Princess Hwapyeong

Princess Hwapyeong (1727–1748) was the third daughter of King Yeongjo of the Joseon dynasty in Korea.

Princess Hwapyeong
Born1727
Died1748, aged 21
SpouseGeumseongwi Bak Myeongwon
FatherYeongjo of Joseon
MotherLady Seonhui
Korean name
Hangul
화평옹주
Hanja
和平翁主
Revised RomanizationHwapyeongongju
McCune–ReischauerHwapyŏngongju

Biography

The princess' personal name is unknown. She was born to Lady Seonhui on the 27th day of the 4th lunar month, 1727, in Chippok-heon (집복헌, 集福軒), ChangKyong Palace (창경궁, 昌慶宮). In 1731, she received her title "Hwapyeong", which means "peace".[1] In 1738, the 14th year of King Yeongjo's reign, she married Bak Myeongwon (1725-1790, Hangul: 박명원, Hanja: 朴明源), fourth son of Bak Sajeong (1683-1739，Hangul: 박사정, Hanja: 朴師正) from the illustrious Bak clan of Bannam (반남 박씨, 潘南朴氏).[2][3] She left the palace on the 20th day of the 2nd month in 1742 for her in-law's family.[4]

Princess Hwapyeong was King Yeongjo's favorite daughter. He loved her beyond all else and referred to her as his "intimate friend (知己)".[5] His ardent love for her was recorded extensively in the Sillok. Princess Hwapyeong's wedding was extremely grand, and her dowry was said to be ten thousand times more extravagant than that of her elder sister Princess Hwasun's. King Yeongjo bestowed upon her a royal residence as wedding gift but his goodwill was declined by the Princess.[6]

On the 24th day of the 6th month of 1748, Princess Hwapyeong died due to a difficult child birth. On the day of her death, upon hearing that the princess was in a critical condition, King Yeongjo hastily visited her residence.[7] She was subsequently pronounced dead.[8] King Yeongjo was devastated and inconsolable over her death.[9] He suspended all court affairs to mourn for her.[10] He even moved his residence from Kyongdok Palace (景德宫) to Changdok Palace (昌德宫) in order to be near the location of Princess Hwapyeong's funerary observance so that he could personally oversee all affairs. He visited her residence frequently and broke down on five occasions before Princess Hwapyeong's burial.[11] King Yeongjo made great efforts in seizing the most auspicious location for the burial ground of Princess Hwapyeong. He forcefully acquired a piece of ancestral land owned by the Paju Yun family, who had been staying there for generations, and evacuated hundreds of civilians from nearby villages to make way for Princess Hwapyeong's tomb.[12] Princess Hwapyeong was buried in Munsan Ri, Paju (파주 마산리 , 坡州马山). Her elaborated funeral proceedings was comparable to that of a State Funeral.[13][14]

Princess Hwapyeong did not conceive any child. King Yeongjo made the third son of Bak Myeongwon's eldest brother the adopted primary son of Princess Hwapyeong.[15]

In the memoirs of her sister-in-law Lady Hyegyong, she described Princess Hwapyeong as being gentle and particularly kind towards herself and Prince Sado. The princess was uncomfortable and distressed that she alone was showered with paternal affection and that her younger brother, the Crown Prince, was not. Whenever King Yeongjo found fault in the Prince, Princess Hwapyeong would side with her brother and pleaded ceaselessly with the King to be lenient. She was said to have mitigated the relationship between the King and the Prince and made a great deal of difference in her brother's favor.[16] Until her death in 1748, she was the main protector of Prince Sado. Lady Hyegyong claimed that during the pregnancy of her first child, she often dream of Princess Hwapyeong coming to her bedchamber, sat next to her and sometimes smiled at her. When her first son was born, he bore the same birth mark as Princess Hwapyeong and King Yeongjo took him as the reincarnation of the Princess.[17]

Eulogies
Eulogy written by Prince Sado

Yearning for my elder sister Princess Hwapyeong[18][19]

