INTRODUCTION

Record of the Virtue of Queen Inhyeon, Lady Min depicts the life of the second queen to King Sukjong of the royal court politics, emphasizing political intrigue and triangular relationships.  It explores the roles of women and political upheaval, delving into the complexities of royal court politics. The story of a virtuous queen, a passionate king, and a deceitful consort reveals the contrasting views of womanhood in late Joseon society, influenced by foreign invasions. This classic narrative, based on historical events, has maintained its popularity through various adaptations in modern media.

      Queen Inhyeon, Lady Min, the second wife of King Sukjong the Great[1] of Joseon came from a noble lineage with its ancestral home in Yeoheung. Her father was Min Yujung, who served in the government as the minister of military affairs, and her maternal grandfather was Song Jungil, who was the chief state councilor.[2] She was born on the twenty-third day of the fourth lunar month in the Year of the Red Sheep after her mother Lady Song had a strange dream. Auspicious marvels appeared above the house, and a sweet fragrance filled her birth room and lingered there for a long time. Her parents, seeing the signs as portents of momentous events to come, ordered everyone in the household to make no mention of them to outsiders.

      She grew up quickly, sprouting up in an extraordinary manner. Her appearance was so fair that flowers and the moon hid themselves in embarrassment in her presence, and her visage was so radiant that even the sun lost its brilliance before her. Her beauty was incomparable in old times and new. Her abilities in the womanly tasks of weaving and sewing were so fast and so skillful that it appeared as if she were aided by a hundred supernatural spirits. Yet she never displayed pride in her talents, always appearing pristine, calm, and solemn so that none could discern her thoughts. She also had a gentle and guileless personality with laudable generosity, and always seemed content with everything and undisturbed by worry. She was particularly notable for her righteous conduct, impeccable manners, and filial piety, all of which she practiced with modesty and politeness. She was a person of an upright mindset, dignified mien, considerable magnanimity, as well as faultless actions in all things. When she sat still throughout the day in a decorous manner, she became enveloped by a tranquil wind and a fair cloud. The grace and solemnity of her appearance was such that people dared not look at her in an impudent manner. The purity and freshness of her form evoked the fragrant waters of autumn, while her lofty and steadfast honor was as precious as gold and jade, and as sturdy as a pine tree. From an early age she did not care for frivolous jokes or unnecessary extravagance, and she did not often open her fair lips to speak. She dressed modestly but her extraordinary form made her stand out, while her words and actions were always proper. She was outstanding in every way. She excelled in writing and knew everything about history, but she did not pick up a brush without careful thought. For all those reasons, she was greatly beloved by her parents, uncles, and siblings, and admired by her neighbors and relatives. So even at a young age, the future queen was revered by all and her beauteous name became renowned in the land.

      The water she cleaned herself with in the morning always became filled with a reddish rainbow, so her father gathered that she was destined to become an exalted personage and resolved to raise her and teach her with great care. Her second uncle Min Jeongjung was a celebrated Confucian scholar and a man of serious disposition who loved her the most among all of his nephews and nieces. He repeatedly commented that, “It has been said that when a body of water is too fresh, it invites the visitation of ghosts.[3] So I worry that a child of such brilliance will not live a long life.” 

      Her mother passed away early which became a source of great sorrow to her and made her sickly. She grieved for such a long time that it surpassed the requirements of proper mourning. She also demonstrated ardent devotion to her stepmother Lady Jo. Her maternal grandfather Master Dongchun[4] loved her greatly and often summoned her. In private, he said of her, “She possesses the virtues of Tae Im and Tae Sa.”[5] He taught her the manners befitting a woman from a great lineage of Confucian scholars whose loyalty to the country was unquestioned. Perhaps it was wishful thinking on his part to regard her as possessing the qualities of a queen. But he also saw no reason why she could not rise to that height, as it had been said that ‘only the tall mountain produces jade and only the deep ocean produces gold.’ It is no trivial thing when a great personage emerges from an illustrious family. 

      In the winter of the Year of the White Monkey,[6] Queen Ingyeong, Lady Kim, passed away. The grand queen dowager, wary of leaving the place of the king’s wife empty, ordered a search for a new queen and looked for a good candidate herself. Kim Seokju, Grand Lord Cheongseong,[7] having heard of the virtues of the future queen, informed the queen dowager[8] about her. And Chief State Councilor Song Siyeol went before the king and addressed him.

      “It has been said that the qualities of the mother of a country determines the fortune of all the subjects of the land. I know well that the daughter of Minister of Military Affairs Min Yujung possesses the virtues of fidelity and grace. So I advise Your Majesty not to bother yourself with a formal selection process but make a quick decision to marry her.”

