Korean nobility

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Korean monarchy and native nobility existed in Korea until the end of the Japanese occupation. (In Imperial Japan, Korean nobles have continued holding noble titles.) The system is roughly the same as that of the Chinese nobility. It included je, wang and gun.

Contents

[edit] Ruler and princely styles

[edit] Korean Emperor

Rulers of Goguryeo during the Three Kingdom Period adopted the style of Taewang, and the rulers of Goryeo used the title of Daewang. The title of Daewang was abandoned after the Mongol invasion as the Korean monarch was forced to use the title of king under Mongolian pressure. While the literal translation of the title is the greatest of the kings, it is often translated as emperor, a use legitimised by the fact that his vassals used the title wang (literally translated as king). Some kings, especially of the Silla period, have used the title of Maripkan. This follows from an earlier tradition when Korean kings were styled either Han or Kan, which are Korean versions of the Turkic/Mongolian title khan. Maripkan can also be translated as Emperor because it means the highest ruler. Marip originally meant the highest, and kan meant rulers. In addition, Baekje used the title of Eoraha, which can be literally translated as emperor because Baekje "Ha" means rulers and eora means the largest[1], [2], [3], [4], [5]. The rulers of Korea adopted the title Je (제; 帝), or emperor during the Barhae. The title was revived for less than two decades during the Korean Empire.

[edit] Kings

Wang (Hangul: 왕; Hanja: 王), or king, was a Chinese royal style used in many states rising from the dissolution of Gojoseon, in Silla from 500 to 935 and in Goryeo from 1274 - 1392. While it is commonly asserted that the monarchs of Goguryeo used the title of king as well, the actual title Taewang is more appropriately translated as emperor. In late Goryeo (1274-1392) and the Joseon Dynasty (until 1897) the rulers of Korea were still known as "kings", as evident in the title of King Sejong the Great, 世宗大王. However, they were referred to by their temple names.

[edit] Prince

Gun (군; 君) is translated as "prince". The Royal Prince born of the Principal Royal consort (Queen) was designated Daegun, translated as the Grand Prince of the Blood. The princes born of concubine was given the title gun (often distinguished as wangja-gun), translated as the Prince of the Blood. The father of the king who himself have never reigned was given the special title of Daewongun (The Grand Prince of the Blood in the Court).

Those who has distinguished himself in the service of the court were also given the princely title as well. Buwongun (The Grand Prince of the Court), were the title of the father of the Queen, or those who have reached the rank of the Chief State Councillor. Gun was the title of the meriteous subjects who reached the rank of the State Councillor. These princes created for service had a prefix attached to the princely title, a town that a subject is affiliated to. Though designed as a titular appointment as a Lord of the area, the title was purely honorific.

The title gun can also refer to the dethroned ruler of Joseon dynasty as well. There were three dethroned kings to be called "Gun" in Joseon Dynasty (one restored to the dignity of king posthumously).

Under the Korean Empire (1897-1919), the Prince of the Blood were given the title of Chinwang. While the literal translation is the Imperial King of the Blood, a more appropriate title is the Imperial Prince of the Blood. Only four chinwang were appointed.

[edit] Lower aristocracy

In Silla kingdom, the nobility was long split into two classes: sacred bone, which meant eligibility for the royal succession, and true bone, until the former was extinguished.

There also were several lower ranks of aristocracy under the empire, similar to those in China, with ranks descending generationally, by one degree with each succeeding heir to a title, with the exception of Gun and Kong. These were the seven main grades, with tentative Western equivalents, in descending order:

  • Gun Prince (see above).
  • Gong Duke. This was the title given to the Progenitor of the major branches of a clan.
  • Champan Marquis.
  • Poguk Count.
  • Panseo Viscount.
  • Chamise Baron.
  • Chusa somewhat similar to the British Baronet.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ 이도학, 백제사 (History of Baekje), 2005, ISBN : 89-89899-57-5
  2. ^ 도수희, 백제왕칭어에 대하여: 어라하 , 건길지 , 구드래 , 구다라를 중심으로 (About the title of Baekje's ruler: Eoraha, Keongilji, Kudeurae and Kudara), 한국언어문학, 11, 244-247 (1973)
  3. ^ 도수희, 백제어 연구 II (Study of Bakej Language II, 백제문화개발연구원(1989)
  4. ^ 도수희, 백제어 연구 III (Study of Baekje Language III) (1994), 백제문화개발연구원
  5. ^ 도수희, 존칭의 비(卑)칭화에 대하여 (About an honorific title and a humble name), 한국현대언어학회 특강논문 (1998)

[edit] External links

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