House of Yi: Difference between revisions
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== History == |
== History == |
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[[file:Imperial family of Korea 02.jpg|thumb|250px|Imperial family of Korea, Deoksugung Palace]] |
[[file:Imperial family of Korea 02.jpg|thumb|250px|Imperial family of Korea, Deoksugung Palace]] |
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In the 19th century tensions mounted between [[China]] and [[Japan]], culminating in the [[First Sino-Japanese War]]. Much of this war was fought on the [[Korean peninsula]]. Japan, after the [[Meiji Restoration]], acquired Western military technology, and forced Joseon to sign the [[Treaty of Ganghwa]] in 1876. Japan encroached upon Korean territory in search of fish, iron ore, and natural resources.{{Fact|date=June 2007}} It also established a strong economic presence on the peninsula, heralding the beginning of Japanese imperial expansion in [[East Asia]]. |
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{{expand section|more information about the years before 1910.|date=September 2012}} |
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The Chinese defeat in the 1894 war led to the [[Treaty of Shimonoseki]], which officially guaranteed Korea's independence from China. The treaty effectively granted Japan direct control over Korean politics. The Joseon court in 1894, pressured by encroachment from larger powers, felt the need to reinforce national integrity and declared the [[Korean Empire]]. King Gojong assumed the title of Emperor in order to assert Korea's independence by putting himself on the same level as the Chinese Emperors. In addition, other foreign powers were approached for military technology, especially [[Russia]], in order to fend off the Japanese. Technically, 1894 marks the end of the Joseon period, as the official name of the state was changed; however, the [[Joseon Dynasty]] would still reign, albeit perturbed by Japanese interventions. For example, the 1895 assassination of the emperor's consort, [[Empress Myeongseong|Queen Min]], apparently orchestrated by Japanese general [[Miura Goro]], because the Korean empress was effective in keeping Japan at bay. |
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In 1910, the Japanese annexation of the Korean peninsula effectively ended Joseon Dynasty rule. The collapse of the Russian navy in the historic battle of Port Arthur (in which the Russian Imperial Navy was destroyed in a decisive surprise attack), led to a great weakening of Korea's umbrella of protection. The combined effect on China of the opium wars in the south and Japanese naval strikes in the north increasingly led the Japanese to see Korea as a strategic foothold leading into northern China, just as [[Macau]] and [[Hong Kong]] had been Portuguese and English trade enclaves, respectively, in southern China. |
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===Colonial rule (1910–1945)=== |
===Colonial rule (1910–1945)=== |
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In a complicated series of manoeuvres and counter-manoeuvres, Japan pushed back the Russian fleet in 1905 (see [[Russo-Japanese War]]).<ref name="BalasingamchowRichmond2010">{{cite book|author1=Yu-Mei Balasingamchow|author2=Simon Richmond|author3=Cesar G Soriano|coauthors=Rob Whyte|title=Korea 8|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=h9-DOFiUI5oC&pg=PA37|accessdate=3 January 2013|date=1 May 2010|publisher=Lonely Planet|isbn=978-1-74104-831-5|page=37}}</ref> |
In a complicated series of manoeuvres and counter-manoeuvres, Japan pushed back the Russian fleet in 1905 (see [[Russo-Japanese War]]).<ref name="BalasingamchowRichmond2010">{{cite book|author1=Yu-Mei Balasingamchow|author2=Simon Richmond|author3=Cesar G Soriano|coauthors=Rob Whyte|title=Korea 8|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=h9-DOFiUI5oC&pg=PA37|accessdate=3 January 2013|date=1 May 2010|publisher=Lonely Planet|isbn=978-1-74104-831-5|page=37}}</ref> Both the fleets of China and Russia had given Korea sufficient protection to prevent a direct invasion, but this ambuscade of the Russian fleet gave Japan free rein over north China, and Korea was left at the mercy of the new regional naval power Japan. |
