# Styles and titles in Joseon

During the Joseon period, royal titles and styles (forms of address) had been extensive and complex. The general title of the monarch was king (왕; 王; wang) until Gojong crowned himself emperor (황제; 皇帝; hwangje), a title that was only allowed for Chinese emperors. Official titles came with official forms of address, depending on who the addressee was and by whom they were addressed.

## Royal family
### Naming

When a prince became king, he was addressed as such, personal names were not used. After the death of a king, he was given several names. One is the temple name (묘호; 廟號; myoho), which was given when the spirit tablet was placed at the Jongmyo Shrine. This is the name by which historians usually refer to Joseon kings. The myoho could end in either jo (조; 祖; lit. 'progenitor') or jong (종; 宗; lit. 'ancestor'). The preceding syllable was an adjective suitable for the king. The other name was the posthumous name (시호; 諡號; siho). This is a longer name, made up of adjectives characteristic of the king's rule. For example, King Gyeongjong's posthumous name was King Deokmun Ikmu Sunin Seonhyo the Great (덕문익무순인선효대왕; 德文翼武純仁宣孝大王), while his temple name was Gyeongjong (경종; 景宗).

### Titles and styles

Forms of address were combined with names, titles or both, for example:
* Jusang Jeonha (주상 전하; His Majesty the King)
* Jungjeon Mama (중전 마마; Her Royal Highness the Queen)
* Seja Jeoha (세자 저하; His Royal Highness the Crown Prince)
* Wangja Agissi [in childhood] (왕자 아기씨; His Young Highness the Prince) then Daegun Jaga / Daegam [in adulthood] (대군 자가 / 대감; His Highness / His Excellency the Grand Prince)
* Gongju Agissi [in childhood] (공주 아기씨; Her Young Highness the Royal Princess) then Gongju Jaga [in adulthood] (공주 자가; Her Highness the Royal Princess)
| | Title | Title | Title | Forms of address | Forms of address | Forms of address | | Explanation |
| English | Revised Romanization | Hangul | Hanja | RR | Hangul | Hanja | Rank | Explanation |
| Monarch |||||||||
| King | Wang Jusang Imgeum Narannim Gugwang Geumsang Sanggam Daejeon Gwain Jewang | 왕 주상 임금 나랏님 국왕 금상 상감 대전 과인 제왕 | 王 主上 — — 國王 今上 上監 大田 寡人 帝王 | Jeonha Mama | 전하 마마 | 殿下 媽媽 | None | Current monarch; he was addressed in different ways depending on the speaker and the situation |
| King Emeritus | Sangwang | 상왕 | 上王 | Jeonha | 전하 | 殿下 | None | Living king who has voluntarily abdicated in favor of the current king |
| Grand King Emeritus | Taesangwang | 태상왕 | 太上王 | Jeonha | 전하 | 殿下 | None | An abdicated king whose relinquishment of power precedes that of another king emeritus |
| Great Late King | Seondaewang | 선대왕 | 先大王 | Mama | 마마 | 媽媽 | None | Deceased king |
| Late King | Seonwang | 선왕 | 大王 | Mama | 마마 | 媽媽 | None | Deceased king |
| Great King | Daewang | 대왕 | 大王 | Mama | 마마 | 媽媽 | None | Deceased king |
| Main consort of a monarch |||||||||
| Queen | Wangbi Jungjeon Gungmo Naejeon | 왕비 중전 국모 내전 | 王妃 中殿 國母 內殿 | Mama | 마마 | 媽媽 | None | Main consort of a current king |
| Queen Emerita | Sangwangbi | 상왕비 | 上王妃 | Mama | 마마 | 媽媽 | None | Main consort of a king emeritus |
| Grand Queen Emerita | Taesangwangbi | 태상왕비 | 太上王妃 | Mama | 마마 | 媽媽 | None | Main consort of a grand king emeritus |
| Queen Dowager | Daebi | 대비 | 大妃 | Mama | 마마 | 媽媽 | None | Used to be the short form of wangdaebi, but later became a lower rank; main consort of a deceased king who lived through a subsequent reign |
| Royal Queen Dowager | Wangdaebi Jajeon Jaseon | 왕대비 자전 자선 | 王大妃 慈殿 慈聖 | Mama | 마마 | 媽媽 | None | Used to be the long form of daebi, but later became a higher rank; main consort of a deceased king who lived through two subsequent reigns |
| Great Royal Queen Dowager | Daewangdaebi | 대왕대비 | 大王大妃 | Mama | 마마 | 媽媽 | None | Main consort of a deceased king who lived through at least two subsequent reigns |
| Queen | Wanghu | 왕후 | 王后 | Mama | 마마 | 媽媽 | None | Deceased queen |
| Parents and parents-in-law of a monarch |||||||||
| Grand Internal Prince | Daewongun | 대원군 | 大院君 | Daegam | 대감 | 大監 | None | Father of a king who has never been king himself |
| Grand Internal Princess Consort | Budaebuin | 부대부인 | 府大夫人 | Manim | 마님 | — | Senior 1 (정1품) | Wife of a grand internal prince and / or mother of a king |
| Internal Prince | Buwongun | 부원군 | 府院君 | Daegam | 대감 | 大監 | None | Father of a queen |
| Internal Princess Consort | Bubuin | 부부인 | 府夫人 | Manim | 마님 | — | Senior 1 (정1품) | Wife of an internal prince and / or mother of a queen |
