1395–1459) from the Jinju Kang clan (진주 강씨); nephew-in-law of Princess Gyeonghwa. They had issue (2 sons).
↑Married Ryu Ja-hae (류자해) from the Jinju Ryu clan (진주 류씨); first cousin of Queen Jeonghui. They had issue (1 son); among their descendants is Ryu Sun-jong (grandson).
↑▪︎Wife: Lady, of the Yeoheung Min clan (여흥 민씨; 1403–?); third daughter of Min Mu-hyul (민무휼), Prince Yeowon (여원군; 1373–1416) and niece of Queen Wongyeong. ▪︎Issue: 2 sons.
↑Married Yi Sung-ji (이숭지;?–1462) from the Jeonui Yi clan (전의 이씨).
↑Married Park Geo-so (박거소) from the Suncheon Park clan (순천 박씨). They had issue (2 sons); among their descendants are Park Won-jong (grandson), Queen Janggyeong and Yun Im (great-grandchildren).
↑▪︎Wife: Lady, of the Wonju Kim clan (원주 김씨); daughter of Kim Yeon-ji (김연지). ▪︎Issue: 3 sons.
↑Married An Maeng-dam (안맹담), Prince Consort Yeonchang (연창위; 1415–1462) from the Juksan An clan (죽산 안씨); grandnephew of Consort Jeong and nephew of Consort Hyeon (현비 안씨; consort of King U of Goryeo). They had issue (4 sons, 2 daughters).
↑▪︎Wife: Grand Princess Consort Yeongga (영가부부인), of the Pyongsan Shin clan (평산 신씨); daughter of Shin Ja-su (신자수). ▪︎Issue: 1 son.
↑▪︎Wife: Grand Princess Consort Wansan (완산부부인), of the Jeonju Choe clan (전주 최씨); daughter of Choe Sa-gang (최사강; 1388–1443), grandaunt of Concubine Gong and great-aunt of Deposed Queen Shin. ▪︎Issue: 2 sons (1 concubine-born son).
↑▪︎Wife: Grand Princess Consort Gangnyeong (강녕부부인), of the Namyang Hong clan (남양 홍씨); daughter of Hong I-yong (홍이용) and first cousin of Queen Insu. ▪︎Issue: 1 adopted son.
↑▪︎1st wife: Grand Princess Consort Daebang (대방부부인), of the Yeosan Song clan (여산 송씨); daughter of Song Bok-won (송복원) and aunt of Queen Jeongsun. ▪︎2nd wife: Grand Princess Consort Chunseong (춘성부부인), of the Haeju Jeong clan (해주 정씨); daughter of Jeong Chung-gyeong (정충경). ▪︎3rd wife: Grand Princess Consort Yeonseong (연성부부인), of the Yonan Kim clan (연안 김씨). ▪︎Issue: 1 son, 3 daughters.