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Korea became a [[protectorate]] of Japan in 1895 when Japan forced [[Emperor Gojong of the Korean Empire|Emperor Gojong]] to abdicate and Japanese assassinated his consort, Myeongseong.<ref name="YiChan2008">{{cite book|author1=Pae-Yong Yi|author2=Ted Chan|title=Women in Korean History 한국 역사 속의 여성들|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=p3yW5MdzKnUC&pg=PA190|accessdate=3 January 2013|year=2008|publisher=Ewha Womans University Press|isbn=978-89-7300-772-1|page=190}}</ref> Japan annexed the country in 1910, and Korea became a [[colony]] of [[Imperial Japan]].<ref name="BalasingamchowRichmond2010"/> |
Korea became a [[protectorate]] of Japan in 1895 when Japan forced [[Emperor Gojong of the Korean Empire|Emperor Gojong]] to abdicate and Japanese assassinated his consort, Myeongseong.<ref name="YiChan2008">{{cite book|author1=Pae-Yong Yi|author2=Ted Chan|title=Women in Korean History 한국 역사 속의 여성들|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=p3yW5MdzKnUC&pg=PA190|accessdate=3 January 2013|year=2008|publisher=Ewha Womans University Press|isbn=978-89-7300-772-1|page=190}}</ref> Japan annexed the country in 1910, and Korea became a [[colony]] of [[Imperial Japan]].<ref name="BalasingamchowRichmond2010"/> |
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===Eunists=== |
===Eunists=== |
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[[Image:Choseon Imperial family.jpg|thumb|300px|right|Korean Imperial family. This circa 1915 image is a compilation of individual photographs taken since the Japanese did not allow them to all be in the same room at the same time, and some were forced to leave Korea. It shows the following royal family members, from left: [[Prince Imperial Ui|Prince Ui (''Ui chinwang'' 의친왕)]], the 6th son of Gojong; [[Emperor Sunjong of the Korean Empire|Sunjong]], the 2nd son and the last monarch of Joseon; [[Crown Prince Euimin|Prince Yeong (''Yeong chinwang'' 영친왕)]], the 7th son; Gojong, the former King; [[Empress Sunjeong of the Korean Empire|Queen Yoon (''Yoon daebi'')]], Queen Consort of Sunjong; Deogindang Gimbi, wife of Prince Ui; and Yi Geon, the eldest son of Prince Ui. The seated child in the front row is [[Deokhye, Princess of Korea|Princess Deokhye (''Deokhye ongju'' 덕혜옹주)]], Gojong's last child.)]] |
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Emperor Gojong had nine sons and four daughters, but only three princes, as well as one princess: the second son, Crown Prince Cheok; the sixth son, [[Gang, Prince of Korea|Prince Gang]] and the seventh son, [[Eun, Crown Prince of Korea|Prince Eun]]. The second son, Cheok became [[Emperor Sunjong of Korea]], the last monarch of [[Korean Empire|Korea]]. As Emperor Sunjong died without issue, his younger brother, Prince Eun became the crown prince. His elder brother Prince Gang should have taken the position but was passed over because Eun's mother, Princess Sunheon, had a higher status in the court than Gang's mother, Lady Chang. |
Emperor Gojong had nine sons and four daughters, but only three princes, as well as one princess: the second son, Crown Prince Cheok; the sixth son, [[Gang, Prince of Korea|Prince Gang]] and the seventh son, [[Eun, Crown Prince of Korea|Prince Eun]]. The second son, Cheok became [[Emperor Sunjong of Korea]], the last monarch of [[Korean Empire|Korea]]. As Emperor Sunjong died without issue, his younger brother, Prince Eun became the crown prince. His elder brother Prince Gang should have taken the position but was passed over because Eun's mother, Princess Sunheon, had a higher status in the court than Gang's mother, Lady Chang. |
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Revision as of 06:02, 7 December 2013
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (April 2008) |
 | This article appears to be slanted towards recent events. (September 2012) |
| House of Yi | |
|---|---|
  | |
| Parent house | Goryeo Dynasty |
| Country |  Korean Empire(  Joseon) |
| Founded | 17 July 1392 - Joseon's founding. |
| Founder | Taejo of Joseon |
| Current head | Yi Hae-won/Yi Won |
| Final ruler | Sunjong of Korean Empire |
| Titles | |
| Deposition | 1910 - Japan–Korea Treaty of 1910 |
| Cadet branches | 125 cadet branches (approximately 105 extant) including:
|
The House of Yi, also called the Korean Imperial Household, was the household of the Joseon Dynasty and Korean Empire, consisting of the descendants of the Yi Seong-gye, the founder of the Joseon Dynasty. Yi Seong-gye is known as Taejo. All his descendants are members of the Jeonju Yi clan, including the imperial family of the Korean Empire (1897–1910).