The flowers of the cherry trees are blooming in spring, brilliant leaves among scarlet petals.[20] For how many times did my sister come to my rescue in my plight? Other though keen, yet helpless.[21] I have only so few sisters born of the same mother.[22] (We were like) wild geese having fun flying across the Sushui River together.[23][24] Till the Mujin year (1748), I have been showered in your grace. And now, all of a sudden, you passed away. How sad! I do not know how my elder brother looked like.[25] Who else could allay my sorrow? Morning drums thundered. I could not fall asleep.[26] Sound of the pan (hitting the bells) in discord.[27] Before they teach, Daoist priests [28] must first learn. Looking back to the days (we had at the) waterfront pavilion,[29] I was in a daze throughout the night.[30] I eschewed my own desolation to console my grieving mother. Riding on chariots, sorrows soared into the ninth Heaven.[31] Feathery flags fluttering along the celestial path. Illness did not erode the filial piety in you. You would remind me to be diligent in my studies.[32] Even in dreams, you would send regards to inquire about His Majesty’s health. Should I joy or mourn? I must be looking haggard, for tears are streaming down my cheeks as if a river breached its banks. Who had no brothers? To whom could I pour out my heart to? In the northern garden, the moon shore on the pine forest. Underneath the eastern hill, wild birds shrieking. How could (a bird) fly with broken wings? It is such a pity that yellow birds did not have a hundred lives.[33] The flock of wild geese is shrinking with just three of us left. Tree branches rustling, I sink into deep melancholy. Are dreams real or is reality a dream? Embraced by the cherry blossoms, I coalesced my thoughts to let bitterness fade with time. Times flies relentlessly, like the river that flows and never returns.

Eulogy written by King Jeongjo

Eulogy written for Kumsongwi Bak Myeongwon and Princess Hwapyeong[34] [35]

My second aunt[36] was virtuous and kind. My deceased grandfather loved her dearly. (He) married (her) into an illustrious family,[37] gifted a fine residence (to the couple)[38] and showered them with precious jade and gold jewelries. Husband and wife loved and respected each other like the harmonious resonance of the lute and psaltery.[39] (My aunt's) character was as exemplary as that of the Queen of King Wen.[40] The ladies-in-waiting praised her for her devotion to her brother.[41][42] She helped him on various matters,[43] going back and forth using all means to do whatever she could. When the female phoenix demises, the male phoenix retreats.[44] But your legacy lives on. Returning to the Palace of Lu,[45] I could still recall your sincere advice. You were diligent in your duties and courteous to your subordinates. If I visit your tomb and find it in a derelict state, I would not be able to sleep in peace and it would bother me for another ten years. Well-versed in Cheng-Chu classics,[46] you never failed to be genuine in sharing your thoughts (to me). Whenever I look over to the mountains (where you are buried), I see a pearl in the dragon’s mouth.[47] Capable man were summoned (to select the location) through divination.[48] It would bring abundant peace and prosperity to our descendants for many years to come. You had been the pillar for our country and brought honor to your clan. Having an illustrious career, and accomplishing all “four beautiful elements”,[49] you drew admiration from your colleagues. Now I am revisiting Paju with mixed feelings. How could the praises on your tomb stone sing enough of your achievements? Due to the strict code of conduct, I could only pass by your grave in a chariot. Thus, I have specially asked your nephew[50] to pour you (on my behalf) yet another glass of wine

