Styles and titles in the Joseon dynasty

During the Joseon Dynasty royal titles and styles (forms of address) had been extensive and complex. The general title of the king was wang (왕, 王), while Gojong of Korea crowned himself hwangje (황제), or emperor, a title that was only allowed for Chinese emperors.[1] Official titles came with official forms of address, depending on who the addressee was and by whom he or she was addressed.

Royal family

Naming

Rulers in Korea (following Chinese customs) had several names, changing with their titles. Sons were given children's names, and when they were appointed crown prince, they were given an adult name and the crown prince name. When they became king, they were addressed as such, personal names were not used. After the death of a king, he was given several names. One is the temple name (묘호, myoho), which he was given when his spirit tablet was placed at Jongmyo Shrine. This is the name by which historians usually refer to Joseon kings. The myoho could end in either jo (조, 祖, "founder") or jong (종, 宗). The preceding syllable was an adjective suitable for the king. The other name was the posthumous name (시호, siho). This is a longer name, made up of adjectives characteristic of the king's rule.[2][3][4] For example, Gyeongjong of Joseon's posthumous name was Gyeongjong Gakgong Deokmun Ingmu Sunin Seonhyo Daewang (경종각공덕문익무순인선효대왕), while his temple name was Gyeongjong.

Titles and styles

Forms of address were combined with names, titles or both, for example:

• Taejo daewang mama ("His Royal Highness [the departed] great king Taejo")
• Donggung mama (used by older relatives); seja joha (His Royal Highness the Crown Prince)
• Gongju agissi (in childhood); gongju mama (in adulthood) (Her Royal Highness, the Princess)

Title			Forms of address			Explanation
Revised Romanization	Hangul	Hanja	RR	Hangul	Hanja
Monarch
Wang[5] Jusang[6] Imgeum[5] Narannim[7] Gukwang[8] Geumsang[9] Sanggam[10] Daejeon[11] Gwain[12]	왕 주상 임금 나랏님 국왕 금상 상감 대전 과인	王 主上 – – 國王 今上 上監 大殿 寡人	Jeonha	전하	殿下	The King, the current monarch. He was addressed in different ways depending on the speaker and the situation.
Sangwang	상왕[13]	上王	Jeonha	전하	殿下	Former King, a yet living king who has voluntarily abdicated to the current king.
Taesangwang	태상왕[14]	太上王	Jeonha	전하	殿下	Grand King Former, an abdicated king whose relinquishment of power precedes that of another former king.
Seondaewang	선대왕[15]	先大王	Mama	마마	媽媽	Great Predecessor King, a deceased king's title and form of address. See also: Daewang
Daewang	대왕[16]	大王	Mama	마마	媽媽	Great King, deceased formed king, see also: Seondaewang
Main consort of monarch
Wangbi Jungjeon	왕비[17] 중전[18]	王妃 中殿	Mama	마마	媽媽	Queen consort, the main consort of the current king.
Taesangwangbi	태상왕비[14]	太上王妃	Mama	마마	媽媽	Queen consort of a Taesangwang
Daebi	대비[19]	大妃	Mama	마마	媽媽	Queen dowager, the main consort of the deceased king (perhaps the mother of the current king).
Wangdaebi	왕대비[20]	王大妃	Mama	마마	媽媽	Royal Queen dowager, same as Daebi.
Daewangdaebi	대왕대비[21]	大王大妃	Mama	마마	媽媽	Grand Royal Queen dowager, a former king's main consort senior to daebi or current king's grandmother.
Wanghu	왕후[22]	王后	Mama	마마	媽媽	A queen's posthumous title.
Parents of monarch
Daewongun	대원군[23]	大院君	Mama	마마	媽媽	When a king's father was not himself king before, he was given this title. It approximately means "grand prince".
Budaebuin	부대부인[24]	府大夫人	Mama	마마	媽媽	Wife of a Daewongun
Buwongun	부원군[25]	府院君	Daegam	대감	大監	The queen consort's father, translates roughly to "Prince" and his form of address as "His lordship".
Bubuin	부부인	府夫人				The queen consort's mother.
Monarch's descendant and their main consorts
Wonja	원자[26]	元子	Mama	마마	媽媽	Prince Royal. Title and form of address of the king's eldest son, before he is appointed crown prince.
Wangseja Seja Donggung[27]	왕세자[28] 세자[28] 동궁[29]	王世子 世子 東宮	Jeoha Jeoha Mama	저하 저하 마마	邸下 邸下 媽媽	Crown prince, the son of the king who appointed as heir to the throne.
Wangsejabin Sejabin Bingung	왕세자빈[30] 세자빈[30] 빈궁[31]	王世子嬪 世子嬪 嬪宮	Mama	마마	媽媽	Crown princess consort, main consort of the heir to the throne.
Wangseje	왕세제[32]	王世弟	Jeoha	저하	邸下	The king's brother when appointed as heir
Wangseson	왕세손[33]	王世孫	Hapa	합하	閤下	The crown prince's son.
Daegun	대군[34]	大君	Daegam	대감	大監	Grand prince, the son of the king and queen consort, not entitled to be crown prince.
Bubuin	부부인[35]	府夫人	Mama	마마	媽媽	Wife of a prince bearing the title of "Daegun".
Gun Wangja	군[36] 왕자	君 王子	Daegam	대감	大監	Prince, the son of the king and concubine, or the king's grandson born from a son not appointed crown prince. They were addressed as wangja before adulthood.
Gunbuin	군부인[37]	郡夫人	Mama	마마	媽媽	Wife of a prince addressed as "Gun".
Gongju	공주[38]	公主	Agissi Mama	아기씨 마마	– 媽媽	Princess, the daughter of the king and queen consort. Agissi was used in childhood, Mama was used in adulthood.
Ongju	옹주[39]	翁主	Agissi Mama	아기씨 마마	– 媽媽	Princess, the daughter of the king and concubine.
Gunwi	군위	君尉	Buma	부마[40]	駙馬	The king's son in law, a princess' husband.