After the annexation of the Korean Peninsula by Empire of Japan in 1910, some members of the Yi clan were mediatized into the Japanese royal family and the Japanese peerage by the Japanese government[1] until 1947, just before the Japanese Constitution was promulgated.[2] Since then, their status as royalty has not been acknowledged by any country; however, they continue to attract occasional media attention in South Korea. This happened most recently with the July 2005 funeral of Prince Gu, former head of the royal household.
At present, Prince Chung is the de jure genealogical heir to the heads of the imperial family, when male primogeniture is applied. However, he has not taken an active position on the debate over the leadership of the imperial family between his two relatives, Hereditary Prince Imperial Won (a first cousin and the son of the 9th son of Prince Ui) and Princess Haewon (his aunt and second eldest daughter of Prince Ui).
History
In the 19th century tensions mounted between China and Japan, culminating in the First Sino-Japanese War. Much of this war was fought on the Korean peninsula. Japan, after the Meiji Restoration, acquired Western military technology, and forced Joseon to sign the Treaty of Ganghwa in 1876. Japan encroached upon Korean territory in search of fish, iron ore, and natural resources.[citation needed] It also established a strong economic presence on the peninsula, heralding the beginning of Japanese imperial expansion in East Asia.
The Chinese defeat in the 1894 war led to the Treaty of Shimonoseki, which officially guaranteed Korea's independence from China. The treaty effectively granted Japan direct control over Korean politics. The Joseon court in 1894, pressured by encroachment from larger powers, felt the need to reinforce national integrity and declared the Korean Empire. King Gojong assumed the title of Emperor in order to assert Korea's independence by putting himself on the same level as the Chinese Emperors. In addition, other foreign powers were approached for military technology, especially Russia, in order to fend off the Japanese. Technically, 1894 marks the end of the Joseon period, as the official name of the state was changed; however, the Joseon Dynasty would still reign, albeit perturbed by Japanese interventions. For example, the 1895 assassination of the emperor's consort, Queen Min, apparently orchestrated by Japanese general Miura Goro, because the Korean empress was effective in keeping Japan at bay.
In 1910, the Japanese annexation of the Korean peninsula effectively ended Joseon Dynasty rule. The collapse of the Russian navy in the historic battle of Port Arthur (in which the Russian Imperial Navy was destroyed in a decisive surprise attack), led to a great weakening of Korea's umbrella of protection. The combined effect on China of the opium wars in the south and Japanese naval strikes in the north increasingly led the Japanese to see Korea as a strategic foothold leading into northern China, just as Macau and Hong Kong had been Portuguese and English trade enclaves, respectively, in southern China.
Colonial rule (1910–1945)
In a complicated series of manoeuvres and counter-manoeuvres, Japan pushed back the Russian fleet in 1905 (see Russo-Japanese War).[3] Both the fleets of China and Russia had given Korea sufficient protection to prevent a direct invasion, but this ambuscade of the Russian fleet gave Japan free rein over north China, and Korea was left at the mercy of the new regional naval power Japan.
Korea became a protectorate of Japan in 1895 when Japan forced Emperor Gojong to abdicate and Japanese assassinated his consort, Myeongseong.[4] Japan annexed the country in 1910, and Korea became a colony of Imperial Japan.[3]
During the colonial rule, the members of Yi family were mediatized into the royal family (王公族, Ōkōzoku) or made Korean nobles (朝鮮貴族, Chōsen-kizoku).
Eunists
Emperor Gojong had nine sons and four daughters, but only three princes, as well as one princess: the second son, Crown Prince Cheok; the sixth son, Prince Gang and the seventh son, Prince Eun. The second son, Cheok became Emperor Sunjong of Korea, the last monarch of Korea. As Emperor Sunjong died without issue, his younger brother, Prince Eun became the crown prince. His elder brother Prince Gang should have taken the position but was passed over because Eun's mother, Princess Sunheon, had a higher status in the court than Gang's mother, Lady Chang.
