During theJoseon period, royal titles and styles (forms of address) had been extensive and complex. The general title of the monarch was king (왕;王;wang) untilGojong crowned himself emperor (황제;皇帝;hwangje), a title that was only allowed forChinese emperors.[1] Official titles came with official forms of address, depending on who the addressee was and by whom they were addressed.
When a prince became king, he was addressed as such, personal names were not used. After the death of a king, he was given several names. One is thetemple name (묘호;廟號;myoho), which was given when thespirit tablet was placed at theJongmyo Shrine. This is the name by which historians usually refer to Joseon kings. Themyoho could end in eitherjo (조;祖;lit. 'progenitor') orjong (종;宗;lit. 'ancestor'). The preceding syllable was an adjective suitable for the king. The other name was theposthumous name (시호;諡號;siho). This is a longer name, made up of adjectives characteristic of the king's rule.[2][3][4] For example,King Gyeongjong's posthumous name was King Deokmun Ikmu Sunin Seonhyo the Great (덕문익무순인선효대왕;德文翼武純仁宣孝大王), while his temple name was Gyeongjong (경종;景宗).
Forms of address were combined with names, titles or both, for example:
| Title | Forms of address | Explanation | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| English | Revised Romanization | Hangul | Hanja | RR | Hangul | Hanja | Rank | |
| Monarch | ||||||||
| King | Wang[5] Jusang[6] Imgeum[5] Narannim[7] Gugwang[8] Geumsang[9] Sanggam[10] Daejeon[11] Gwain[12] Jewang | 왕 주상 임금 나랏님 국왕 금상 상감 대전 과인 제왕 | 王 主上 — — 國王 今上 上監 大田 寡人 帝王 | Jeonha Mama | 전하 마마 | 殿下 媽媽 | None | Currentmonarch; he was addressed in different ways depending on the speaker and the situation |
| King Emeritus | Sangwang | 상왕[13] | 上王 | Jeonha | 전하 | 殿下 | None | Living king who has voluntarily abdicated in favor of the current king |
| Grand King Emeritus | Taesangwang | 태상왕[14] | 太上王 | Jeonha | 전하 | 殿下 | None | An abdicated king whose relinquishment of power precedes that of another king emeritus |
| Great Late King | Seondaewang | 선대왕[15] | 先大王 | Mama | 마마 | 媽媽 | None | Deceased king |
| Late King | Seonwang | 선왕 | 大王 | Mama | 마마 | 媽媽 | None | |
| Great King | Daewang | 대왕[16] | 大王 | Mama | 마마 | 媽媽 | None | |
| Main consort of a monarch | ||||||||
| Queen | Wangbi Jungjeon Gungmo Naejeon | 왕비[17] 중전[18] 국모 내전 | 王妃 中殿 國母 內殿 | Mama | 마마 | 媽媽 | None | Main consort of a current king |
| Queen Emerita | Sangwangbi | 상왕비 | 上王妃 | Mama | 마마 | 媽媽 | None | Main consort of a king emeritus |
| Grand Queen Emerita | Taesangwangbi | 태상왕비[14] | 太上王妃 | Mama | 마마 | 媽媽 | None | Main consort of a grand king emeritus |
| Queen Dowager | Daebi | 대비[19] | 大妃 | Mama | 마마 | 媽媽 | None | Used to be the short form ofwangdaebi, but later became a lower rank; main consort of a deceased king who lived through a subsequent reign |
| Royal Queen Dowager | Wangdaebi Jajeon Jaseon | 왕대비[20] 자전 자선 | 王大妃 慈殿 慈聖 | Mama | 마마 | 媽媽 | None | Used to be the long form ofdaebi, but later became a higher rank; main consort of a deceased king who lived through two subsequent reigns |