| Monarch's male descendant and their main consorts |||||||||
| Prince Royal | Wonja | 원자 | 元子 | Agissi | 아기씨 | — | None | Eldest son of a king before being appointed as heir to the throne |
| Crown Prince | Wangseja Seja Donggung Gukbon | 왕세자 세자 동궁 국본 | 王世子 世子 東宮 國本 | Jeoha Mama | 저하 마마 | 邸下 媽媽 | None | Son of a king who has been appointed as heir to the throne |
| Crown Princess | Wangsejabin Sejabin Bingung | 왕세자빈 세자빈 빈궁 | 王世子嬪 世子嬪 嬪宮 | Manora Jaga | 마노라 자가 | — 自家 | None | Main consort of a king's son who has been appointed as heir to the throne |
| Crown Prince | Wangseje Seje Donggung Gukbon | 왕세제 세제 동궁 국본 | 王世弟 世弟 東宮 國本 | Jeoha Mama | 저하 마마 | 邸下 媽媽 | None | Brother of a king who has been appointed as heir to the throne |
| Crown Princess | Wangsejebin Sejebin Bingung | 왕세제빈 세제빈 빈궁 | 王世弟嬪 世弟嬪 嬪宮 | Manora Jaga | 마노라 자가 | — 自家 | None | Main consort of a king's brother who has been appointed as heir to the throne |
| Grand Heir | Wangseson | 왕세손 | 王世孫 | Gakha Hapa | 각하 합하 | 閤下 | None | Eldest son of a crown prince |
| Grand Heiress Consort | Wangsesonbin | 왕세손빈 | 王世孫嬪 | Jaga | 자가 | 自家 | None | Main consort of a crown prince's eldest son |
| Grand Prince | Wangja Daegun | 왕자 대군 | 王子 大君 | Agissi Jaga Daegam | 아기씨 자가 대감 | — 自家 大監 | None | Son of a king by his main consort |
| Grand Princess Consort | Bubuin | 부부인 | 府夫人 | Manim | 마님 | — | Senior 1 (정1품) | Wife of a grand prince |
| Royal Prince | Wangja Gun | 왕자 군 | 王子 君 | Agissi Jaga Daegam | 아기씨 자가 대감 | — 自家 大監 | None | Son of a king by a concubine |
| Royal Princess Consort | Gunbuin | 군부인 | 郡夫人 | Manim | 마님 | — | Senior 1 (정1품) | Wife of a royal prince |
| Prince | Gun | 군 | 君 | — | — | — | Junior 1 (종1품) | Eldest son of a grand prince |
| Princess Consort | Gunbuin | 군부인 | 郡夫人 | — | — | — | Junior 1 (종1품) | Wife of a grand prince's eldest son |
| Prince | Gun | 군 | 君 | — | — | — | Senior 2 (정2품) | Other sons of a crown prince, eldest grandson of a grand prince, eldest son of a royal prince |
| Princess Consort | Hyeonbuin | 현부인 | 賢夫人 | — | — | — | Senior 2 (정2품) | Wife of a prince of the senior second rank |
| Prince | Gun | 군 | 君 | — | — | — | Junior 2 (종2품) | Grandsons of a crown prince, other sons and eldest great-grandson of a grand prince, eldest grandson of a royal prince |
| Princess Consort | Hyeonbuin | 현부인 | 賢夫人 | — | — | — | Junior 2 (종2품) | Wife of a prince of the junior second rank |
| — | Jeong | 정 | 正 | — | — | — | Senior 3 (정3품) | Great-grandsons of a crown prince, other grandsons of a grand prince, other sons and eldest great-grandson of a royal prince |
| Cautious Lady | Sinin | 신인 | 慎人 | — | — | — | Senior 3 (정3품) | Wife of a jeong |
| — | Bujeong | 부정 | 副正 | — | — | — | Junior 3 (종3품) | Great-grandsons of a grand prince, other grandsons of a royal prince |
| Cautious Lady | Sinin | 신인 | 慎人 | — | — | — | Junior 3 (종3품) | Wife of a bujeong |
| — | Su | 수 | 守 | — | — | — | Senior 4 (정4품) | Great-grandsons of a royal prince, sons of a grand prince by a commoner |
| Benovelent Lady | Hyein | 혜인 | 惠人 | — | — | — | Senior 4 (정4품) | Wife of a su |
| — | Busu | 부수 | 副守 | — | — | — | Junior 4 (종4품) | Sons of a grand prince by a lowborn, sons of a royal prince by a commoner |
| Benovelent Lady | Hyein | 혜인 | 惠人 | — | — | — | Junior 4 (종4품) | Wife of a busu |
| — | Yeong | 영 | 令 | — | — | — | Senior 5 (정5품) | Sons of a royal prince by a lowborn |
| Lady | Onin | 온인 | 溫人 | — | — | — | Senior 5 (정5품) | Wife of a yeong |
| Monarch's female descendants and their consorts |||||||||
| Royal Princess | Wangnyeo Gongju | 왕녀 공주 | 王女 公主 | Agissi Jaga | 아기씨 자가 | — 自家 | None | Daughter of a king by his main consort |
| Prince Consort | Uibin | 의빈 | 儀賓 | Buma | 부마 | 駙馬 | Junior 1 (종1품) | Son-in-law of a king; husband of a royal princess |
| Princess | Wangnyeo Ongju | 왕녀 옹주 | 王女 翁主 | Agissi Jaga | 아기씨 자가 | — 自家 | None | Daughter of a king by a concubine |
| Prince Consort | Seungbin | 승빈 | 承賓 | Buma | 부마 | 駙馬 | Junior 2 (종2품) | Son-in-law of a king; husband of a princess |
| Commandery Princess | Gunju | 군주 | 郡主 | Agissi Jaga | 아기씨 자가 | — 自家 | Senior 2 (정2품) | Daughter of a crown prince by his main consort |
| Prince Consort | Bubin | 부빈 | 副賓 | Buma | 부마 | 駙馬 | Senior 3 (정3품) | Husband of a commandery princess |
| County Princess | Hyeonju | 현주 | 縣主 | Agissi Jaga | 아기씨 자가 | — 自家 | Senior 3 (정3품) | Daughter of a crown prince by a concubine |
| Prince Consort | Cheombin | 첨빈 | 僉賓 | Buma | 부마 | 駙馬 | Junior 3 (종3품) | Husband of a county princess |