After Emperor Sunjong died in 1926, Crown Prince Eun was called "King Lee of Korea", a nominal title because the country had already lost its sovereignty to Japan. Crown Prince Eun married Japanese noblewoman Princess Masako Nashimoto (later, Crown Princess Bangja of Korea), a member of Miyake family. Some Koreans accused Japan that Princess Bangja, once one of three candidates considered to be the bride of the Japanese emperor, was instead designated as Eun's wife because a medical test indicated she could be barren. As a result some media claimed the arranged marriage was Japan's imperialist conspiracy to terminate the Korean imperial lineage. However, Princess Bangja gave birth to Prince Jin in 1921 and Prince Gu in 1931.
Post-liberation
After Korea's liberation in 1945, President Syngman Rhee suppressed the imperial family in order to prevent the restoration of the monarchy as he feared that its return would challenge his emerging authority as the new republic's founding father. Rhee seized and nationalized most of the family's properties. The imperial family also had to shoulder the psychological and historical burden of their ancestors' responsibility for the "collapse of the nation". Stripped of most of their wealth and authority, some fled to the United States and Latin America. In addition, many of the former members of the Gaeseong branch of the family had their lands repossessed and were forced to leave Korea after the military/republican government took hold in the South. Known descendants currently reside in New Jersey and New York, one of which married the daughter of a former Italian Duchess.
It was only in 1963 that a new president, Park Chung-hee, allowed the imperial family, including Princess Dukhye, to return to Korea. However, they could only stay at Nakseon Hall, a small residence in a corner of Changdeok Palace in Seoul. Crown Prince Eun died seven years later after a long illness resulting from strokes. Prince Gu was forced by other family members to divorce his American wife, the former Julia Mullock, in 1982 due to her sterility (the couple, however, had an adopted daughter). A series of business failures left Prince Gu without support, and he died alone at the Akasaka Prince Hotel in Tokyo on July 16, 2005. The site of the hotel had been his birthplace 74 years prior.
Gangists
Emperor Gojong's sixth son, Prince Gang, fathered 13 sons and 9 daughters by 14 women. With an extremely wide range of historical evaluations over him—womanizer and behind the scenes leader of the independence movement—the Japanese authorities limited the activities of the prince throughout the occupation. President Syngman Rhee's seizure of the imperial properties deprived Prince Gang of most of his wealth. According to the prince's 11th son, Prince Seok, his mother, Hong Chong-sun, was forced to sell noodles as a street vendor to make a living.
In 1998, it was reported that Prince Gang's eighth son died alone in a social center in eastern Seoul. The eleventh son, Prince Seok, works as a lecturer at the University of Jeonju as of 2005. Among Prince Gang's surviving four sons and seven daughters, four lost touch with the family after they left for the United States. The other family members hold an ancestral ritual two times a year for Prince Gang, but usually only two or three of the 11 surviving siblings attend the ceremonies.
Amy Lee, a granddaughter of Gojong, migrated to the United States in 1956 and worked for 27 years as a librarian at Columbia University in New York City.[5] In September, 2012, she was 82 years old and described as "one of the last survivors of the Korean royal court".[5]
Known Descendants Today
Yi Chung (born 1936) is the genealogical male-line heir of Emperor Gojong. He is the eldest son of Prince Wu of Korea, who inherited the title of Prince Heung with the 4th head of Unhyun Palace and his wife Princess Chanju, a granddaughter of Marquis Park Yeonghyo, who was a son-in-law of King Cheoljong of Joseon.
At the age of nine, Prince Heung inherited Unhyeon Palace, where Emperor Gojong was born, after his father died in the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. In 1947, his father's elder brother, Prince Gun (Momoyama Ken'ichi), acquired Japanese citizenship. This change of citizenship made Prince Chung the direct heir of his grandfather, Prince Imperial Ui, who died in 1955. On 1991, after the death of his mother, Prince Chung returned his ancestral home of Unhyeon Palace to the Seoul city government.
At present, Prince Chung is de jure genealogical heir to the headship of the Imperial family when male primogeniture is applied. However, he has not taken an active position on the debate between leadership of Imperial family between his two relatives, Hereditary Prince Imperial Won (a first cousin and the son of the 9th son of Prince Ui) and Princess Haewon (aunt of Prince Won and second eldest daughter of Prince Ui). Titularly reigning since the death of her predecessor, Prince Hoeun, on 16 July 2005, Princess Haewŏn was enthroned as symbolic monarch of Korea on 29 September 2006 by the Korean Imperial Family Association, organized by about a dozen descendants of Joseon Dynasty. She lays claim to the title of Empress of Korea and declared the restoration of Imperial House in her own succession ceremony. The private enthronement was not approved or supported by the republican government of South Korea.
