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Pokjan

1112 – 1195

Korean noblewoman

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About Pokjan

Lived 1112 – 1195 (aged 82–83).

Deposed Princess Bokchang of the Gyeongwon Yi clan (; d. 27 November 1195) was a Korean queen consort and the 2nd wife of her nephew, King Injong of Goryeo. She was the youngest, among Queen Sundeok (oldest sister who becomes mother-in-law) and Princess Yeondeok, also the last Goryeo queen who came from the powerful Gyeongwon Yi clan.

Biography On 1st month 1125 (lunar calendar), she entered the palace at a young age. According to the Tongguk t'onggam, it rained a lot, the wind blew strong and the trees were uprooted on the day she entered the palace like her second elder sister who had already entered the Palace.

In order to poison Injong, her father served him a poisoned Tteok , but she instead secretly informed the king about this. Then, Injong's servants threw this rice-cake to the raven and while it ate this, it died not long after that. After it known that the plan failed, Yi Cha-gyŏm tried another plan and ordered her to gave a poison to the king, but she didn't hear her father, deliberately slipped and spilled the poison while carrying it.

In 1126 (4th year reign of Injong), her father was ousted and after that, some of Injong's servants said: "The Princess can't be the king's queen consort as she was closely relative from his maternal side"(궁주는 왕의 종모(從母)이니 왕후가 될 수 없다). Alongside her second older sister, they were deposed from her position and became Lady Yi . Even after her deposition, she was honoured as Princess Bokchang and given land, house, maids while received preferential treatment in consideration of her past efforts to save Injong. King Uijong and King Myeongjong, Injong's successors still respected and treated her sincerely. Later, in winter 1195, she died.

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Important facts

Born
1112
Birth century
Died
1195

People in Pokjan's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Pokjan's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Pokjan?

Korean noblewoman

When was Pokjan born?

Pokjan was born in 1112.

When did Pokjan die?

Pokjan died in 1195.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Pokjan

· Wikidata: Q11064499

· DBpedia: Deposed Princess Bokchang

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Pokjan. https://biography.guide/pokjan/

MLA: "Pokjan." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/pokjan/.

Chicago: "Pokjan." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/pokjan/.

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