Crown Prince Jeongseong Explained

Wang Seok
Succession:Prince Jeongseong
(정성군, 定城君)
Reign:1388–1389
Coronation:1388
Succession1:Crown Prince of Goryeo
Reign1:1389 – July 1392
Coronation1:1389
Predecessor1:Crown Prince Wang Jeong
Successor1:Dynasty abolished
(Yi Bangu as the first Crown Prince of Joseon)
Regent1:King Gongyang (father)
Reg-Type1:Monarch
Royal House:House of Wang
Father:Gongyang of Goryeo
Mother:Royal Consort Sun of the Gyoha No clan
Birth Name:Wang Dan
Birth Place:Goryeo
Death Date:1394
Death Place:Samcheok-si, Gangwon Province, Joseon
Religion:Buddhism
Module:
Child:yes
Hangul:정성세자
Rr:Jeongseong-seja
Mr:Ch'ŏngsŏng-seja
Hangulborn:왕단, later 왕석
Hanjaborn:, later
Rrborn:Wang Dan, later Wang Seok
Mrborn:Wang Tan, later Wang Sŏk
Hangula:왕서
Rra:Wang Seo
Mra:Wang Sŏ

Crown Prince Jeongseong (died 1394) or known before as Prince Jeongseong, was the first son of King Gongyang and Consort Sun[1] who would eventually become the last Crown Prince of the Goryeo dynasty. After Yi Seonggye established the new dynasty, he was deposed from his throne along with his parent and got assassinated.[2] His birth name was Wang Dan, but later changed to Wang Seok whom he better known with it.

Biography

Early life

Born as Wang Dan, he was the only son of Wang Yo, Prince Jeongchang and Lady No.[3] Then, he changed his name into "Seok" and given royal title as Prince Jeongseong in 1388. Although his birth date was not clear, but it seems that he was born before 1388 since in that year he already held a royal title. One year later, following his father who ascended the throne under General Yi Seong-gye's command after deposed King Chang, Jeongseong then became the Crown Prince .

Palace life and marriage

In 1390, Seoyeon was opened, a "Sabu" and a "Sihak" were appointed and received Confucian education, there were also Jo Jun and Yi Seo . The Crown Prince was said to engrossed in Buddhism and on 4 February 1391, he went to "Hoeam Temple", where he and his parents prayed all night long. In the next day, Seok offered 1,200 linens (1,200필) to the monks.

On 20 February 1391, there was held the Selection of the Crown Princess Consort and the chosen one was Yi Won-goeng 's daughter from the Incheon Yi clan . Not long after that, the King gave her a dignitary as her gifts and the white crown bows. Lady Yi then became the Crown Princess Consort not long after their marriage in the same year.

Meanwhile, after a year since the King decided to move the capital to Hanyang, but changed to Gaegyeong after decided again. Wang Seok then visited "Yangneung" and made a sacrifice in Hyosin Hall to announce the moved capital back to Gaegyeong.

In March, Bongsungdogam was installed and he then followed the Crown Prince's Ceremony . However, his father tried to enforce the Ceremony inconsistent with the etiquette, so Gim Ja-su, an ambassador from Seonggyungwan, took issue with it. Finally, the Ceremony was postponed to August. Then, on 15th, the King delivered the Crown Prince's seal to Wang Seok through Seol Jang-su, a priest from Chanseong Temple and a feast was held after the ceremony. Also, on 25th, they announced that Seok already became the Crown Prince.

Affairs with the Ming dynasty

Meanwhile, the Crown Prince was said to be distracted by the issue of joined and made alliance with the Ming dynasty. There were voices of concern that the Ming mightn't rebuke him. The Ming sent their first envoy in April after King Gongyang ascended the throne and demanded that 10,000 horses (1만필) be sold in Goryeo, but Goryeo could not meet the number and only sent 1,500 horses in June (1,500필만).[4] At this time, Wang was reprimanded for not meeting the deadline after sent to the Ming Dynasty, but there was no way for him to respond. Meanwhile, merchants who traded sheep were participate in the envoy to Ipjo and the ambassadors, such as Heo-Eung filed an appeal in September, insisted that the merchants be excluded from the party.

From September until December, Wang, along with Seol Jang-su and others, were left the Ming and went back to Goryeo. On 10 March 1392, while Yi Hyeon already arrived in Goryeo and reports the Crown Prince's expected return date, Wang then returned safely on the 26th and got such as greeting the new year and receiving a golden robes .

He was loved by the Ming's Emperor and he treated him to a western tea while honoured Wang as "Marquess" and "Duke", those made the Emperor also held banquets and feasts five times for several days during the Civil War and was given away the 2 Jeong (2정, 錠) gold, 10 jeong (10정) silver, and 100 pieces of silks for him.

While returned home in the following years, he was welcomed by the Goryeo official who came out in Sodae Gate, Gaegyeong. However, all of Ming's given on him, returned to the national treasury by him own and it was said that he stole some of it and secretly bought a gun and gave it to his lover. In April, Wang went back to Jeokgyeong-won in Hyosin Hall and he then met Yi Seong-gye in Hwangju, but in the next day, he visited Yi again who was injured after falling off a horse while hunting.

Deposition from the throne and death

In July 1392, Yi Seong-gye eventually deposed King Gongyang and following this, Wang then became Deposed Crown Prince while they exiled to Wonju, but later moved to Goyang, Gyeonggi Province. On 4 March 1394, they were moved again to Samcheok-si and was killed in there.[5] Yi, who was now the new King of the new Joseon dynasty, reported this news to the Ming and after received this news, the Ming finally understood that Wang didn't return safely to Goryeo and instead got killed.

Family

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 공양왕 왕자 세자 왕석. Goryeosa. August 7, 2021. ko.
  2. Book: 2005. 한국 무예 사료 총서, vol. 3. A Collection of Korean Martial Arts Materials, vol. 3. ko. 801. University of Michigan. National Folklore Museum.
  3. Web site: 왕의 일가를 책봉하고 사면령을 내리다. Goryeosa. September 17, 2021. ko.
  4. Web site: 명에 세자를 하정사로 보내다. Goryeosa. August 7, 2021. ko.
  5. Book: Lee Han-woo. 2018. 이한우의 태종실록 재위 8년: 새로운 해석, 예리한 통찰. Hanwoo Lee's 8th year of reign in the Annals of Taejong: New interpretations, sharp insights. ko. Book21 Publishing Group. 9788950976309.