### Concubines

Each royal consort (후궁; 後宮; hugung) in the inner palace had a certain rank, according to which their titles and forms of address were formulated.
| English | Hangul | Hanja | Revised Romanization | McCune–Reischauer | Rank |
| Monarch ||||||
| Concubine | 빈 | 嬪 | Bin | Pin | senior 1 (정1품) |
| Noble Lady | 귀인 | 貴人 | Gwiin | Kwiin | junior 1 (종1품) |
| Lady of Bright Deportment | 소의 | 昭儀 | Soui | Soŭi | senior 2 (정2품) |
| Lady of Warm Ceremony | 숙의 | 淑儀 | Sugui | Sukŭi | junior 2 (종2품) |
| Lady of Bright Countenance | 소용 | 昭容 | Soyong | Soyong | senior 3 (정3품) |
| Lady of Warm Countenance | 숙용 | 淑容 | Sugyong | Sukyong | junior 3 (종3품) |
| Lady of Bright Beauty | 소원 | 昭媛 | Sowon | Sowŏn | senior 4 (정4품) |
| Lady of Warm Beauty | 숙원 | 淑媛 | Sugwon | Sukwŏn | junior 4 (종4품) |
| Crown prince ||||||
| Lady of Excellence | 양제 | 良娣 | Yangje | Yangje | junior 2 (종2품) |
| Lady of Beauty | 양원 | 良媛 | Yangwon | Yangwŏn | junior 3 (종3품) |
| Lady of Inherent Excellence | 승휘 | 承徽 | Seunghwi | Sŭnghwi | junior 4 (종4품) |
| Lady of Clear Instruction | 소훈 | 昭訓 | Sohun | Sohun | junior 5 (종5품) |