      The king complimented him on his words and told the queen dowager of this. She reacted with delight and wrote a letter to Lord Min,[9] telling him to consider the matter carefully. Lord Min took fright at the development and immediately presented a memorial to his sovereign, asking earnestly to be allowed to decline the honor. But the monarch refused as his mind was set on the matter. Lord Min made his request three times until the king reproached him with a stern order to obey his command. The king also summoned State Councilor of the Left Min Jeongjung[10] to court and told him that maintaining the dignity of the country was no light matter. As a government official Lord Min could not refuse his king’s will, so he left his sovereign’s presence and went home where he gathered his siblings and children. As he spoke sincerely of his gratitude toward the tremendous honor the king was granting him, he was hardly aware of the tears that fell from his eyes.

      Eunuchs and palace maidens were sent out to escort the future queen to the royal residence at Eoui District.  Following the king’s order, the ladies of the palace met with the future queen and were astounded by her qualities which they came to admire deeply. As one of them told the king’s future mother-in-law, “I have received such favors from the country that ever since I first entered the royal palace I have had the honor of serving three kings. During that time, for over eighty years, I have encountered countless number of people. But I have never met someone of such high virtue and fine appearance. This is a great fortune for the country as well as its people, and I feel privileged in my old age to have had the opportunity to witness such glory.”

      The queen’s good manners were indeed in full accordance of established propriety, but the king’s future mother-in-law begged off from having to hear such words out of modest embarrassment. The ladies of the palace were impressed and reported it all when they returned to the royal palace. The queen dowager was greatly pleased and waited impatiently for the wedding day to arrive.

      On the occasion of the nuptials, Lord Min conducted the ceremonies with due solemnity. The king, who was twenty-one years old at the time, dressed in all the proper fineries and proceeded to the royal residence in a grand procession and delivered a goose to the table.[11] He then bade his bride to ascend a magnificently decorated palanquin that shone in golden light, closed its door firmly behind her, and escorted her to the royal palace. He had been the crown prince during his first marriage, but now that he was the king, the scale and the rites of the ceremony were of a different order. In the course of the ten li journey to the palace, the grand road was laid out with countless flags and decorations in the shape of golden axes that represented the monarchy. All the government officials came out to accompany the royal couple, as did palace ladies and maidens who were dressed beautifully with myriad ornaments on their attire. Fragrant aroma and sonorous music wafted through the buildings of the palace, and the grandeur and the dignity of the occasion was without parallel. As the bride and groom bowed to each other, the queen’s virtue and sense of propriety became manifest in her form. Her appearance was that of a radiant moon on a clear autumn sky, and her brilliance shone with such magnitude that all the buildings of the palace decorated with precious metals and jewels lost their luster and all its treasures their luminescence and fragrance. As those who belonged to the palace became astonished by her qualities, the two queens dowager became pleased beyond their expectation, and their love for her knew no end.

      On that day, after she was formally installed as the queen, she received the greetings of queens, consorts, princesses, and three hundred palace ladies and maidens. The weather on the occasion was fair, with a gentle breeze blowing and propitious clouds peacefully surrounding the palace, as if nature itself knew that this was a day of the harmonious ascension of the mother of the country. The sentiment of the people was naturally favorable as they all rejoiced.

      Ever since she had come into the world, the queen had been particularly observant of filial piety, so she had always served her elders with utmost care and effort. Once she ascended to her position, she demonstrated the same virtue to the queens dowager and obeyed the king in all things. In handling the affairs of her quarters, she conducted herself gently and quietly, always dealing with queens, consorts, and palace maidens with kindness and propriety, regardless of who was good and who was not, whom she was close to and whom she was not. Her love of humanity, apparent on her kind mien, was as fair as a verdant hill in spring so that all things seemed to come alive before her. But her sense of propriety and etiquette was so serious and strict that people dared not regard her frivolously. Within three or four months of her entrance into the royal palace, her influence on the people around her created such harmony that the queens dowager came to love her deeply and regard her as precious. They praised her as a great fortune for the country. The king respected and treated her with special care, and government officials and common subjects alike came to truly revere her. The queens dowager wrote an official letter to Song Siyeol praising the queen’s virtue and recommending a formal recognition of her loyalty. The queen’s mother was favored with many awards as well, to the extent that the Min family’s gratitude for their fortune became a source of anxiety. 

