PROFILPELAJAR.COM

Mishil
Hangul	미실
Hanja	美室
Revised Romanization	Misil
McCune–Reischauer	Misil

Mishil
Mishil
Born	c. 546/548
Died	c. 612
Spouse(s)	Lord Sejong, 6th Pungwolju
Issue	Lord Hajong (564–? CE); Lord Bojong (580–621 CE); Lord Okjong; Prince Sujong; Princess Banya; Princess Nanya; Princess Aesong; Princess Bohwa;
Father	Mijinbu
Mother	Lady Myodo

Mishil (c. 546/548 – c. 612) was a Silla aristocrat whose historical existence is debatable. According to the Hwarang Segi, she was a concubine to several kings and, along with her aunt Queen Sado, played an instrumental role in dethroning King Jinji. However, it has been questioned whether Misil was truly a historical figure, as she is only mentioned in the Hwarang Segi, and not in the historical texts Samguk Sagi or Samguk Yusa.

Biography

According to the Hwarang Segi, Mishil was the daughter of Lord Mijinbu and Lady Myodo, a sister of Queen Sado, the consort of Jinheung of Silla. Her paternal grandmother was Princess Samyeop, daughter of King Beopheung. Due to her lineage, Mishil was a member of the jingol (진골; 眞骨), or the noble true bone caste. Matrilineally, she belonged to the Matrilineal clan of Daewon Shintong (대원신통; 大元神統) or directly translated as the divine succession of the great prime. The Daewon Shintong is believed to be descent from Bomi, however, the records in the reigns of Soji of Silla, that Bomi, the Lady Daewon (大元夫人), passed away and buried at the age of 82. Lady Daewon has given birth to 12 children from several different fathers. Because of her nobility, her descendants were known as Daewon or great prime tribe. (大元族).^[1]

She was the wife of Lord Sejong (the sixth Pungwolju), the lover of General Seolwon (the seventh Pungwolju) and the older sister of Lord Misaeng (the tenth Pungwolju). She was concubine to three successive Silla kings: King Jinheung, King Jinji, and King Jinpyeong. Legend states that she was in love with Crown Prince Dongnyeon. Her sons became the 11th and 16th pungwoljus, Hajong (through Sejong) and Bojong (through Seolwon), respectively.

According to Hwarang Segi: Mishil became King Jinji's concubine after his father, King Jinheung died. However, he lost interest on her after falling in love with another woman. His mother, Queen Sado, was angered about his sudden change of heart and failing to keep his promise on making her niece (Mishil) into his Queen.

As a result, Queen Sado, with the help of Mishil's lovers; Lord Sejong and General Seolwon, managed to get the support of the court to dethrone King Jinji. They gained people's support after blaming him for Silla's defeat which resulted to famines. They spread the rumor that heavens has forsaken Silla for having an immoral king. Jinji's removal resulted in the installation of his nephew, King Jinpyeong, to the throne. Jinji's grandson, Kim Chunchu, would later succeed the throne as King Muyeol.

Historicity

It has been questioned whether Misil was truly a historical figure, as she is only mentioned in the Hwarang Segi,^[2] and not in the historical texts Samguk sagi or Samguk yusa.^[3] Additionally, her role as mother to her various sons and daughters is not acknowledged by either of these historical texts, only the Hwarang Segi.^[4]^[5]

In popular culture

Portrayed by Seo Kap-sook in 2006–2007 SBS TV series Yeon Gaesomun.
Portrayed by Go Hyun-jung and Uee in the 2009 MBC TV series Queen Seondeok.