## Royal court

| Hangul | Hanja | Revised Romanization | Rank |
| Court ladies (궁녀; gungnyeo) ||||
| 상궁 | 尙宮 | Sanggung | senior 5 (정5품) |
| 상의 | 尙儀 | Sangui | senior 5 (정5품) |
| 상복 | 尙服 | Sangbok | junior 5 (종5품) |
| 상식 | 尙食 | Sangsik | junior 5 (종5품) |
| 상침 | 尙寢 | Sangchim | senior 6 (정6품) |
| 상공 | 尙功 | Sanggong | senior 6 (정6품) |
| 상정 | 尙正 | Sangjeong | junior 6 (종6품) |
| 상기 | 尙記 | Sanggi | junior 6 (종6품) |
| 전빈 | 典賓 | Jeonbin | senior 7 (정7품) |
| 전의 | 典衣 | Jeonui | senior 7 (정7품) |
| 전선 | 典膳 | Jeonseon | senior 7 (정7품) |
| 전설 | 典設 | Jeonseol | junior 7 (종7품) |
| 전제 | 典製 | Jeongje | junior 7 (종7품) |
| 전언 | 典言 | Jeoneon | junior 7 (종7품) |
| 전찬 | 典贊 | Jeonchan | senior 8 (정8품) |
| 전식 | 典飾 | Jeonsik | senior 8 (정8품) |
| 전약 | 典藥 | Jeonyak | senior 8 (정8품) |
| 전등 | 典燈 | Jeondeung | junior 8 (종8품) |
| 전채 | 典彩 | Jeonchae | junior 8 (종8품) |
| 전정 | 典正 | Jeonjeong | junior 8 (종8품) |
| 주궁 | 奏宮 | Jugung | senior 9 (정9품) |
| 주상 | 奏商 | Jusang | senior 9 (정9품) |
| 주각 | 奏角 | Jugak | senior 9 (정9품) |
| 주변징 | 奏變徵 | Jubyeonjing | junior 9 (종9품) |
| 주징 | 主徵 | Jujing | junior 9 (종9품) |
| 주우 | 奏羽 | Juu | junior 9 (종9품) |
| 주변궁 | 奏變宮 | Jubyeongung | junior 9 (종9품) |
| Eunuchs (내시; naesi) ||||
| 상선 | 尙膳 | Sangseon | junior 2 (종2품) |
| 상온 | 尙醞 | Sangon | senior 3 (정3품) |
| 상다 | 尙茶 | Sangda | senior 3 (정3품) |
| 상약 | 尙藥 | Sangyak | junior 3 (종3품) |
| 상전 | 尙傳 | Sangjeon | senior 4 (정4품) |
| 상책 | 尙冊 | Sangchaek | junior 4 (종4품) |
| 상호 | 尙弧 | Sangho | senior 5 (정5품) |
| 상탕 | 尙帑 | Sangtang | junior 5 (종5품) |
| 상세 | 尙洗 | Sangse | senior 6 (정6품) |
| 상촉 | 尙燭 | Sangchok | junior 6 (종6품) |
| 상훼 | 尙煊 | Sanghwe | senior 7 (정7품) |
| 상설 | 尙設 | Sangseol | junior 7 (종7품) |
| 상제 | 尙除 | Sangje | senior 8 (정8품) |
| 상문 | 尙門 | Sangmun | junior 8 (종8품) |
| 상경 | 尙更 | Sanggyeong | senior 9 (정9품) |
| 상원 | 尙苑 | Sangwon | junior 9 (종9품) |

## Officials

| English | Hangul | Hanja | Revised Romanization | Rank | Explanation |
| Oemyeongbu (외명부) ||||||
| Honorable and Respectful Madame | 정경부인 | 貞敬夫人 | Jeonggyeongbuin | 1st (1품) | Wife of a senior and junior 1st rank official |
| Honorable Madame | 정부인 | 貞夫人 | Jeongbuin | 2nd (2품) | Wife of a senior and junior 2nd rank official |
| Virtuous Madame | 숙부인 | 淑夫人 | Sukbuin | 3rd (3품) | Wife of a senior 3rd rank official |
| Virtuous Lady | 숙인 | 淑人 | Sugin | 3rd (3품) | Wife of a junior 3rd rank official |
| Clever Lady | 영인 | 伶人 | Yeongin | 4th (4품) | Wife of a senior and junior 4th rank official |
| Courteous Lady | 공인 | 恭人 | Gongin | 5th (5품) | Wife of a senior and junior 5th rank official |
| Proper Lady | 의인 | 宜人 | Uiin | 6th (6품) | Wife of a senior and junior 6th rank official |
| Peaceful Lady | 안인 | 安人 | Anin | 7th (7품) | Wife of a senior and junior 7th rank official |
| Regular Lady | 단인 | 端人 | Danin | 8th (8품) | Wife of a senior and junior 8th rank official |
| Junior Lady | 유인 | 孺人 | Yuin | 9th (9품) | Wife of a senior and junior 9th rank official |