      In the Year of the Black Pig,[12] the king fell ill with smallpox and his condition became quite serious. The queen was so concerned that she worked arduously on his behalf night and day without undoing the sash on her waist. The queen dowager also became deeply concerned, so the two of them bathed in cold water before erecting an altar in a back garden to pray at all hours for the king’s recovery. The queen feared that the queen dowager might also fall ill, so she beseeched her to let her pray in her stead but was refused. Their effort seemed to impress Heaven itself as the king recovered from the disease and regained his health. The joy of both officials and commoners knew no end.

      The queen dowager, unfortunately, suffered terribly from the cold she endured in her nursing, and she became ill. The king and the queen became greatly concerned and wept as they personally made medicine for her. Officials were ordered to pray at the altar of gods at the Royal Temple, while inmates of prisons were released. All the doctors of the royal palace were set to the task of preparing medicine with utmost effort but their work had little effect. The anxiety of the king and the queen turned into deep sadness, and officials and commoners alike did not know what to do with themselves.

      On the fifth day of the twelfth month, in the Hour of the Tiger,[13] at her residence in Hwigyeong Hall in Changgyeong Palace, the queen dowager passed away at the age of forty-two. Officials and commoners went about in a fluster, people in the palace ran around in fright, and the sound of mourning shook the heavens. The grief of the king and the queen was so great that they could not eat meat in their meals. Their filial piety struck everyone in the palace with admiration. After the passing of three years, the queen dowager’s memorial tablet was transported to the Royal Temple. On the occasion the king and the queen grieved all over again for the queen dowager’s passing.

      At the palace there was a maid by the name of Jang who became the king’s concubine and was raised as a consort with the title of Hui.[14] She was a cunning and deceitful person who knew how to please the king, so she became much loved by him. In the first month of the Year of the Yellow Dragon,[15] as the king was nearing the age of thirty, he became worried that he had no son. The queen was concerned also, so one day she discreetly suggested to him that he should pick a concubine of good qualities and try to have a son with her. He refused to consider the idea at first but the queen earnestly entreated him every day, pointing out that producing an heir was a matter of utmost importance. The king was impressed by her virtue and the sincerity of her gentle words, so he ordered the court to select a concubine for him. Princess Myeongan[16] was surprised by the pronouncement so she and her aunt, Princess Daejang,[17] went to the royal palace and met with the king and the queen.  They ardently expressed their opinion that the queen was still young and had ample time to produce a child, and so it was not right that a concubine should be selected for the purpose. The queen sat still as she listened, then put on a proper demeanor before addressing them. 

      “Despite my shortcomings in virtue and talent, I have come to occupy the position of queen. But I have always lived with anxiety, as if walking on frozen waters, because of the concern that I will fail to pay back all the great favors the queen dowager has shown me. And now, due to my lack of goodness, I could not produce a child, so how can I not worry about the welfare of the country?”

      When she finished speaking, the princesses saw her demeanor unchanged and her attitude well composed. In their admiration for her they spoke no more of the matter and only praised her virtue. And the grand queen dowager came to love her even more as she thought her very precious.

      In due course, Lady Kim was duly selected as a concubine. The queen treated her with politeness and kindness, demonstrating goodness that was equal to that of Tae Im and Tae Sa of Ju. Everyone spoke of the queen’s benevolence and admired her character and behavior. Yet the fortunes of the age were not propitious and the queen’s fate was already set. It has been said that a beautiful woman is not long for this world, that misfortune can come to the holiest person, and that no human effort can deter such a destiny. When such things occur, it is enough to doubt whether Heaven has a plan at all.

      In the eighth month of the Year of the Yellow Dragon, the queen to King Injo the Great[18] passed away, subjecting the king and the queen to great sorrow as they expressed their grief night and day in the mourning rites. It was in the twelfth month of this year that Consort Jang Hui gave birth to a prince. The child was beloved by the king, and the queen was so pleased that she caressed the boy and loved him as if he were her own. If Lady Jang had known her place she would have felt overwhelmed by the great honor shown to her.  Instead, the desire to do as she liked rose up like a flame in her overreaching heart. Filled with envy at how everyone praised the queen’s goodness and appearance, Lady Jang harbored a desire to see her ousted so that she could take her place. As her ambition grew to the level of treason, she took every opportunity to spread false rumors about the queen. Everywhere she went, she told stories of how the queen planned to kill the newborn prince with poison and to put a curse on Lady Jang. She found palace maidens of immoral disposition and had them repeat the slanders, even arranging for false evidence for the king to find. It has been said since time immemorial that evil people are never lonely as they always find people willing to help them in their nefarious deeds. As tales of the queen’s wickedness increased every day, the king came to suspect her and began to treat her badly. The sly and evil-minded Lady Jang continued to please the king with flattering behavior while holding the prince in her arms. Her influence in the palace grew as the king became exceedingly besotted with her until he could not distinguish between black and white. Once a just monarch, his sense of judgment deteriorated to the extent that he dismissed wise and upright men from the government while bringing in cunning and disloyal men. This concerned his officials a great deal. The queen became worried as she knew that Lady Jang’s disposition was such that she would inevitably cause some mischief, but she was relieved to see that the prince had an upright character. Yet she never spoke of such things or revealed her feelings in her demeanor, and continued to act with ever greater virtue and an ever purer mindset.