Genealogy

Ancestors

Ancestors of Mishil

8. Seonmo
(선모)

4. Lord Asi [ko]
(아시공; 阿時公)

18. Kim Seup-bo (습보; 習寶) [ko]
Galmunwang (갈문왕; 葛文王)

9. Bohye [ko]
(보혜; 寶兮)

2. Lord Mijinbu (미진부공; 未珍夫公) [ko]
2nd Pungwolju (풍월주; 風月主)

20. Jijeung (지증왕; 智證王)
22nd King of Silla

10. Beopheung (법흥왕; 法興王)
23rd King of Silla

21. Lady Yeonje [ko]
(연제부인; 延帝夫人)

5. Princess Samyeop [ko]
(삼엽공주; 三葉公主)

22. Paro [ko]
(파로; 波路)

11. Lady Byeokhwa [ko]
(벽화부인; 碧花夫人)

23. Lady Byeoka [ko]
碧我夫人 (벽아부인)

1. Mishil
(미실; 美室)

12. Lord Suji
(수지공)

6. Park Yeongsil
(박영실; 朴英失)

26. Jijeung (지증왕; 智證王) (= #20)
22nd King of Silla

13. Princess Bohyeon
(보현공주; 普賢公主)

27. Lady Yeonje (= #21)
(연제부인; 延帝夫人)

3. Lady Myodo
(묘도부인; 妙道夫人)

28. Lord Seongshin [ko]
(섬신공; 剡臣公)

14. Wihwa Rang (위화랑; 魏花郞) [ko]
1st Pungwolju (풍월주; 風月主)

29. Lady Byeoka (= #23)
(벽아부인; 碧我夫人)

7. Lady Okjin [ko]
(옥진궁주; 玉珍宮主)

30. Myoshim Rang [ko]
(묘심랑; 妙心郞)

15. Lady Odo [ko]
(오도부인; 吾道夫人)

31. Lady Seonhye [ko]
(선혜부인; 善兮夫人)

Family

For the lineage from Mishil's parents upwards, refer to the ancestry chart above
Younger Brother: Misaeng Rang (美生郞 미생랑), 10th Pungwolju
Husbands and lovers, and their respective issue:

Lord Sejong (世宗公 세종공, ?–588), 6th Pungwolju (561-568, 572)
1. Lord Hajong (夏宗公 하종공, 564–?), 1st son, 11th Pungwolju (588–591)
2. Lord Okjong (玉宗公 옥종공), 2nd son by Lord Sejong
Lord Sadaham (斯多含公 사다함공, 546–564), 5th Pungwolju (562-564) – No issue.
Seolwon Rang (薛原郞 설원랑, 549–606), 7th Pungwolju (572–579)
1. Lord Bojong (寶宗公 보종공, 580–621), Only son, 16th Pungwolju (616–621)
King Jinheung (眞興王 진흥왕), 24th King of Silla
1. Prince Sujong (壽宗殿君 수종전군), Only son
2. Princess Banya (般若公主 반야공주), 1st daughter
3. Princess Nanya (蘭若公主 난야공주), 2nd daughter
Crown Prince Dongryun (銅輪太子 동륜태자, ?–572), son of King Jinheung
1. Princess Aesong (艾松公主 애송공주), Only daughter
King Jinji (眞智王 진지왕), 25th King of Silla – No issue.
King Jinpyeong (眞平王 진평왕), 26th King of Silla
1. Princess Bohwa (寶華公主 보화공주), Only daughter

References

^ Duncan, John (16 December 2008). The Journal of Korean Studies, Volume 13, Number 1 (Fall 2008). Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 9781442234864.
^ Sohn, Byung Woo (2011). "The Historical Drama Queen Seondeok: Imaginary Memory of an Ancient Heroine". The Review of Korean Studies. 14 (2): 67. Retrieved 17 June 2019.
^ Kim Jongseong 김종성 (7 July 2009). "'절대권력자' 미실에게도 한계는 있었다" [There were limits on even the 'authoritarian' Misil] (in Korean). OhmyNews. Retrieved 17 June 2019.
^ Kim Jongseong 김종성 (10 June 2009). "미실에겐 몇 명의 남자들이 있었을까?" [How many men did Misil have?] (in Korean). OhmyNews. Retrieved 17 June 2019.
^ Kim Dae-mun; Gakhun 각훈 (2012). 화랑세기/해동고승전 천줄읽기 [Hwarang segi/Haedong Goseungjeon (in a thousand lines)] (in Korean). Translated by Yeo Seonggu 여성구. CommunicationBooks.