Ancestry
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References
  1. 《承政院日记》英祖7年7月20日：傳曰, 翁主爲和平翁主。
  2. 英祖47卷, 14年2月30日：以朴師正子明源尙和平翁主, 封錦城尉。
  3. Bak Myeongwon was an honorable man well respected by both Prince Sado and King Jeongjo. In 1780, he led an envoy entourage to Qing China in celebration of Emperor Qian Long's 70th birthday, whereby his cousin Bak Jiwon (1837-1805，Hangul: 박지원, Hanja: 朴趾源) wrote the famous Jehol Diary. He was buried together with Princess Hwapyeong and King Jeongjo personally penned his tomb epitaph.
  4. 《承政院日记》英祖18年2月1日：柳萬重, 以禮曹言啓曰, 傳曰, 和平翁主出閤吉日, 以今月內, 令禮曹擇入, 擧行等例, 依例擧行事, 命下矣。出閤吉日, 卽令日官推擇, 則今二月二十日巳時, 二十七日午時爲吉云。以何日定行乎? 敢稟。傳曰, 以二十日定行。
  5. 英祖68卷, 24年7月1日：上曰: "……父母之於子女有知己焉, 於子婦則賢嬪爲知己, 於女則以和平翁主爲知己, 而今遽至此。 予非慈愛而然, 但惜其爲人矣。(The King said "parents know their children well. Among my daughter-in-laws, Lady Hyeon (Queen Hyosun, the consort of King Yeongjo's first son Prince Hyojang) knows me well. Among my daughters, it would be Princess Hwapyeong. It has always been like that. I am saying this not because of my benevolence, but because of their exceptional characters.")
  6. 英祖68卷, 24年8月2日： 初翁主下嫁時, 錦平尉朴弼成語人曰, ‘吾於貴主之婚, 每爲主婚, 和順之下嫁, 比吾館主時儀物之豐十倍矣。 今貴主資裝, 比和順, 尤萬萬矣。’ 翁主出宮之初, 上賜梨峴別宮, 主辭焉。(During the wedding of Princess Hwapyeong, Geumpyeongwi Bak Pilseong (1652-1747, the husband of King Hyojong's daughter, Princess Suknyeong) said "I have headed the wedding ceremony of all Your Majesty's daughters. When Princess Hwasun got married, her dowry was ten times as much as that of my wife's. Now for Princess Hwapyeong's wedding, her dowry is ten thousand times more extravagant than that of her elder sister. " When Princess Hwapyeong first left the palace for her in-laws' family, His Majesty bestowed upon her the Yihyeon Palace but she declined.)
  7. When Yeongjo arrived at the residence of the Princess, he was apprised that nothing else could be done to save his daughter. He alighted the chariot in tears.(《承政院日记》英祖24年6月24日：乾隆十三年戊辰六月二十四日巳時, 上幸和平翁主第時……大駕詣主第下輦時, 潛然下淚。諸承旨, 與兵判, 皆達曰, 病患雖重, 豈至深慮乎? 上曰, 已至於無可爲之境云矣。)
  8. 英祖67卷, 24年6月24日：上幸和平翁主第。 翁主卽上之第二女, 暎嬪 李氏出也。 上甚鍾愛之, 下嫁錦城尉 朴明源。 至是疾革, 使家人啓曰: "病革不得復陪天顔。" 上遽臨幸之。 事出凌遽, 百官未及齊會, 輿衛不備, 不能成儀。 主尋卒, 上震悼, 臨殯號慟, 哀不自抑。 日甚熱, 終夜不還宮, 大臣、宰臣、政院屢請見, 不許引對, 坐而達宵。 親臨殮襲, 命以一等庀喪。(The King visited the residence of Princess Hwapyeong. The Princess was the King's second daughter, born of Yongbin Yi. The King loved her dearly. She married Kumsongwi Bak Myeongwon. During her last moments, she send her family to inform the King that "I am critically ill and may no longer be able to serve Your Majesty." The King hastily made a visit to the Princess's residence. It happened so unexpectedly that the ministers were not informed of the King's decision and the guards were not ready. Hence, there was no royal procession accompanying the King. When the Princess was pronounced dead, the King was seized by despair. He wailed at her deathbed and sank into deep mourning. The weather was very warm, but the King refused to return to the Palace that night. Ministers made several requests to see the King but all were turned down. The King sat beside the Princess's deathbed till dawn. He personally oversee the funerary observance of the Princess and ordered that she be buried according to the first rank of funeral ceremony.)