| Great Royal Queen Dowager | Daewangdaebi | 대왕대비[21] | 大王大妃 | Mama | 마마 | 媽媽 | None | Main consort of a deceased king who lived through at least two subsequent reigns |
| Queen | Wanghu | 왕후[22] | 王后 | Mama | 마마 | 媽媽 | None | Deceased queen |
| Parents and parents-in-law of a monarch | ||||||||
| Grand Internal Prince | Daewongun | 대원군[23] | 大院君 | Daegam | 대감 | 大監 | None | Father of a king who has never been king himself |
| Grand Internal Princess Consort | Budaebuin | 부대부인[24] | 府大夫人 | Manim | 마님 | — | Senior 1 (정1품) | Wife of a grand internal prince and / or mother of a king |
| Internal Prince | Buwongun | 부원군[25] | 府院君 | Daegam | 대감 | 大監 | None | Father of a queen |
| Internal Princess Consort | Bubuin | 부부인 | 府夫人 | Manim | 마님 | — | Senior 1 (정1품) | Wife of an internal prince and / or mother of a queen |
| Monarch's male descendant and their main consorts | ||||||||
| Prince Royal | Wonja | 원자[26] | 元子 | Agissi | 아기씨 | — | None | Eldest son of a king before being appointed as heir to the throne |
| Crown Prince | Wangseja Seja Donggung Gukbon | 왕세자[27] 세자[27] 동궁[28] 국본 | 王世子 世子 東宮 國本 | Jeoha Mama | 저하 마마 | 邸下 媽媽 | None | Son of a king who has been appointed as heir to the throne |
| Crown Princess | Wangsejabin Sejabin Bingung | 왕세자빈[29] 세자빈[29] 빈궁[30] | 王世子嬪 世子嬪 嬪宮 | Manora Jaga | 마노라 자가 | — 自家 | None | Main consort of a king's son who has been appointed as heir to the throne |
| Crown Prince | Wangseje Seje Donggung Gukbon | 왕세제[31] 세제 동궁 국본 | 王世弟 世弟 東宮 國本 | Jeoha Mama | 저하 마마 | 邸下 媽媽 | None | Brother of a king who has been appointed as heir to the throne |
| Crown Princess | Wangsejebin Sejebin Bingung | 왕세제빈 세제빈 빈궁 | 王世弟嬪 世弟嬪 嬪宮 | Manora Jaga | 마노라 자가 | — 自家 | None | Main consort of a king's brother who has been appointed as heir to the throne |
| Grand Heir | Wangseson | 왕세손[32] | 王世孫 | Gakha Hapa | 각하 합하 | 閤下 | None | Eldest son of a crown prince |
| Grand Heiress Consort | Wangsesonbin | 왕세손빈 | 王世孫嬪 | Jaga | 자가 | 自家 | None | Main consort of a crown prince's eldest son |
| Grand Prince | Wangja Daegun | 왕자 대군[33] | 王子 大君 | Agissi Jaga Daegam | 아기씨 자가 대감 | — 自家 大監 | None | Son of a king by his main consort |
| Grand Princess Consort | Bubuin | 부부인[34] | 府夫人 | Manim | 마님 | — | Senior 1 (정1품) | Wife of a grand prince |
| Royal Prince | Wangja Gun | 왕자 군[35] | 王子 君 | Agissi Jaga Daegam | 아기씨 자가 대감 | — 自家 大監 | None | Son of a king by a concubine |
| Royal Princess Consort | Gunbuin | 군부인[36] | 郡夫人 | Manim | 마님 | — | Senior 1 (정1품) | Wife of a royal prince |
| Prince | Gun | 군 | 君 | — | — | — | Junior 1 (종1품) | Eldest son of a grand prince |
| Princess Consort | Gunbuin | 군부인 | 郡夫人 | — | — | — | Junior 1 (종1품) | Wife of a grand prince's eldest son |
| Prince | Gun | 군 | 君 | — | — | — | Senior 2 (정2품) | Other sons of a crown prince, eldest grandson of a grand prince, eldest son of a royal prince |