      In the Year of the Yellow Snake,[19]  the Grand Lord Yeoyang[20] passed away, bringing great grief to the queen who went through the mourning rites while refraining from eating fruits and meats. At this time, loud voices outside the court began calling for the queen to be ousted from her position. The king made up his mind on the matter but refrained from speaking of it for a while. The twenty-third day of the fourth month was the queen’s birthday, and on the occasion the quarters of the queen and consorts as well as the Royal Treasury sent the king catalogues of gifts that had been received on her behalf. The king cast them aside and sent away the food prepared for a celebratory feast. He then summoned his high ministers and all officials of the second grade and above, and announced his decision to depose the queen. Second Royal Secretary Yi Simin spoke out, saying that it was not a righteous action and that his sovereign should reconsider. The king became angry and dismissed the official from his post. Then Third Censor Yi Manwon also pointed out the wrongness of the royal order and bade him to withdraw it, which angered the ruler even more. The official was exiled to a faraway place. All in all, about forty high-ranking officials, some in important government offices, were sent away from the capital. When the king wrote up a formal order of deposing the queen, everyone in the court was astonished and became fearful. Officials gathered at a formal meeting and pretended to consider the propriety of the order, but there was little serious discussion on the matter.

      The queen’s father, younger uncle, and a number of cousins held positions in the government, all of them renowned for their learning and virtue so that their names were famous throughout the land. Following the ascension of the queen, however, some of them could not do their work properly as they had to be careful of their actions in the court. They were surrounded by petty people who resented them and looked for opportunities to slander them. But no significant misfortune had fallen on them so far.

      At the Office of the Royal Secretariat, Minister of Rites Min Jongdo wrote up a formal document enumerating the crimes of the queen, while Inspector General Mok Changmyeong prevented officials from gathering at the palace gates to protest the king’s order. Such villains succeeded in distancing the king from his righteous officials by agreeing and complying with everything he said and desired. As the cloud covers the sun, the king’s wisdom became obscured, and in such a state the admonitions of righteous officials became utterly ineffectual.   

      At this time Fourth Counselor Bak Taebo was dismissed from his position. He became concerned that the king had lost his virtue and felt a deep pain from knowing that the queen, despite her goodness, was being subjected to unjust treatment. So he sought to save her by gathering all the officials who had been dismissed, writing a memorial with their signatures, and submitting it to the king. At the head of the document were the names of Minister O Duin, Second Minister Yi Sehwa, and Fourth Counselor Bak Taebo. It read as follows.

      It is a happy occasion when a king takes a wife, as that is part of the monarch’s task of carrying on the tradition of the throne’s ancestors in ruling over all the people and maintaining the country forever. As Your Majesties are the parents of all subjects, the principle of the Three Bonds and Five Relationships[21] should be the basis on which you care for the welfare of the kingdom. Yet Your Majesty has committed acts that you know to be unjust, so the trust of your officials and your common subjects in your rule has been broken. When ancient sages created laws, they considered spousal relationship to be so important that they included it in the Five Relationships. And according to the Commentary on the Book of Documents,[22] “One cannot oust someone who went through the three-year mourning period for one’s deceased parent.” Your Majesty and the queen completed the three-year mourning rites together when the Grand Queen Dowager passed away. Then Your Majesty and the queen both put on mourning clothes again and wear them still. Even if the queen had done something wrong, she should not be deposed. Yet she is made to suffer when her conduct has been as pure and flawless as white jade. Sages have said “Even dogs and horses respect what is loved by their parents.”  The queen was loved and thought precious by Queen Dowager Myeongseong, so how could someone of such filial piety as Your Majesty act so inhumanely, and how could someone of such tolerance and broad-mindedness as Your Majesty act without virtue? We prostrate ourselves to beg Your Majesty to reconsidered this matter a hundred times, to rectify the situation according to moral principles. If you heed the desire of your officials and common subjects, would that not be a good course for the country and its people? We request that Your Majesty cancel the order to depose the queen. 

      When the king read the memorial he became enraged and ordered that the three officials be arrested and subjected to interrogation. He railed at them.