  9. Lady Hyegyong described King Yeongjo as appearing to be ready to give up his own life. JaHyun Kim Haboush, ed., The Memoirs of Lady Hyegyŏng: The Autobiographical Writings of a Crown Princess of Eighteenth-Century Korea. University of California Press, Berkeley, 1996. ISBN 0-520-20055-1
  10. 英祖68卷, 24年7月1日：內局入侍, 上曰: “米飮之屬不順下, 而每多沓沓時矣。 展謁太廟然後, 可得少安矣。”(The servants came to serve the meal. The King said "I have no appetite for food or drinks and I cannot put myself at ease. I feel slightly better only after visiting the ancestral temple.")
  11. 英祖68卷, 24年(閏7月 29日：辛巳/上幸和平翁主第。時, 翁主葬日將至, 故欲爲一訣, 遂臨其第, 前後哭臨凡五也。(The King visited the residence of Princess Hwapyeong. The funeral ritual of the Princess was about to commence and the King wished to bid his daughter farewell. He broke down on five occasions during his visits.)
  12. 英祖68卷, 24年閏7月3日：乙卯/命戶曹, 買坡州士人尹得聖家山。尹氏庄舍在於坡州馬山, 五世相傳。 時, 翁主卒逝, 上使宗臣識堪輿術者南原君 等相地, 以尹家庄後爲吉。 上命版曹, 出銀給民家, 百戶皆毁撤。 【史臣曰: 翁主有淑德而卒, 上以止慈之義, 爲之痛惜, 此則天理之(常)〔當〕然。 哀不可過, 過則非禮, 況人君乎? 自翁主卒逝之後, 過二旬始許賓對, 前後過中之敎, 記注不能盡記。 蓋群臣無見憚於上者, 致上有此失, 惜哉! 且死則葬不食之地, 使翁主賢乎, 宜循其志, 以成其美, 奪人家世守之地, 又毁數百民家, 夫以上爲民之德意, 猶有所掩而未之思歟?”】(The King ordered the Board of Taxation to acquire the mountain in Paju, which belonged to Yun Dokchong's family. The Yun family's residence is located at Mt Ma in Paju county. They had lived there for five generations. When the Princess passed away, the King send royal family members with geomancy knowledge to select a plot of suitable land for burial and the mountain behind Yun's residence was identified as an auspicious site. The King ordered the Board of Taxation to compensate the farmers for giving up their land. Over hundreds of families were displaced and their properties destroyed. [The historian comments: The deceased Princess was virtuous and the King was despaired over her death. This is the natural law of the universe. However, it is inappropriate for even commoners to mourn excessively, not to mention the ruler. Only two days after the demise of the Princess did the King start to receive his Ministers. Their discussions were too lengthy to be recorded here. It is a pity that the Ministers were afraid of the ruler and thus failed to offer him proper advice, resulting in this situation. Moreover, the deceased should be buried on infertile lands, which could have propagate the virtue of the Princess and preserve her good name, Seizing ancestral land and destroying farmer's homes tarnished the reputation of the King. How can the King ignore this and not reflect upon his actions?])
  13. State Funeral refers to funeral proceedings reserved for Kings and Queens during the Choson Dynasty
  14. 英祖68卷, 24年8月2日：甲申/葬和平翁主, 儀物之盛, 亞於國葬。(Princess Hwapyeong was buried. Her funeral proceedings was so extravagant, only to be superseded by the State Funeral.)
  15. 英祖67卷, 24年6月24日：敎曰: "和平翁主繼後, 以進士朴興源第三子壽賢爲定之意, 分付禮曹。"
  16. This corroborates with the eulogy written by King Jeongjo that the princess had been a great source of support for Prince Sado.
  17. JaHyun Kim Haboush, ed., The Memoirs of Lady Hyegyŏng: The Autobiographical Writings of a Crown Princess of Eighteenth-Century Korea. University of California Press, Berkeley, 1996. ISBN 0-520-20055-1
  18. Original Text：寫懷長姐和平翁主 - 常棣之華華重重。華葉紅鮮春意中。原有脊令問幾許。况也永嘆熱心衷。我本同胞只數妹。鴈行那知涑水娛。一自戊辰尙右感。奄及今日眞嗚呼。先兄顔色我不知。此懷誰解愴且悲。曉鼓隆隆眠未著。刁斗之聲又胡爲。紫衣傳道須先問。沁水樓臺睠言時。芒乎儵乎卄五夜。要寬母意抑心嘻。九重憂疾乘輿出。羽旄翩翩大寺道。根天之孝病未斲。回語中堂勤灑掃。夢囈先問聖體勞。或喜或悲心未定。憔悴容顔不復春。玉淚浹腮河海罄。人人孰無兄及弟。此時此懷向誰告。北園深松月微光。恠底東峯烏夜噪。羽翼折矣安所飛。嗟嗟黃鳥誰百身。鴈序漸稀三復雅。連枝蕭瑟愁思臻。夢如疑眞眞疑夢。常棣春色懷一切。結懷忍悲徒日月。日月無情如水决。
