Crown Prince Sado

Crown Prince Sado
Hangul 장조
Hanja 莊祖
Revised Romanization Jangjo
McCune–Reischauer Changjo
Posthumous name
Hangul 사도 세자
Hanja 思悼 世子
Revised Romanization Sado Seja
McCune–Reischauer Sado Seja

Crown Prince Sado (13 February 1735 – 12 July 1762) was born Prince Jangheon, the second son of the Korean king Yeongjo (1694 – 1776). Due to the prior death of his older brother Prince Hyojang (1728), the new prince was the probable royal heir. However Prince Sado was not given an opportunity to reign. At the age of 27, he was executed by order of his father, and died of starvation while being by confined in a rice chest.[1] His father gave him the posthumous title Sado, meaning "Thinking of with great sorrow."

Execution

History indicates Sado suffered from mental illness; accused of randomly killing people in the palace and being a serial rapist. By court rules, the body of a royal could not be defiled and under the then-common practice of communal punishment, Sado's wife and son (the family's only direct male heir) could also face death or banishment.[2] As a result, Yeongjo, with the consent of Sado's mother, Lady Yi, issued a royal decree that ordered Sado to climb into and be sealed within a wooden rice chest (roughly 4x4x4ft)on a hot July day in 1762. After eight days, Sado died.[3]

Conspiracy theory

During the 19th century, there were rumors that Prince Sado had not been mentally ill, but had been framed; however, these rumors are contradicted by his wife, Lady Hyegyeong, in The Memoirs of Lady Hyegyeong. Sado's death remains an issue of debate as to whether his death was a retribution for his actual misconduct or if he was the victim of a conspiracy by his political opponents.

Burial

Crown Prince Sado was buried on Mt BaebongSan in Yangju. His body was moved by his son, King Jeongjo, to its current location in 1789, then called Hyeollyungwon near Suwon, 30 kilometers south of Seoul. Five years later the Suwon Hwaseong Fortress was built by King Jeongjo, specifically to memorialize and honor his father's tomb (the construction lasted 1794-1796, while the official reception was 1795). Lady Hyegyeong died and was buried with her husband in 1816.

Prince Sado and Lady Hyegyeong were posthumously elevated in status and given the titles Emperor Yangjo and Empress Heonyeong in 1899. Their tomb and that adjacent tomb of their son, King Jeongjo, and Queen Hyoui were upgraded accordingly and renamed Yungneung.

Taboo and Reinstatement

Prince Sado was reinstated fifteen days after he died. To even say the name of Sado was banned by King Yeongjo during the period of his reign. Because of this decision, Prince Sado's son, Jeongjo, who ascended the throne following the passing of the King Yeongjo, was added to his deceased uncle's (Prince Hyojang's) family register. One of Jeongjo's first statements upon becoming king, however, was to declare, "I am the son of Prince Sado." Jeongjo always showed great filial devotion to his father, Prince Sado, and reinstated his original name and title, Prince Jangheon.

Family

  1. Lady Hyegyeong of the Poongsan Hong clan, 혜경궁 홍씨, 1735–1816). Daughter of Hong Bong-han (홍봉한) —great-great-grandson of Princess JeongMyoung (1603-1685), the only legitimate daughter of King Seonjo— and Lady Yi of the Hansun Yi clan. Dignified as Queen Heongyeong 헌경왕후 in 1899 by emperor Gojong of Korea.
    1. Prince Successor Uiso (의소세자, 1750–1752)
    2. Jeongjo of Joseon (1752-1800), Prince Successor Descendant (왕세손), the 22nd King (정조)
    3. Princess Cheongyeon (청연공주, 1754-1821)
    4. Princess Cheongseon (청선공주, 1756–1802)
  2. Royal Noble Consort Suk of the Im clan (숙빈 임씨)
    1. Prince Euneon (은언군, 1754–1801). Grandfather of Cheoljong, the 25th King (철종)
    2. Prince Eunshin (은신군, 1755–1771). Posthumous step-father of Prince Namyeon and, therefore, ancestor of Gojong, the 26th King (고종)
  3. Royal Noble Consort Gyeong of the Park clan (경빈 박씨)
    1. Prince Eunjeon (은전군, 1759–1778)
    2. Princess Cheonggeun (청근옹주, 1758–1792)

His full posthumous name

His imperial posthumous name

In popular culture

Ancestry

References

  1. ↑ The Memoirs of Lady Hyegyeong, translated JaHyun Kim Haboush, p. 321
  2. ↑ The Memoirs of Lady Hyegyeong, translated JaHyun Kim Haboush, p. 2
  3. ↑ The Memoirs of Lady Hyegyeong (한중록, 閑中錄)
  4. ↑ Daughter of Yi Yoo Beon (이유번) and Madame Gim
  5. ↑ Also known as Lady Seonhui
  6. ↑ Jin, Eun-soo (15 October 2015). "The ever-changing history of Prince Sado". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 22 October 2015.

External links

"Prince Sado". Korean Royalty. Find a Grave. Dec 6, 2006. Retrieved Aug 19, 2011. 

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