      “You violated the propriety of a government official when you dared to slander me, so you have committed a crime that merits the punishment of three generations of your families. I order you to regain your sense of loyalty and duty, and desist from supporting the deposed queen.”

      At those words, the three officials slammed their heads on the ground in submission but did not falter from their position. The righteousness of their words and the loyalty of their attitudes soared almost to the stars.

      In his fury, the king ordered his soldiers to tie up their necks and hands, sit them on torture chairs, and strike them on their shins. The noise of the punishment could be heard even in Donguan[23] as blood fell here and there. O Duin and Yi Sehwa were both men in their seventies. As they were overcome with fear of their monarch and agony of the torture, they could only keep their head bowed and remain silent. But Bak Taebo maintained an alert mind and spoke out with a voice that was as sharp as a blade of ice. Even as pieces of his skin and flesh fell to the ground, he addressed the king fearlessly.

      “How could an official not remonstrate when his king has lost his virtue? Your Majesty became suspicious of the innocent queen after listening to false rumors. That has led to an unprecedented and unmitigated calamity of the greatest magnitude. This is a matter upon which the moral principle of the entire country is at stake, so even this insignificant official feels duty bound to do something. How could I not when I know that a king who loses his virtue will be called by shameful names? I beg you most humbly, Your Majesty, to consider that if you should execute those who slandered the queen and cancel your unjust order, it will bring fortune to the country and happiness to your subjects.”

      This angered the king even more so he struck the dragon throne and raised his voice.

      “How could such an insignificant wretch as you harbor such great evil? You call me a foolish king who listens to false rumors, and you call yourself a righteous official. This torture is too light for a heinous traitor like you. Bring implements to punish his legs.”

      Bak Taebo replied. “I may meet my end at the order of Your Majesty, but while I am still alive how could I not appeal to the virtue of the father of the country, and how could I not do what I can to save the innocent mother of the country?”

      The enraged king ordered that his legs be destroyed and his buttocks smashed. The people present could hardly look as skin and flesh fell to the ground, bones stuck out, and blood splattered even onto the king’s clothes. Yet Bak Taebo maintained a firm countenance and would not bend to the king’s will. Even after the sun set, the king did not end the interrogation as Bak Taebo refused to admit that he was wrong. The king got up and sat down and got up again repeatedly as he berated the official.

      “This is one wicked and stubborn wretch. Bring implements for the fire torture at once and put the irons on him.”

      As fire was lit in front of the palace garden and the torture implements were used, the smell of burning flesh spread and dark blood stained the ground. People at the scene covered their eyes and wept while officials shivered like it was winter and knew not what to do. Yet Bak Taebo remained calm and strong. How impressive he was! A man of true loyalty does not falter before sword blades. When his body became shriveled to the extent that there was no more space to apply the fire irons, only then did his sovereign feel sorry for him. The king himself felt sick and uncomfortable from having exerted himself all day and night, so he gave an order to the royal secretary.

      “Go and persuade Bak Taebo to confess his crimes and then put him in prison.”

      The royal secretary went to Bak Taebo and reprimanded him.

      “How dare you offend the king by going against his will? Look at the state you are in. Don’t you know that you have tired him out by forcing him to stay up all night?”

      Even before he finished, Bak Taebo regarded him with stern eyes and rebuked him in a loud voice.

      “A group of treacherous officials have brought disorder to the country by misusing the resources of the government. Instead of aiding the king in righteous actions, they only flattered and fawned upon him, to the extent of allowing the innocent queen to be deposed as if it were no great matter. And you dare talk down to me! You are no better than a beast or a barbarian! In death, I will be remembered as someone like Yong Bong or Bi Gan,[24] but you will live as a traitor and then die to become a filthy ghost. And your crimes will be paid for by your descendants.”

      As the royal secretary silently withdrew in shame, the king realized the extent of Bak Taebo’s steadfastness. So he gave a new order.

      “Put him in prison for now, and exile him to Gapsan[25] tomorrow.”

      And so the interrogation finally ended.

      Next day, Bak Taebo left the capital city but even before he traveled a full day he received news that the queen had been deposed. He bowed his head and lamented for a long time. He then succumbed to illness caused by the beating and the branding, and passed away that very day. How tragic it was! From time immemorial countless loyal officials and righteous persons have met untimely deaths, but Bak Taebo’s faithful integrity knew no equal since the time of Yong Bong and Bi Gan. His fair name became renowned throughout the land in his time, and his act will be known to posterity for ten million years, so has he not transcended death? It was unfortunate, however, that his birth parents, who were nearly seventy at the time, were still alive, as was his adoptive mother. When news of Bak Taebo’s death reached the capital, everyone in the city shed tears, and in the court both righteous officials and lowly subordinates lamented alike.

