Soheon

Queen Sohŏn (; 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 Kong during her tenure, she was queen of Joseon from 1418 until her death in 1446.

Biography Early life 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 Sunheung An clan.

One of Lady Shim's sisters married the son of Right State Councilor No Han , who was also a nephew of her mother-in-law, Queen Wongyeong; their descendants include the 6th president of South Korea, Roh Tae-woo.

Another sister married a first cousin of her daughter-in-law, Queen Jeonghui, and became the grandmother of Ryu Sunjŏng.

The eldest of her brothers, Shim Jun, married the third daughter of Min Muhyul , Queen Wongyeong's brother.

Her second youngest brother, Shim Hoe, eventually became an ancestor of Queen Insun and Queen Danui.

Her uncle, Shim Jong , was King Taejong's brother-in-law through his marriage to the king's younger sister, Princess Kyŏngsŏn .

Yet another uncle, Shim Chong , married a niece of King Gongyang of Goryeo. Sugyong Shim , a consort of King Seongjong, was his granddaughter through a son of concubine birth.

Her first cousin twice removed, Shim An-ui , married Princess Chongan , the youngest daughter of Lady Shim's husband, King Sejong.

Marriage In 1408, at the age of 13, Lady Shim married 11-year-old Prince Ch'ungnyŏng, the third son of King Taejong and Queen Wongyeong. She might have been selected as a royal bride due to Princess Kyŏngsŏn being her paternal aunt-in-law.

In 1418, upon Grand Prince Ch'ungnyŏng appointment as crown prince, Lady Shim became crown princess and received the honorific title kyŏng . 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 kong .

Lady Shim was described as having a gentle and kind appearance but advocating strict adherence to laws and code of conduct.

Royal conflicts Like her predecessor and mother-in-law, Queen Wongyeong, Lady Shim also experienced the downfall of her natal family because King Taejong didn't tolerate powerful in-laws influencing politics. She lost her uncle Shim Chong, 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 towards 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 outlived Lady Shim by four years, was later buried alongside her.

Legacy Grand Prince Suyang commissioned the creation of the Sŏkposangjŏl after Queen Sohŏn'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.

Titles

During the reign of King Taejo : Lady, of the Cheongsong Shim clan Shim On's daughter Lady Shim During the reign of King Taejong : Mistress Kyŏngsuk (; from 23 March 1408) Grand Princess Consort of Samhan State (; from 2 November 1417) Crown Princess Kyŏng (; from 20 July 1418) During the reign of King Sejong : Queen Kong (; from 18 September 1418) Queen (; from 17 June 1432) Queen Sohŏn (; from 1446)

Family Father: Shim On , Internal Prince Cheongcheon (; 1375 – 20 January 1419) Mother: Grand Princess Consort of Samhan State , of the Sunheung An clan (?–1444) Sibling(s) Sister: Lady, of the Cheongsong Shim clan (; 1397–?) Sister: Lady, of the Cheongsong Shim clan (; 1399–?) Sister: Lady, of the Cheongsong Shim clan (; 1401–?) Brother: Shim Jun (; 1405–1448) Sister: Lady, of the Cheongsong Shim clan (; 1406–1466) Brother: Shim Jang-su (?–1462) Brother: Shim Jang-gi (; 1408–?) Sister: Lady, of the Cheongsong Shim clan (; 1413–?) Brother: Shim Hoe (; 1418–1493) Brother: Shim Kyol (; 1419–1470) Husband: King Sejong (; 15 May 1397 – 8 April 1450) Father-in-law: King Taejong (; 21 June 1367 – 8 June 1422) Mother-in-law: Queen Wongyeong , of the Yeoheung Min clan (; 6 August 1365 – 27 August 1420) Issue Princess Jeongso (; 1412 – 3 April 1424) Yi Hyang , King Munjong (; 15 November 1414 – 10 June 1452) Princess Jeongui (; 27 September 1415 – 5 March 1477) Yi Yu , King Sejo (; 11 November 1417 – 23 October 1468) Yi Yong , Grand Prince Anpyeong (; 27 October 1418 – 27 November 1453) Yi Gu , Grand Prince Imyeong (; 29 January 1420 – 11 February 1469) Yi Yo , Grand Prince Gwangpyeong (; 28 May 1425 – 8 December 1444) Yi Yu , Grand Prince Geumseong (; 14 May 1426 – 16 November 1457) Yi Im , Grand Prince Pyeongwon (; 15 December 1427 – 3 March 1445) Yi Yom , Grand Prince Yeongeung (; 1 June 1434 – 7 March 1467)

Ancestry

In popular culture Portrayed by Kim Young-ae in the 1983 MBC TV series 500 Years of Joseon: Tree with Deep Roots. Portrayed by Im Seo-yeon in the 1996–1998 KBS1 TV series Tears of the Dragon. Portrayed by Lee Yoon-ji in the 2008 KBS TV series The Great King, Sejong. Portrayed by Jang Ji-eun in the 2011 SBS TV series Deep Rooted Tree. Portrayed by Jin Ki-joo in the 2015 MBC TV series Splash Splash Love. Portrayed by Jeon Mi-seon in the 2019 film The King's Letters. Portrayed by Kim Bi-ju in the 2021–2022 KBS1 TV series The King of Tears, Lee Bang-won.