| Princess Consort | Hyeonbuin | 현부인 | 賢夫人 | — | — | — | Senior 2 (정2품) | Wife of a prince of the senior second rank |
| Prince | Gun | 군 | 君 | — | — | — | Junior 2 (종2품) | Grandsons of a crown prince, other sons and eldest great-grandson of a grand prince, eldest grandson of a royal prince |
| Princess Consort | Hyeonbuin | 현부인 | 賢夫人 | — | — | — | Junior 2 (종2품) | Wife of a prince of the junior second rank |
| — | Jeong | 정 | 正 | — | — | — | Senior 3 (정3품) | Great-grandsons of a crown prince, other grandsons of a grand prince, other sons and eldest great-grandson of a royal prince |
| Cautious Lady | Sinin | 신인 | 慎人 | — | — | — | Senior 3 (정3품) | Wife of ajeong |
| — | Bujeong | 부정 | 副正 | — | — | — | Junior 3 (종3품) | Great-grandsons of a grand prince, other grandsons of a royal prince |
| Cautious Lady | Sinin | 신인 | 慎人 | — | — | — | Junior 3 (종3품) | Wife of abujeong |
| — | Su | 수 | 守 | — | — | — | Senior 4 (정4품) | Great-grandsons of a royal prince, sons of a grand prince by acommoner |
| Benovelent Lady | Hyein | 혜인 | 惠人 | — | — | — | Senior 4 (정4품) | Wife of asu |
| — | Busu | 부수 | 副守 | — | — | — | Junior 4 (종4품) | Sons of a grand prince by alowborn, sons of a royal prince by a commoner |
| Benovelent Lady | Hyein | 혜인 | 惠人 | — | — | — | Junior 4 (종4품) | Wife of abusu |
| — | Yeong | 영 | 令 | — | — | — | Senior 5 (정5품) | Sons of a royal prince by a lowborn |
| Lady | Onin | 온인 | 溫人 | — | — | — | Senior 5 (정5품) | Wife of ayeong |
| Monarch's female descendants and their consorts | ||||||||
| RoyalPrincess | Wangnyeo Gongju | 왕녀 공주[37] | 王女 公主 | Agissi Jaga | 아기씨 자가 | — 自家 | None | Daughter of a king by his main consort |
| Prince Consort | Uibin | 의빈 | 儀賓 | Buma | 부마 | 駙馬 | Junior 1 (종1품) | Son-in-law of a king; husband of a royal princess |
| Princess | Wangnyeo Ongju | 왕녀 옹주[38] | 王女 翁主 | Agissi Jaga | 아기씨 자가 | — 自家 | None | Daughter of a king by a concubine |
| Prince Consort | Seungbin | 승빈 | 承賓 | Buma | 부마 | 駙馬 | Junior 2 (종2품) | Son-in-law of a king; husband of a princess |
| Commandery Princess | Gunju | 군주 | 郡主 | Agissi Jaga | 아기씨 자가 | — 自家 | Senior 2 (정2품) | Daughter of a crown prince by his main consort |
| Prince Consort | Bubin | 부빈 | 副賓 | Buma | 부마 | 駙馬 | Senior 3 (정3품) | Husband of a commandery princess |
| County Princess | Hyeonju | 현주 | 縣主 | Agissi Jaga | 아기씨 자가 | — 自家 | Senior 3 (정3품) | Daughter of a crown prince by a concubine |
| Prince Consort | Cheombin | 첨빈 | 僉賓 | Buma | 부마 | 駙馬 | Junior 3 (종3품) | Husband of a county princess |
Each royal consort in theinner palace (후궁;後宮;hugung) had a certain rank, according to which their titles and forms of address were formulated.[citation needed]
| English | Hangul | Hanja | Revised Romanization | McCune–Reischauer | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monarch | |||||
| Concubine | 빈 | 嬪 | Bin[39] | Pin | senior 1 (정1품) |
| Noble Lady | 귀인 | 貴人 | Gwiin | Kwiin | junior 1 (종1품) |
| Lady of Bright Deportment | 소의 | 昭儀 | Soui | Soŭi | senior 2 (정2품) |
| Lady of Warm Ceremony | 숙의 | 淑儀 | Sugui | Sukŭi | junior 2 (종2품) |
| