Queen Inye

Queen Inye
인예왕후
Queen consort of Goryeo
Tenure1052–1083
Coronation1052
PredecessorQueen Inpyeong
SuccessorRoyal Consort Jeongsin
Queen dowager of Goryeo
Tenure1083–1092
Coronation1083
PredecessorQueen Dowager Heonae
SuccessorQueen Dowager Sasuk
MonarchKing Seonjong (son)
Born1026
Goryeo
Died5 October 1092 (aged 66)
Seogyeong, Goryeo
Burial
Daereung tomb
Spouse
(before 1047)
Issue
Regnal name
  • Princess Yeondeok (연덕궁주; 延德宮主)
  • Consort Yeondeok (연덕궁비; 延德宮妃)
  • Queen Mother Inyesundeok (인예순덕태후; 仁睿順德太后)
  • Grand Queen Mother Inye (인예왕태후; 仁睿王太后)
Posthumous name
Queen Mother Seongseon Hyomok Inye Sundeok
성선효목인예순덕태후
(聖善孝穆仁睿順德太后)
HouseGyeongwon Yi clan
FatherYi Ja-yeon
MotherLady Kim of the Gyeongju Kim clan
ReligionBuddhism

Queen Inye of the Gyeongwon Yi clan (Korean인예왕후 이씨; Hanja仁睿王后 李氏; 1026 – 5 October 1092[a]) or Queen Mother Inyesundeok (Korean인예순덕태후; Hanja仁睿順德太后) was a Korean queen consort as the 2nd wife of Munjong of Goryeo and the first Goryeo queen who came from the powerful Gyeongwon Yi clan. Among her ten sons, three of the eldest became the reign kings (Sunjong, Seonjong, Sukjong) and three others became a Buddhist monk.[2] She was the grandmother of Heonjong and Yejong, also ancestors of all goryeo kings after her husband.

Biography

Early life and background

The future Queen Inye was born as part of the powerful Gyeongwon Yi clan.[3] Her father was its leader, Yi Ja-yeon (이자연; 李子淵) and her mother was the daughter of Kim In-wi (김인위; 金因渭) from the Gyeongju Kim clan. As the first and oldest daughter, she had 8 brothers and 2 younger sisters who both would become King Munjong's wives, Consort Ingyeong and Consort Injeol.

Marriage and palace life

Lady Yi was married to King Munjong of Goryeo as his second wife and honoured as Princess Yeondeok (연덕궁주; 延德宮主) since she stayed in "Yeondeok Palace" (연덕궁; 延德宮)[4] and sometimes called as Consort Yeondeok (연덕궁비; 延德宮妃). They had their first son in 1047[5] and two years later, she gave birth into their second son[6] and formally became the queen consort in 1052, which this event was celebrated by many provinces.[7] Beside that, she also bore Munjong 8 other sons and 4 daughters, but two of their daughters died too early. Her position was further consolidated upon her eldest son crowned as the crown prince in 1054.[8]

In 1083, her husband died and their eldest son ascended the throne as Sunjong of Goryeo. However, the new king was said to be very grieved for his father's death and died not long after that, which he was succeeded by his younger brother, Seonjong of Goryeo. In 1083, the king formally honoured his mother as a queen mother (태후; 太后) after bestowed the Queen Dowager Palace (왕태후궁; 王太后宮) to her and congratulatory messages were sent from each province along with a whopping 100,000 pieces of cloth were given to her.[9] Also, it was said that Tamna Province sent some envoy as a tribute to the royal palace.[10] Since this, she lived in "Jasu Hall" (자수전; 慈壽殿) until her death.

