Joseon Royal and Noble Titles

Greetings, noble visitor!

So you have an interest in figuring out Joseon's complicated system of noble ranks? You find it difficult to work out? Do not fear - I will serve as your native guide.

Let's begin with the central figure of the monarchy: the **wang**, or king. My father, **Ryu Seo-jo**, is the king of Joseon, having ruled since 1892, when his father abdicated at the conclusion of the Kangwon War. If you should speak to him, you ought to address him as "jeonha" which means "His Majesty."

My father is married to my mother, **Ryu Shin-hye**. My mother was born as the first daughter of the noble Won family, which serves Joseon as the Gungong (or "Duke") of Yonan. My parents married at a fairly young age, in 1883 (less than a year before my birth), before my father became king. At that time, my father received the title **Wangseja**, which means "Royal Prince Successor." In your own language, you might substitute the term "crown prince" if that helps you understand it better! My mother, after her marriage, then carried the title **Wangsejabin**, or "Royal Princess Successor Consort."

But wait! I hear you ask. Aing-ran, you have that title yourself, and I'm confused! Calm down - we're going to explain that in a bit!

The process of their marriage is worth commenting on. A royal princess successor consort

Now that my father is king, my mother received the title of **wangbi**, meaning "Queen Consort." You may address her in conversation as mama, which means "Her Majesty."

After my grandfather, Ryu Ji-chang, abdicated in favor of my father in 1892, he took on the title **Sangwang**, which means "King Former." Although he is ostensibly out of power, my grandfather remains quite formidable behind the scenes. He took a strong interest in teaching me many of the specifics of law and politics.

My mother's father, Won Ji-kyung, is the **Gungong** or "duke" of Yonan, one of the regions of Joseon. Gungong is an older title and one of the most senior titles remaining in our aristocracy. Most remaining aristocratic families carry the title **Hyeonbaek**, which best translates as "count" and is junior in rank to a gungong. Only six dukedom titles remain in Joseon, whereas there are thirty-one countships. Of course, to make things somewhat more difficult, my grandfather Won Ji-kyung should not actually be addressed as Gungong. Because his daughter married the king and now serves as Queen Consort, he receives the title **Buwongun**, or "internal prince." My mother's mother, Won Eun-hye, similarly received the title **Bubuin**, or "internal princess consort."

Now let's get to the children of the monarch, which includes myself!

When I was born, I immediately received the title **Wangnyeo**, literally meaning "Daughter of the King." It does not mean "princess" which probably will confuse some people. I did not receive that title until i turned sixteen, whereupon I received the title **Wangsejabin**, meaning "Royal Princess Successor Consort." This title is due to the fact that I'm the eldest daughter of the king, but my father had no sons by his Queen Consort (my mother). With no official sons as heirs to the throne, I got the title of Royal Princess Successor, with the "consort" part tactfully ignored.

This confusing situation will be resolved at whatever time I eventually receive the throne (presuming, of course, that my parents don't manage to produce a son before that time, at which point I'll be demoted). My title will become **Yeowang**, literally meaning "female king." I like to have a good laugh at that.

I have two younger sisters, Hae-yeon (b.1887) and Mi-do (b.1890), by the same mother. Like me, they received the title Wangnyeo, which as I explained above, does not mean princess. Since Mi-do is still under age, she continues to be addressed as Wangnyeo. However, when my sister Hae-yeon turned sixteen, she was promoted to the title **Gongju**, which does in fact mean princess.

When Hae-yeon marries (as she is extremely eager to do), her husband will receive the title **Gunwi** (Prince Consort). The same title will probably apply to my eventual consort, whoever that may be. However, politics may become somewhat involved, so don't count on that too heavily!

My father and mother have not had any sons. If they did have sons, the eldest would immediately receive the title **Wonja** (prince royal). He would hold this title until such a time as he was confirmed as the official heir to the throne, whereupon he becomes the wangseja, or Royal Prince Successor.

If I had two or more brothers, then the younger ones - those not designated as heirs for the throne - would receive the title of **daegun** (Grand Prince). Their official wife would be the **Bubuin** (Grand Princess Consort). If you remember, Bubuin is also the title applied to the mother of the queen consort.

Before you think that we're done with the children of the monarch, I must draw your attention to the fact that my father had other children by his **Naegwan**, or Noble Consorts - a polite term for concubines. Through these women, my father had two sons and one daughter (Tae-sung, b.1884; Jae-hyun, b.1890; and Hyun-joo, b.1888).

Hyun-joo received the title Wangnyeo, as my sisters and I did. However, when she turned sixteen last year, Hyun-joo received the title **Ongju**, rather than Gongju (which is reserved for the daughters of the king by the queen consort).

My half-brothers Tae-sung and Jae-hyun received the title **Gun** (Prince). Tae-sung, who was born two months after me, has studied abroad and is preparing to marry my friend Kim Mi-na. Mi-na is the daughter of the Gungong (duke) of Andong by one of his concubines, and was regularly brought to the palace during our earliest years so that I would have a suitable playmate of similar age. Once she marries Tae-sung, she will acquire the title **Gunbuin** (princess consort) and become part of the royal family.

Now that we've covered all of the monarch's children, let us address the topic of my father's concubines. As I've explained elsewhere, this practice is going out of style very quickly, and after 1898, taking concubines was officially outlawed. Prior to that point, however, my father had four - which is fewer than my grandfather, who had eight, and my great-grandfather, who had... well, significantly more than eight.

Each of my father's four concubines has their own rank. Geum-sung (the mother of my half-brother Tae-sung and my half-sister Hyun-joo), has the title of **Bin** (first senior rank concubine). Chae-rye - the mother of my half-brother Jae-hyun, holds the rank of **Gwi-in** (first junior rank concubine). Finally, Chae-hyun and Ji-won hold the ranks of **So-ui** (second senior rank concubine) and **Suk-ui** (second junior rank concubine) respectively.

Here are a few more titles for you to try to remember - since we don't already have enough of them!

If I marry and have a son before the time I come to the throne, then my son would receive the title **Wangseson** (Royal Prince Successor Descendant).

In the event that my father dies and I take the throne, then my mother will no longer be the Wangbi (queen consort) but will receive the title **Daebi** (Queen Dowager). If I might be perfectly honest, this title is one of my own life goals!

My great-grandfather, Ryu Tae-Joon the Great, died in 1883. While he lived and reigned, he obviously would have been called by the title Wang, since he was king. But after his death, he receives and is referred to by the title **Seondaewang**, which means Great Predecessor King.

Eventually, once my mother passes, she will also receive a posthumous title of **Wanghu**, which simply means... Queen.

And now, a quick whirlwind tour of the titles used by the nobility. I've already mentioned the term **Gungong**, which translates best as Duke. There's also **Hyeonbaek**, or Count, which is responsible for smaller areas of rule. At the bottom of the noble social strata is the **Hyeonnam**, who are like the small barons from your home nation.