  19. Translator's note (User Milugu): It is unclear when this eulogy was written. The lunar calendar of the 6th month of 1748, at which time the Princess passed away, was approximately near the end of the spring season. The blooming of cherry flowers would suggest that it was in spring that the eulogy was written. Prince Sado also mentioned that his mother was still in grief, implying that he must have composed this eulogy shortly after the death of his sister. Most likely, it was written on the very night of Princess's Hwapyeong's death - the wee hours of the 25th day of the 6th month. He could not go to sleep and stayed awoke till dawn when the morning drums began and the servants came in to greet him.
  20. Translator’s note: “常棣之華華重重” origins from the Book of Poetry (《詩經·小雅·常棣》：“常棣之华，鄂不韡韡。凡今之人，莫如兄弟。”- The flowers of the cherry tree, are they not gorgeously displayed? Of all the men in the world, there are none equal to brothers). “常棣” is another term for “郁李” , translating to Prunus Japonica (a.k.a. Bush Cherry). In Chinese poems, it is a metaphor for brotherhood.
  21. Translator’s note: “原有脊令問幾許。况也永嘆熱心衷。” origins from the Book of Poetry (《詩經·小雅·常棣》：“脊令在原，兄弟急难。每有良朋、况也永叹。”- The waterfowl is on the plain, brothers relieve the plight of each other. Friends, though they may be good, will only heave long sighs). “脊令” are birds that like water. When it lands in the field, away from the water source, it would anxiously call out to fellow waterfowls for rescue.
  22. Translator’s note: Prince Sado was born of Lady Seonhui, and had three surviving sisters, Princess Hwapyeong, Princess Hwahyeop and Princess Hwawan born of the same mother.
  23. Translator’s note: Sushui River is in Shanxi Province, China.
  24. Translator’s note: wild geese allude to the Prince and his sisters.
  25. Translator’s note: Prince Sado’s elder half-brother is Crown Prince Hyojang, who passed away in 1728, before the birth of Prince Sado in 1735.
  26. Translator’s note: Mornings in Choson Korea began with the sounds of bells or drums to lift the night curfew. This event is called the paru (摆漏 or stopping the water clock) and occurs at around 4AM where the bells tolled 33 times to announce the start of the day.
  27. Translator’s note: “刁斗” is a Chinese military instrument that shaped like a pan. It is made of brass and used for cooking in the day and striking the drum during night watch.
  28. Translator’s note: “紫衣”, or purple robe alludes to Buddhist or Daoist monks. Purple robes were the official attire for officials of Rank 3 and above in the Tang Dynasty. From the reign of Empress Wu, purple robes, along with honorary titles and privileges were awarded to leading Buddhist and Daoist monks. As Prince Sado was known to be an active patronage of Daoism, "purple robe" is translated as Daoist priests instead of Buddhist monks.
  29. Translator's note: This is likely to be referring to the Buyong Pond (芙蓉池) and Buyong Pavilion (芙蓉亭) in the rear garden of Changdok Palace.
  30. Translator’s note: the original text says “卄五夜”, which could be referring to both the night of 25th day of the 6th month (Princess Hwapyeong passed away on the 24th day) or simply the past twenty-five nights. Due to references to breaking dawn, the translator takes the first interpretation.
  31. Translator’s note: in the Chinese concept of cosmology, the sky is divided into nine divisions (九重天), which include the middle sky and the eight directions.