Efforts in Buddhism

The queen was said to personality liked and always worshipped in Buddhism, as she was a devout Buddhist during her lifetime. She also prayed for the prosperity of her descendants at "Gamro Temple" (감로사; 甘露寺), which was built by her father.[11]

She built "Gukcheong Temple" (국청사; 國淸寺) in 1089[12] and delighted to hear about Jeontaegyo (천태교) from her fourth son.[13] In addition, she transcribed the Yugahyeonyangron (유가현양론; 瑜伽顯揚論) into the silver book (은서; 銀書) and later finished by King Sukjong.[14] In 1090, she went to the Three Horned Mountain (삼각산; 三角山) along with King Seonjong to visited Seunggagul (승가굴)[15] and "Insu Temple" (인수사),[16] came to "Sinhyeol Temple" (신혈사; 神穴寺) and participated in "500 Buddhist Ceremony" (오백나한재; 五百羅漢齋).[17]

Death and after life

Meanwhile, the queen mother passed away in Seogyeong (서경; 西京) on 5 October 1092 (9th years reign of King Seonjong) and her body was transported back to Gaegyeong to buried in Daereung Tomb (대릉; 戴陵).[18]

Her works for Buddhist, which had been vigorously promoted, was completed by her 3rd and 4th son after her death. In 1096, King Sukjong held a Doryang (도량; 道場) for three days at the Geondeok Hall (건덕전; 乾德殿) and read the entire Avatamsaka Sutra, which initiated and completed by his late mother.[19] When Gukcheong temple was completed a year later, King Sukjong himself opened the Gyeongchandoryang (경찬도량; 慶讚道場) and wrote the Gyeongchansi (경찬시; 慶讚詩) to respond Yusin (유신; 儒臣).[20]

Honors

After her death, she was posthumously honoured as Queen Mother Inye Sundeok (인예순덕태후; 仁睿順德太后) or shortly Queen Mother Inye (인예태후; 仁睿太后) by King Seonjong of Goryeo.

Under his command too, Banhon Hall (반혼전; 返魂殿) was built at Gukcheong Temple for her and she was enshrined in her husband's shrine.[21][22] According to the "Anthology of Daegak National Preceptor" (대각국사문집; 大覺國師文集), she was called as National Mother Inye (인예국모; 仁睿國母; "The Benevolent and Perspicacious National Mother").[23]

In April 1140 (18th year reign of King Injong), she received name Seong-seon (성선; 聖善) and Hyo-mok (효목; 孝穆) in October 1253 (40th year reign of King Gojong) as her full Posthumous name.

According to the records left, she was said to have a beautiful heart and personality, docile, gentleness, and her virtuous conduct was no less than that of a famous ancient master. She was also said to become the person who opened the Gyeongwon Yi clan era by achieved harmony in her relationship with her husband, having prospered descendants, and adept in her duty as the mother of the nation, which peoples admired her much.[24][25]

Notes

  1. ^ In the Korean calendar (lunisolar), she died on 2nd day of the 9th month of 1092.

References

  1. ^ 문종 소생 공주. Goryeosa (in Korean). Retrieved January 6, 2022.
  2. ^ 고려사 > 권90 > 열전 권제3 > 종실(宗室) > 문종 소생 왕자. Goryeosa (in Korean). Retrieved March 30, 2022.
  3. ^ 고려사 > 권56 > 지 권제10 > 지리1(地理 一) > 양광도 > 인주 > 연혁. Goryeosa (in Korean). Retrieved March 30, 2022.
  4. ^ Sang-gak, Lee (2014). 고려사 - 열정과 자존의 오백년 - Volume 1 [History of Goryeo - 500 Years of Biographies and Stories - Volume 1] (in Korean). Deullyeok. ISBN 9791159250248.
  5. ^ 고려사 > 권7 > 세가 권제7 > 문종(文宗) 원년 > 12월 > 왕자 왕휴가 태어나다. Goryeosa (in Korean). Retrieved March 30, 2022.
  6. ^ 고려사 > 권7 > 세가 권제7 > 문종(文宗) 3년 > 9월 > 왕자 왕증이 태어나다. Goryeosa (in Korean). Retrieved March 30, 2022.
  7. ^ 고려사 > 권7 > 세가 권제7 > 문종(文宗) 6년 > 2월 > 연덕궁주 이씨를 왕비로 책봉하다. Goryeosa (in Korean). Retrieved March 30, 2022.
  8. ^ 고려사 > 권7 > 세가 권제7 > 문종(文宗) 7년 > 11월 > 왕자 휴를 훈으로 개명하고 태자로 책립하다. Goryeosa (in Korean). Retrieved March 30, 2022.
  9. ^ 韓國史年表 [Korean History Chronology] (in Korean). University of Michigan: Dongbang Media. 2004. p. 128. ISBN 9788984572973.
  10. ^ Inji, Jung (2002). 신편 고려사 2, Volume 2 [Letter of the History of Goryeo 2, Volume 2] (in Korean). University of Michigan: Sinseowon. p. 27. ISBN 9788979400267.
  11. ^ 韓國人物史硏究, Issue 5 [Korean History Research, Issue 5] (in Korean). Jingren Cultural Society. 2006. pp. 116, 121–122.
  12. ^ 고려사 > 권10 > 세가 권제10 > 선종(宣宗) 6년 > 10월 > 왕태후가 국청사를 짓다. Goryeosa (in Korean). Retrieved March 30, 2022.
  13. ^ Mingji, Zhao (1989). 韓國佛教史學論集: 曉城趙明基先生遺文稿 [Anthology of Korean Buddhist History] (in Korean). University of Michigan: National Society. p. 501.
  14. ^ Myungdae, Moon (2003). 한국 의 불상 조각: 삼매 와 평담미 : 高麗, 朝鮮佛敎彫刻史硏究 [Korean Buddha Sculpture: Sammai and Pyeongdammi : Goryeo, Joseon Buddhist Sculpture History Study] (in Korean). University of Michigan: Yekyung. p. 153,154. ISBN 9788970842127.
  15. ^ 고려사 > 권10 > 세가 권제10 > 선종(宣宗) 7년 > 10월 > 왕이 승가굴과 장의사에 가다. Goryeosa (in Korean). Retrieved March 30, 2022.
  16. ^ 고려사 > 권10 > 세가 권제10 > 선종(宣宗) 7년 > 10월 > 왕이 인수사에 가서 분향하다. Goryeosa (in Korean). Retrieved March 30, 2022.
  17. ^ 고려사 > 권10 > 세가 권제10 > 선종(宣宗) 7년 > 10월 > 왕이 신혈사에서 오백나한재를 지내다. Goryeosa (in Korean). Retrieved March 30, 2022.
  18. ^ 고려사 > 권64 > 지 권제18 > 예6(禮 六) > 흉례 > 국휼 > 선종이 문종의 비 인예순덕태후 이씨를 대릉에 장사지내다. Goryeosa (in Korean). Retrieved March 30, 2022.
  19. ^ 고려사 > 권11 > 세가 권제11 > 숙종(肅宗) 원년 > 10월 > 도량을 열고 화엄경을 전독하다. Goryeosa (in Korean). Retrieved March 30, 2022.
  20. ^ 고려사 > 권11 > 세가 권제11 > 숙종(肅宗) 원년 > 9월 > 인예태후의 기신도량에서 분향하다. Goryeosa (in Korean). Retrieved March 30, 2022.
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  23. ^ Uicheon (2015). 대각국사문집 천줄읽기 [Anthology of Daegak National Preceptor] (in Korean). CommunicationBooks. ISBN 9791130460161.
  24. ^ 고려사 > 권88 > 열전 권제1 > 후비(后妃) > 문종 후비 인예순덕태후 이씨. Goryeosa (in Korean). Retrieved March 30, 2022.
  25. ^ 인예왕후, 고려 황금기를 이끈 인천 이씨 가문의 주역. Naver Post (in Korean). 30 December 2020. Retrieved March 30, 2022.