ScholarWorks@숙명여자대학교

초록

This paper examines the treatment of concubines of former kings through the creation of detached palaces in the Joseon Dynasty. The concubines of the Joseon Dynasty were not allowed to remarry, and they lived together in a detached palace without living with their son’s family. After the death of King Taejong in the 4th year of King Sejong, Sejong established Eibingung for his father’s concubines, and King Munjong also set up Jasugung for his father’s concubines. Afterwards, the newly crowned kings installed detached palaces for their father’s concubines such as Youngsugung, Susenggung, Chansugung, Jengchenggung, and Insugung. The detached palaces were demolished when the concubines died, but Jasugung continued to remain, and the concubines also lived in the Insugung. Therefore, after King Jungjong, the concubines of former king lived in the Jasugung and Insugung. The concubines of former kings were treated according to their rank. The concubines were provided food and shelter, as well as personnel needed to maintain their safety and care. But Jasugung and Insugung used to be Buddhist temples, and they were the last spaces where the royal women remained. The concubines cut their hair, and moved to the palace shortly after the death of the king, and the maidens who served them also shaved their hair and became nuns. When the concubines set up the Buddhist temple in the detached palace, the count officials criticize it and asked for their prohibition. After the Imjin War, Neo-Confucianism deepened, while the number of concubines decreased, and the Jasugung and Insugung were closed in the second year of King Hyunjong. After that, Sukjong provided a house outside the palace and let the concubines live there with their son. So the concubines left the detached palace and resided with their son’s family. In short, the concubines of the former king lived individually with their son’s family in a private house away from the collective life of state administration in the palace.

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