Queen Uihye of the Yeongheung Ch'oe clan (; 1304–?) was the wife of Yi Cha-ch'un and mother of

Yi Sŏng-gye Taejo (; 4 November 1335 – 27 June 1408), personal name Yi Seong-gye (), later Yi Dan (), was the founder and first monarch of the Joseon dynasty of Korea. After overthrowing the Goryeo dynasty, he ascended to the throne in 1392 and abdi ...

Joseon Joseon ( ; ; also romanized as ''Chosun''), officially Great Joseon (), was a dynastic kingdom of Korea that existed for 505 years. It was founded by Taejo of Joseon in July 1392 and replaced by the Korean Empire in October 1897. The kingdom w ...

's founder. She was

posthumously Posthumous may refer to: * Posthumous award, an award, prize or medal granted after the recipient's death * Posthumous publication, publishing of creative work after the author's death * Posthumous (album), ''Posthumous'' (album), by Warne Marsh, 1 ...

honoured as Ui-Bi () at first.

Biography

Early life

The future Queen Uihye was born in 1304 into the Yeongheung Ch'oe clan as the youngest daughter of the Korean chiliarch of the Yuan dynasty called Ch'oe Han-gi (), who was later posthumously honoured as the Duke Jeonghyo and Internal Prince Yeongheung () and Grand Lady Yi of Joseon State (). Her father's family name was Cho but was later changed to Ch'oe in order to receive complete blessings for her later marriage. Her family long resided in today's Anbyon County,

Kangwon Province, North Korea Kangwon Province (Kangwŏndo; ) is a province of North Korea, with its capital at Wŏnsan. Before the division of Korea in 1945, Kangwŏn Province and its South Korean neighbour Gangwon Province (also spelled ''Kangwon Province'' sometimes) f ...

, which was once called Deungju () during the

Goryeo Goryeo (; ) was a Korean state founded in 918, during a time of national division called the Later Three Kingdoms period, that unified and ruled the Korea, Korean Peninsula until the establishment of Joseon in 1392. Goryeo achieved what has b ...

period. Having become very wealthy by saving a lot of money, her family were known to be rich amongst the local population.

Youth life

It was said that from young, Lady Ch'oe was intelligent and had many unusual things. When her parents reached the age of poverty, they wanted her to marry the son of Kim Rin (), but when she did not listen, they offered to divide the household goods in half. Knowing this, Ch'oe cried sadly and said, "How can someone unexpectedly marry Kim Rin's son when they are born into this world and have a great relationship? A matchmaker will come soon." (사람이 세상에 태어나서 큰 인연이 있는데 어찌 뜻밖에 김린의 아들에게 시집갈 수 있겠는가. 배필이 곧 이를 것이다).

Marriage and death

Then, Yi Cha-ch'un went to Cho'e Han-gi's house on business, when she had a good dream that two dragons came down from the sky, one went into her stomach and the other into her womb. Since they meet each other in there, Yi then proposed Lady Choe and they were married. During her lifetime after married, Lady Choe more commonly called as ''Grand Lady of the Three Han State'' (). She then bore Yi 1 son (

) and 1 daughter ( Princess Jeonghwa). However, she died before Joseon was established. After Yi Sŏng-gye founded the new Joseon Dynasty, she was posthumously honoured as ''Consort Ui'' () by him. In the following year, by the order her grandson, King Taejong, she was posthumously honoured as ''Queen Consort Uihye'' ().

Tomb and funeral

The Queen was buried in Hwareung Tomb (), Dongheung-ri, Hamheung-si,

South Hamgyong Province South Hamgyong Province (, ''Hamgyŏngnamdo''; ) is a province of North Korea. The province was formed in 1896 from the southern half of the former Hamgyong Province, remained a province of Korea until 1945, then became a province of North Kor ...

, adjacent from her husband in Jeongneung Tomb. In 1471 (2nd year reign of

Seongjong of Joseon Seongjong (; 28 August 1457 – 29 January 1495), personal name Yi Hyeol (), was the ninth monarch of the Joseon, Joseon dynasty of Korea. Before succeeding his sickly uncle, Yejong of Joseon, King Yejong, he was known as Grand Prince Jalsan ( ...

), her funeral was held in Yeongnyeong Hall () and in 1795 (19th year reign of

Jeongjo of Joseon Jeongjo (; 28 October 1752 – 18 August 1800), personal name Yi San (), sometimes called Jeongjo the Great (), was the 22nd monarch of the Joseon dynasty of Korea. He was the second son of Crown Prince Sado and Lady Hyegyŏng, and succeede ...

), her veneration was held again in Yeongheung Palace ().

Family

* Father ** Internal Prince Yeongheung, Duke Jeonghyo, Ch'oe Han-gi (; 1260–?) * Mother ** Princess Consort Hongwon, Grand Lady of Joseon State of the Wansan Yi clan (; 1262–?) * Siblings ** Older brother - Ch'oe Ho-yeon (최호연; 崔浩延; 1282–?) ** Older sister – Princess Gyeongchang of the Yeongheung Ch'oe clan (; 1293–?) ** Older brother - Ch'oe Bang-bo (최방보; 1298–?) ** Older sister – Princess Consort Yeongheung of the Yeongheung Ch'oe clan (; 1300–?) ** Older sister - Lady Ch'oe of the Yeongheung Ch'oe clan (최씨; 1302–?) * Husband ** Yi Cha-ch'un, Hwanjo of Joseon (; 1315 – 3 May 1360) *** Father-in-law – Yi Ch'un, Dojo of Joseon (; 1265–1342) *** Mother-in-law – Queen Gyeongsun of the Munju Park clan (; 1268–?) * Issue ** Daughter – Princess Jeonghwa (; 1330–?) ** Son – Yi Sŏng-gye, Taejo of Joseon (; 27 October 1335 – 18 June 1408)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Uihye, Queen Yuan dynasty people Royal consorts of Joseon Queens consort of Korea People from South Hamgyong Province 14th-century Korean women 14th-century Korean people Mothers of Korean monarchs