      At this time, the queen’s health deteriorated from her grief over the death of her father, the Grand Lord. When her palace maidens heard that she had been deposed, they were shocked. They wept as they informed the queen of the development. But her demeanor did not change at all as she let out a sigh and lamented.

      “How can I blame anyone for what fate has ordained for me? I order you to keep your mouths shut and be careful what you say.”

      And she remained calm and collected in a steadfast state.

      When Princess Myeongan heard of the sudden turn of events, she and Princess Daejang were astonished and hurried over to the royal palace to see the king. She spoke to him of the queen’s virtuous character and behavior as well as the wickedness of the false rumors about her. As she then related how the queen had nursed the grand queen dowager during her illness, the princesses’ tears fell to the floor where they sat. Despite her loyal and earnest entreaties, the king could not be dissuaded from his course so there was nothing more she could do. The princess sadly withdrew and went to see the queen. She wept so bitterly while grasping the queen’s clothes that she could hardly speak. The queen sighed and consoled the princess.

      “Good and bad fortune are all the works of Heaven. This too is Heaven’s will, so what can I do but follow it, and who can I blame for it? I will never forget how you treated me at a time like this.”

      The princess was impressed by her attitude and tried to comfort her.

      “A cloud has temporarily obscured the king’s good judgment. He is a righteous and wise person at heart so it will not be long before he comes to regret his error.”

      The princess held onto the queen as she continued weeping, and many palace maidens could not help shedding tears as well. She could hardly leave the queen’s side, but she knew that it would make the king uncomfortable, so she finally left the royal palace.

      Next day, the palace-lady-in-charge received the king’s announcement of the queen’s deposition and came to her sleeping quarters to deliver the news. The queen acted as if nothing of much importance had occurred as she took off her ceremonial dress, undid her hair, and came down the steps of her chamber to receive the king’s command. She then prepared to leave promptly and return to her original home. When the palace became filled with the noise of people lamenting and crying here and there, the king became annoyed and had the behavior of palace maidens be recorded for discipline. He also ordered the expeditious ouster of the queen. Because this was an event without precedent in the history of Joseon, there was no preparation for it. A message was sent to the queen’s household, commanding that a palanquin be sent immediately for her to ride home.

      Palace maidens generally followed the dictates of the powerful and sought their favor, so when they learned of the queen’s fall, many of them regarded her with contempt, speaking rudely and acting arrogantly before her. Yet the queen deliberately overlooked all that. The maidens who served her could hardly suppress their anger, but fear kept them silent as they sat in a corner of the queen’s quarters and wept with their heads bowed down together. A maiden who served Lady Jang came with the intention of going through the queen’s clothes. The queen acted as if nothing was wrong and even smiled as she put out her dresses for the maiden to inspect. But when she looked up at the interloper, it was as if sunlight shone from her open face and she could look straight into her mind. She did not utter a word, but the stern judgment of her demeanor was as sharp as a blade of ice. The maiden became embarrassed and fearful so she bowed her head and withdrew. The scene awed all those who were at the queen’s side.

      The king, in his anger, pressed the queen to leave the palace quickly. There were only a few ladies left in her family, and they had moved to Aeogae outside Sae Gate.[26] The order to send a palanquin for the queen came so suddenly that before they could prepare it, the queen was already at Yogeum Gate.  By the time they hurriedly covered a palanquin with white silk and dispatched it to the palace, she was waiting in front of Gyeongbok House. When she ascended the palanquin in an upright manner and went through Yogeum Gate, she was followed by seven or eight weeping palace maidens. They were joined by all the officials and servants of the Palace Maintenance Office. The sight of her exit was so pitiful that the air became filled with worrisome portents, and the dark and cloudy weather added to its sadness. How could the misery of the scene be expressed in words?

      About fifty scholars presented themselves to her outside Yogeum Gate, and about a hundred prostrated themselves at Guhwa Gate to present her with a memorial while weeping aloud at her fall. When the queen appeared, the scholars continue to shed tears as they followed her all the way to her parents’ home in Anguk District, the sound of their lamenting reverberating through the land and the sky. Commoners, both men and women, gathered thickly in the streets to lament as well, with all the stores of markets closed and even plants and animals partaking in the grief. Melancholy clouds obscured the light of the sun. At this time, the king, with his judgment impaired, was angered by the behavior of his subjects and ordered that three ringleaders of those who presented the memorial to the queen be exiled to faraway places.

