First wife of King Munjong of Joseon
Crown Princess Hwi of the Andong Gim clan (Korean: 휘빈 김씨; Hanja: 徽嬪 金氏; 1410 – ?), also known as Deposed Consort Gim (폐빈 김씨; 廢嬪 金氏), was the first wife of the future King Munjong of Joseon. She was demoted to commoner rank and thrown out of the palace after using witchcraft to gain her husband's affection.[1]
Biography
She was born into the Andong Gim clan, as the youngest child and daughter of Gim Oh-mun, a high-ranking official in charge of military affairs, and Lady Jeong whilst her grandfather, Gim Gu-deok, was a magistrate at the Dongnyeongbu (돈녕부; 敦寧府).
King Sejong selected Lady Gim as consort for his heir apparent, the future King Munjong, in 1427.[2][3] After journeying from her home, she camped outside Hanseong and the Crown Prince was sent to greet her and escort her to the Eastern Palace.[2]
In 1428, the Crown Princess requested to visit her natal home, to attend the burial rites for her grandfather.[4]
Witchcraft
Court records indicate that in the winter of 1428 to 1429, Crown Princess Hwi asked her maid, Ho-cho (호초), how she could gain her husband's love. Ho-cho told her to cut her rivals' shoes into pieces and burn them to ash. She recommended that the consort test the method on two maids that she was already jealous of, Hyo-dong (효동) and Deok-kim (덕김), which she promptly did. The Crown Princess then requested further methods and Ho-cho instructed her to drain the fluids from a snake, then rub those essences onto a cloth. Ho-cho claimed that if she wore that cloth in the presence of the Crown Prince, he would love her. Meanwhile, another maid, whom the consort had brought to the palace from her natal home, Sun-deok (순덕), discovered the remains of the burnt shoes in her mistress' perfume pouch. Sun-deok questioned Ho-cho as to how the Princess had learnt such things, but hid the shoes.[1]
When the rumours of Crown Princess Hwi's activities reached King Sejong, he ordered that she be confined to her quarters, and her staff, including Sun-deok, were questioned.[1] Ho-cho was sent to the Uigeumbu and Sun-deok told officials where to find the shoe remains. In shock, the King lamented his choice of such a daughter-in-law, ordered that her seal be retracted, her name removed from the ancestral temple and that she be demoted to commoner. The former consort was expelled from the palace so that she would not disgrace the royal family.[5][6]
Aftermath
After Lady Gim was deposed, her father was also demoted and her brother was removed from his position in the Dongnyeongbu. Ho-cho was beheaded for instructing her mistress in witchcraft.
Several court officials also attempted to have other palace ladies, as well as Lady Gim's parents, interrogated to establish whether they had either been involved in teaching her or covered up her behaviour, but King Sejong denied all these requests.[1]
Family
- Father
- Gim Oh-mun, Prince Sangho (상호군 김오문; 金五文)
- Mother
- Lady Jeong, Madame of the Second Rank (정부인 정씨; 貞夫人 鄭氏)
- Sibling(s)
- Elder brother: Gim Jung-eom (김중엄; 金仲淹)
- Husband
References
Notes
Works cited