Title
At present, there is no official recognition title conferred to the head of Korean Imperial Household by the Korean republican government. Nevertheless, it is assumed that the current title held by the present enthroned descendant Princess Yi Haewon titular Empress of Korea is "Her Imperial Highness", although Prince Yi Chung of Korea is the head of the household inherited from his father by male primogeniture.
House of Yi family tree
| adoption | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1335–1408 Taejo 1392–1398(1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1357–1419 Jeongjong 1398–1400(2) | 1367–1422 Taejong 1400–1418(3) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1397–1450 Sejong the Great 1418–1450(4) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1414–1452 Munjong 1450–1452(5) | 1417–1468 Sejo 1455–1468(7) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1441–1457 Danjong 1452–1455(6) | 1438–1457 Crown Prince Uigyeong | 1450–1469 Yejong 1468–1469(8) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1457–1494 Seongjong 1469–1494(9) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1476–1506 Yeonsangun 1494–1506(10) | 1486–1544 Jungjong 1506–1544(11) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1515–1545 Injong 1544–1545(12) | 1530–1559 Prince Deokheung | 1534–1567 Myeongjong 1545–1567(13) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1552–1608 Seonjo 1567–1608(14) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1574–1641 Gwanghaegun 1608–1623(15) | 1580–1619 Grand Prince Jeongwon | 1598–1624 Prince Heungan | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1595–1649 Injo 1623–1649(16) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1612–1645 Crown Prince Sohyeon | 1619–1659 Hyojong 1649–1659(17) | 1622–1658 Grand Prince Inpyeong | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1641–1674 Hyeonjong 1659–1674(18) | Prince Boknyeong | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1661–1720 Sukjong 1674–1720(19) | Prince Uiwon | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1688–1724 Gyeongjong 1720–1724(20) | 1694–1776 Yeongjo 1724–1776(21) | Prince Anheung | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1719–1728 Crown Prince Hyojang | 1735–1762 Crown Prince Sado | Yi Shin Ik | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1752–1800 Jeongjo 1776–1800(22) | 1754–1801 Prince Euneon | 1755–1771 Prince Eunsin | Yi Byeong Won | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1790–1834 Sunjo 1800–1834(23) | 1785–1841 Prince Jeongye | 1788–1836 Prince Namyeon | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1809–1830 Crown Prince Hyomyong | 1831–1863 Cheoljong 1849–1863(25) | 1821–1898 Heungseon Daewongun | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1827–1849 Heonjong 1834–1849(24) | 1852–1919 Gojong (Gwangmu) King 1863–1897(26) Emp. 1897–1907 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1874–1926 Sunjong (Yunghui) Emp. 1907–1910(27) [1910–1926] | 1877–1955 Prince Uihwa | 1897–1970 Crown Prince Euimin [1926–1970](28) | 1912–1989 Princess Deokhye | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1912–1945 Prince Wu | 1919– Princess Haewon [2005– ]? | 1938– Prince Gap | 1931–2005 Prince Hoeun [1970–2005](29) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1936– Prince Chung | 1962– Yi Won [2005– ]? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Korean throne since 1910
- Emperor Sunjong (1910–1926)
- Crown Prince Yi Un (1926–1970)
- Prince Yi Ku (1970–2005)
- Disputed between princes Yi Won, Yi Seok and Yi Chung and princess Yi Hae-won (2005–present)
See also
Notes
- ^ Japan-Korea Annexation Treaty article 3
- ^ 皇室令及附屬法令廢止ノ件
- ^ a b Yu-Mei Balasingamchow; Simon Richmond; Cesar G Soriano (1 May 2010). Korea 8. Lonely Planet. p. 37. ISBN 978-1-74104-831-5. Retrieved 3 January 2013.
{{cite book}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ Pae-Yong Yi; Ted Chan (2008). Women in Korean History 한국 역사 속의 여성들. Ewha Womans University Press. p. 190. ISBN 978-89-7300-772-1. Retrieved 3 January 2013.
- ^ a b AP (September 14, 2012). "SKorea regains old embassy in US, snipes at Japan". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 30 September 2012.