      When the queen arrived at her original home in Anguk District, her father’s widow met her and grieved while holding her. The queen spoke of the Grand Lord’s former glory and regretted his passing with great sorrow before she addressed the widow.

      “As I am a condemned person now, the situation will become difficult if I am surrounded by relatives. So I bid you to leave.”

      The widow could only sigh as nothing could be done, and so she and other ladies left for Aeogae. On that day, the queen ordered all doors of the house to be shut and locked, and kept no servants except several palace maidens. In her fall from the highest position to the lowest, she brought with her the maidens she had taken to the palace when she had become queen, and they were joined by three others who insisted on coming with her even if they should be punished with death for it. The queen addressed them.

      “You are maidens of the royal palace. How could I be so impertinent as to keep you. Return to the palace.”

      The three maidens touched their heads to the ground and spoke even as they wept.

      “We lowborn ones could never pay back all the favors the queen has shown us in this lifetime, so how could we leave your presence even for a moment? We love the queen with all our hearts.”

      The queen was so moved by their sincere feelings that she let them be.

      The house was large but few lived there now, with many empty rooms and others shut up. It was a quiet and lonely place with hardly any sound of footsteps. The palace maidens were used to living in the luxurious palace with easy work, a place of liveliness and plenty, so they had to get used to the melancholy and misery of the new situation. Yet they paid no mind to their discomfort as they served the queen to the utmost of their abilities. Although they occasionally succumbed to sadness and wept as they spoke among themselves, they refrained from showing their feelings before the purity and goodness of the queen.

      The queen’s uncle, State Councilor of the Left Min Jeongjung, had been exiled, along with her cousins, so there were only ladies at the family home in Aeogae. For seven or eight days the queen’s meals were sent from Aeogae to Anguk District. The queen gathered her maidens and spoke to them.

      “It is difficult for them to transport cooked rice and side dishes all the way here, so from now on accept only raw food and cook them here.”

      But even when they prepared the food at the queen’s home, she could hardly finish a plate, which made her maidens weep in pity. Close relatives came to visit her, but she refused to meet them and sent them away, so they dared not return.

      Time flowed on, and on the seventh lunar month mushrooms appeared at the house. At their sight the queen’s expression became downcast and she shed tears.

      “The queen has maintained her serenity even in the direst moments, so why is she so sad now?”

      The queen let out a sigh and spoke.

      “I have fallen into this state despite having acted in a faultless manner. I regret what fate has ordained for me, but I have had no cause to succumb to melancholy. During my time at the royal palace, when mushrooms were brought to me from this house I had them cooked for the pleasure of the two queens dowager who enjoyed them very much. So when I look at these mushrooms, I cannot help feeling sad.”

      She wept as she uttered those words, and those around her could hardly look at her as they cried with her.

      The house was in disrepair as windows and doors lacked covering, and the grass on the wide property was left uncut until it grew thickly to a full gil. Few people went about there, and when it grew dark all kinds of ghosts, goblins, and wanton demons frequented the place, terrorizing the maidens who could hardly move from fear. One day a large dog appeared out of nowhere, looking dirty and disheveled. The maidens sent it away but it kept returning to the house. The queen spoke.

      “I don’t know where that dog came from but it’s strange that it won’t go away. Let it be.”

      The maidens fed the dog which, after about ten days, gave birth to three puppies. They were all large and ferocious. After dark, when goblins and demons appeared, all four dogs barked loudly in unison. This caused the lewd spirits to hide themselves, ridding the place of them and allowing peace to return. Even ignorant animals came to her aid, so how could government officials not do so? As there were many lowly people at the court who had rejoiced when the queen had been deposed, one could say that there were less than beasts.

      The queen had a naturally decorous and calm personality so she could not be shaken easily. But she did fear the sounds of storm and thunder and went into her sleeping room in such weather. When she became lonely, she brought in the eight-year-old daughter of her older brother Min Jinhu and taught her the Elementary Learning and the Biographies of Exemplary Women as well weaving and sewing. So she whiled away her time. Even though her situation had become difficult and sad, she never resented anyone or blamed any spirit for her fate and maintained her calmness and poise. And those who lived with her served her gladly.

      As the queen completed her three-year mourning for the Grand Lord, she became thin from grieving and often fell ill. When she was given colorful clothes to wear, she refused them, saying, “How could a condemned person wear fancy clothing? Use only cotton in preparing my dresses and beddings.” So she only wore a cotton skirt and a single-color jacket, slept in cotton beddings, and refrained from wearing jewelry or eating precious foods.