  32. Translator’s note: “中堂” refers to the prime minister or the cabinet. However in the context where this sentence is placed, the translator interprets “中堂” as the Crown Prince himself.
  33. Translator’s note: “黄鸟” origins from the Book of Poetry (《詩經·国风·秦风·黄鸟》 ：“交交黄鸟，止于棘。谁从穆公？子车奄息。”- They flit about, the yellow birds, and rest upon the mulberry trees. Who followed duke Mu [to the grave]? Ziche and Zhongheng). The poem deplored the practice of human sacrifice in the Qin state during the Warring period and lamented the loss of great talents.
  34. Original Text：錦城都尉朴明源和平貴主墓致祭 - 於繄我仲姑。旣賢且淑。寧考愛鍾。擇配華族。卿膺貳館。美玉精金。雝雝肅肅。以瑟以琴。歸妹袂良。宮人尙說。曰篤友于。左提右挈。周旋進退。事事腔血。鸞逝鳳藏。餘芬未沫。巋然魯殿。賴耳卿在。忠勤款款。恩禮每每。拜峯之阡。如灤水齧。予不遑寐。十年轖結。卿疏披腹。動引程朱。睠彼花山。有龍含珠。謀及卿士。爰契我龜。載安載寧。吉祥葳蕤。錫我祚胤。奠我磐石。卿自爲國。予其諼德。名門餘慶。萃于端揆。四美咸具。百僚是倚。坡草再宿。感懷交中。穹碑美諡。豈曰醻功。尺地輦過。典刑森森。特命卿姪。一酌乃斟。
  35. Translator’s note (User Milugu): There are a total of 5 eulogies written by King Jeongjo for Princess Hwapyeong. Three were written before the death of Bak Myeongwon and two written after his death in 1790. The translation here is the fourth eulogy written soon after the death of Bak Myeongwon and was dedicated to the royal couple. It was written in 1792, the 16th year of King Jeongjo's reign (正祖34卷, 16年2月24日：親撰祭文, 遣承旨致祭于錦城尉 朴明源、和平翁主、奉朝賀洪鳳漢墓, 在輦路邑也。). The contents of the eulogies are similar, stressing on the Princess been the beloved daughter of King Yeongjo, complimenting on her devotion to her parents and brother, as well as lamenting her premature death.
  36. Translator’s note: the Chinese characters “伯仲叔季” are characters used to denote seniority among siblings according to the book of Zuo Zhuan (《左传·昭公二十六年》：“亦唯伯仲叔季图之。”). “伯”-eldest, “仲”-second, “叔”-third and so on. Princess Hwapyeong was the third daughter of King Yeongjo. Since Yeongjo’s first daughter died in infancy, she was King Jeongjo’s second aunt who survived to adulthood.
  37. Translator’s note: “華族” refers to 京華世族 (Kor: kyŏnghwa sejok), a term reserved for powerful yangban clans in Choson Korea. The family of Princess Hwapyeong’s husband Bak Myeongwon was the Bak clan of Bannam, from Cholla Province. The clan has produced generations of high ministers serving in the courts of Koryo and Choson Dynasties.
  38. Translator’s note: the residence refers to 梨岘别宫, which was owned by the royal family and used as residence for successive Princes. The last occupant before Yeongjo's reign seemed to be Prince Kwanghae where he stayed before ascending throne. It was probably damaged during the Imjin war so Yeongjo had it renovated with lumber sourced from the backyard of Kyongbok Palace just before the Princess's wedding. His action attracted much criticism from his ministers who deemed it profligacy and inappropriate because the bestowment of a residence befitting for a prince upon a princess was a breach of the Confucian standard of linear patriarchy.
  39. Translator’s note: “雝雝肅肅” origins from the Book of Poetry (《詩經·大雅·思齊》：“雝雝在宮，肅肅在朝”- Full of harmony was he in his palace, full of reverence in the ancestral temple) and alludes to cordial relationship between husband and wife. “以瑟以琴” also origins from the Book of Poetry (《詩經·周南·关雎》：“窈窕淑女，琴瑟友之”- The modest, retiring, virtuous, young lady. With lutes, small and large, let us give her a friendly welcome). The harmonious sound of the lute (琴) and the psaltery (瑟) playing together (琴瑟和鸣) is a metaphor for a compatible match between a man and woman.
