Queen Uihye

Queen Uihye 의혜왕후
Grand Lady of Three Han State (삼한국대부인; 三韓國大夫人)
Queen consort of Joseon (Posthumous)
Coronation	1411
Predecessor	Queen Consort Bak
Successor	Queen Consort Han
Burial	Hwareung tomb Dongheung-ri, Hamheung-si, South Hamgyong Province
Spouse	Hwanjo of Joseon
Issue	1 son, Yi Sŏng-gye, and 1 daughter
House	Yeongheung Ch'oe clan
Father	Ch'oe Han-gi
Mother	Grand Lady Yi of Joseon State

Queen Uihye of the Yeongheung Ch'oe clan (Korean: 의혜왕후 최씨; Hanja: 懿惠王后 崔氏; fl. 15th century) was the wife of Yi Cha-ch'un and mother of Yi Sŏng-gye, Joseon's founder. She was posthumously honoured as Ui-Bi (의비; 懿妃; lit. virtuous queen) at first.

Biography

Early life

The future Queen Uihye was born into the Yeongheung Ch'oe clan as the daughter of the Korean chiliarch of the Yuan dynasty called Ch'oe Han-gi (최한기; 崔閑奇), who was later posthumously honoured as the Duke Jeonghyo and Internal Prince Yeongheung (영흥부원군 정효공 최한기; 永興府院君 靖孝公 崔閑奇) and Grand Lady Yi of Joseon State (조선국대부인 이씨; 朝鮮國大夫人 李氏).

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, which was once called Deungju (등주; 登州) during the Goryeo 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 (김린; 金麟), 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 Three Han State (삼한국대부인; 三韓國大夫人). She then bore Yi 1 son ( Yi Sŏng-gye) 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 (의비; 懿妃) by him. In the following year, by the order her grandson, King Taejong, she was posthumously honoured as Queen Consort Uihye (의혜왕후; 懿惠王后).

Tomb and funeral

The Queen was buried in Hwareung Tomb (화릉; 和陵), Dongheung-ri, Hamheung-si, South Hamgyong Province, adjacent from her husband in Jeongneung Tomb.

In 1471 (2nd year reign of Seongjong of Joseon), her funeral was held in Yeongnyeong Hall (영녕전; 永寧殿) and in 1795 (19th year reign of Jeongjo of Joseon), her veneration was held again in Yeongheung Palace (영흥본궁; 永興本宮).

Family

• Father
  • Internal Prince Yeongheung, Duke Jeonghyo, Ch'oe Han-gi (증 영흥부원군 정효공 최한기; 贈 永興府院君 靖孝公 崔閑奇)
• Mother
  • Princess Consort Hongwon, Grand Lady Yi of Joseon State (증 홍원군부인 조선국대부인 이씨; 贈 洪原郡夫人 朝鮮國大夫人 李氏)
• Siblings
  • Older sister – Princess Consort Yeongheung of the Yeongheung Ch'oe clan (영흥군부인 최씨; 永興郡夫人 崔氏)
  • Younger sister – Princess Gyeongchang of the Yeongheung Ch'oe clan (경창옹주 최씨; 慶昌翁主 崔氏)
• Husband
  • Yi Cha-ch'un, Hwanjo of Joseon (조선 환조; 1315 – 3 May 1360)
    • Father-in-law – Yi Ch'un, Dojo of Joseon (조선 도조; ?–1342)
    • Mother-in-law – Queen Gyeongsun of the Munju Park clan (경순왕후 문주 박씨)
• Issue
  • Son – Yi Sŏng-gye, Taejo of Joseon (조선 태조; 27 October 1335 – 18 June 1408)
  • Daughter – Princess Jeonghwa (정화공주)