      Meanwhile, after the ouster of Queen Inhyeon, the king raised Consort Jang Hui as his new queen and ordered a congratulatory celebration to take place at the royal palace. People there became sad when they thought of the former queen and were enraged by the overreaching behavior of Lady Jang. But there was a shortage of wise people and officials in the court, so none dared to speak out. Even as they were filled with resentment and anger, they swallowed their tears and participated in the celebration. Lady Jang’s father was made the Grand Lord Oksan and her brother Jang Huijae was appointed as the General of the Military Training Agency, which the entire country thought was deplorable. As the laws and principles of the country became weakened, people hoped for the appearance of stately officials, and as the sentiments of the subjects across the eight provinces became anxious, unseemly rumors began to circulate. From time memorial it has been the case that even the greatest kings are liable to be influenced by false stories, but it was an unusual thing for a king as wise as Sukjong the Great to cause the faltering of the country’s dignity by falling for Lady Jang.

      In the following Year of the White Horse,[27] Lady Jang’s son was designated as the crown prince. With her design realized, she did as she liked with no thought to the attention of those around her. As it was her wont to engage in evil schemes, she kept firm control over the royal concubines and treated palace maidens harshly. Her words were vulgar and her behavior arrogant to an indescribable degree. And Jang Huijae was so greedy and wicked that he caused disturbances across the eight provinces, yet none dared to speak out against him.

To be continued. . .

Translated by Minsoo Kang

Record of the Virtue of Queen Inhyeon, Lady Min 

Azalea: A Journal of Korean Literature and Culture 
Volume 10, 2017, 275-345.

Trans. Minsoo Kang

Copyright © 2017 The President and Fellows of Harvard College

Digitally published by the Literature Translation Institute of Korea in 2022.

      “Despite my shortcomings in virtue and talent, I have come to occupy the position of queen. But I have always lived with anxiety, as if walking on frozen waters, because of the concern that I will fail to pay back all the great favors the queen dowager has shown me. And now, due to my lack of goodness, I could not produce a child, so how can I not worry about the welfare of the country?”

      “A group of treacherous officials have brought disorder to the country by misusing the resources of the government. Instead of aiding the king in righteous actions, they only flattered and fawned upon him, to the extent of allowing the innocent queen to be deposed as if it were no great matter. And you dare talk down to me! You are no better than a beast or a barbarian! In death, I will be remembered as someone like Yong Bong or Bi Gan,[28] but you will live as a traitor and then die to become a filthy ghost. And your crimes will be paid for by your descendants.”

[1]        Nineteenth monarch of the Joseon dynasty (r. 1674-1720).

[2]        The highest official position in the Joseon government. 

[3]        A proverb meaning people who seem too good for this world often become subject to misfortune, as if incurring the jealous antipathy of evil spirits.

[4]        Dongchun was the literary name of Queen Inheyon’s maternal grandfather Song Jungil (1607-1672).

[5]        Korean for the late twelfth - early eleventh century Chinese figures Tai Ren and Tai Si who were revered as ideal women of great virtue and fidelity. 

[6]        The year 1680. 

[7]        Kim Seokju (1634-1684) was a member of the in-law clan to the royal family and a powerful official in the royal court.

[8]        King Sukjong’s mother Queen Myeongseong, Lady Kim (1642-1683).

[9]        Queen Inhyeon’s father, Min Yujung (1630-1687).

[10]       An older brother of Min Yujung and uncle to Queen Inhyeon.

[11]       As a symbol of love and fidelity, the groom delivered a goose to the bride’s table as part of the traditional wedding ritual. 

[12]       The year 1683.

[13]       Roughly three o’clock in the morning to five.

[14]       As a historical figure she is commonly referred to as Jang Hui Bin (translated here as Consort Jang Hui).

[15]       The year 1688.

[16]       A sister of King Sukjong. 

[17]       Title for the king’s paternal aunt. 

[18]       Sixteenth king of the Joseon dynasty (r. 1624-1649).

[19]       The year 1689.

[20]       Queen Inhyeon’s father, Min Yujung. 

[21]       Confucian social philosophy, based on the harmony of the Three Bonds (between king and subject, parent and child, husband and wife) and the Five Relationships (father and son, king and subject, husband and wife, old and young, friend and friend).     

[22]       A book of commentaries by the Neo-Confucian philosopher Cai Shen (1167-1230).

[23]       The area of the capital city just outside Changdeok Palace.

[24]       Korean for Long Feng and Bi Gan, two ancient Chinese historical figures who were renowned for their righteous service to their sovereigns.   

[25]       An area in the remote northern province of Hamgyeong (now in Yanggan Province). 

[26]       Commonly known as Seodaemun (the Great West Gate).

[27]       The year 1690.