  40. Translator’s note: “歸妹袂良” is an anecdote from the Book of Changes (《易经》：“帝乙归妹，其君之袂，不如其娣之袂良”). King Zhou’s father of the Shang Dynasty married his sister to King Wen of the Zhou state, a federal lord to the Shang Dynasty. The Queen wore a gown that appeared to be simpler than that of her female servants, symbolizing her virtuous and frugal character.
  41. Translator’s note: this refers to Crown Prince Sado, King Jeongjo’s biological father.
  42. Princess Hwapyeong was admired in the inner palace for her exemplary conduct even during Jeongjo's reign, many years after her passing. She was known as the "gentlemen" among the ladies (女中君子). She passed away before the birth of King Jeongjo and the King lamented his regret of not being able to know her personally (正祖15卷, 7年2月6日：和平貴主之德之行, 宮中至今稱女中君子, 若又孝友根天之誠, 實有不可殫記者, 恨予生晩, 儀容未逮……)
  43. Translator’s note: “左提右挈” literally means "to lift on the left and pull on the right", and appeared in an anecdote from the Book of Han (《漢書·卷三十二·張耳陳餘傳》：“夫以一趙尚易燕，況以兩賢王左提右挈，而責殺王，滅燕易矣。”). A general called Wu Chen proclaimed himself as the King of Zhao state towards the end of Qin Dynasty. He send his subordinate Han Guang to conquer the north of China. Upon taking the land, Han Guang proclaimed himself as the King of Yan state. Wu Chen was furious and matched north with his generals Zhang Er and Chen Yu. Wu Chen was subsequently captured in the battle with the Yan army. Zhang and Chen send an envoy to persuade Han Guang to release Wu Chen. The envoy told Han Guang that Zhang and Chen would like to see Wu Chen been killed so that they can split the Zhao state among themselves. It will be easy for the two Zhao Kings to defeat the Yan state if they join forces. This deceived Han Guang into releasing Wu Chen.
  44. Translator’s note: from this point on wards, King Jeongjo is referring to Bak Myeongwon in his writings.
  45. Translator’s note: “魯殿” refers to the famous Royal palace in Qubu, Shandong, of the Han Dynasty. It is used as a metaphor to denote the few surviving people or things.
  46. Translator’s note: Choson Korea subscribed to the Cheng-Chu school of Confucianism (程朱理学).
  47. Translator’s note: Dragons refer to mountains in the field of geometry (风水堪舆) studies. A contour that shaped like a pearl in the dragon’s mouth is deemed as an auspicious location for a burial.
  48. Translator’s note: “爰契我龜” origins from the book of Poetry (《詩經·大雅·緜》：“爰始爰谋，爰契我龟，曰止曰时，筑室于兹。”- Hence [Danfu] started, hence planned, hence required agreement from our [divinatory] tortoise. [The turtle] said: "Stop [here]!" It said: "It's the time! Construct the home here!"). It refers to the ancient Chinese practice of using oracles bones for pyromancy.
  49. Translator’s note: “四美咸具” origins from Wang Bo’s ( one of the four Literary Eminences in Early Tang ) poem “Preface to Teng Wang Temple” 《滕王阁序》– “四美具，二難并”. The four beautiful elements (四美) are (1)beautiful day, (2)beautiful scenery, (3)joyfulness and (4)happy event. This is a reference that Bak Myeongwon’s life as a Confucian scholar is completed with no regrets.
  50. Translator’s note: The sillok recorded that King Jeongjo had a royal secretary to perform the sacrificial ritual for Bak Myeongwon, Princess Hwahyop and Hong Bonghan (the father of Lady Hyegyong).

See also
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