Consorts and concubines

See also: Royal Noble Consort of Korean Kings

Consorts and concubines of the king in the harem (hugung, 후궁/ 後宮) had a certain rank, according to which their titles and forms of address were formulated. Titles came with the form of address of mama (마마 / 媽媽).

Ranks in order after the queen consort:

Hangul	Hanja	Revised romanization	Rank
Consorts (bi, 비)
귀비	貴妃	Gwibi	senior 1 (정1품)[41]
숙비	淑妃	Sukbi
원비	元妃	Wonbi
덕비	德妃	Deokbi
현비	賢妃	Hyeonbi
Concubines (Gwibin, 귀빈)
빈	嬪	Bin[42]	senior 1 (정1품)
귀인	貴人	Gwiin	junior 1 (종1품)
소의	昭儀	Soui	senior 2 (정2품)
숙의	淑儀	Sugui	junior 2 (종2품)
소용	昭容	Soyong	senior 3 (정3품)
숙용	淑容	Sugyeong	junior 3 (종3품)
소원	昭媛	Sowon	senior 4 (정4품)
숙원	淑媛	Sugwon	junior 4 (종4품)
Crown prince's concubines[43]
양제	良娣	Yangje	junior 2 (종2품)
양원	良媛	Yangwon	junior 3 (종3품)
승휘	承徽	Seunghwi	junior 4 (종4품)
소훈	昭訓	Sohun	junior 5 (종5품)
[44]

Royal court

Gungnyeo

Hangul	Hanja	Revised Romanization	Rank
Court ladies (Gungnyeo, 궁녀)[45]
상궁	尙宮	Sanggung	senior 5 (정5품)
상의	尙儀	Sangui
상복	尙服	Sangbok	junior 5 (종5품)
상식	尙食	Sangsik
상침	尙寢	Sangchim	senior 6 (정6품)
상공	尙功	Sanggong
상정	尙正	Sangjeong	junior 6 (종6품)
상기	尙記	Sanggi
전빈	典賓	Jeonbin	senior 7 (정7품)
전의	典衣	Jeoni
전선	典膳	Jeonseon
전설	典設	Jeonseol	junior 7 (종7품)
전제	典製	Jeongje
전언	典言	Jeoneon
전찬	典贊	Jeonchan	senior 8 (정8품)
전식	典飾	Jeonshik
전약	典藥	Jeonyak
전등	典燈	Jeondeung	junior 8 (종8품)
전채	典彩	Jeonchae
전정	典正	Jeonjeong
주궁	奏宮	Jugung	senior 9 (정9품)
주상	奏商	Jusang
주각	奏角	Jugak
주변징	奏變徵	Jubyeonjing	junior 9 (종9품)
주징	主徵	Jujing
주우	奏羽	Juu
주변궁	奏變宮	Jubyeongung
Eunuchs (naesi, 내시)[46]
상선	尙膳	Sangseon	junior 2 (종2품)
상온	尙醞	Sangon	senior 3 (정3품)
상다	尙茶	Sangda
상약	尙藥	Sangyak	junior 3 (종3품)
상전	尙傳	Sangjeon	senior 4 (정4품)
상책	尙冊)	Sangchaek	junior 4 (종4품)
상호	尙弧	Sangho	senior 5 (정5품)
상탕	尙帑	Sangtang	junior 5 (종5품)
상세	尙洗	Sangse	senior 6 (정6품)
상촉	尙燭	Sangchok	junior 6 (종6품)
상훼	尙煊	Sanghwe	senior 7 (정7품)
상설	尙設	Sangseol	junior 7 (종7품)
상제	尙除	Sangje	senior 8 (정8품)
상문	尙門	Sangmun	junior 8 (종8품)
상경	尙更	Sanggyeong	senior 9 (정9품)
상원	尙苑	Sangwon	junior 9 (종9품)

See also

• Naehun

References

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27. Could only be used by older relatives
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42. Had several different versions, like 희빈 (Huibin) / 숙빈 (Sukbin) / 경빈 (Gyeongbin) / 창빈 (Changbin) / 선빈 (Seonbin) etc.
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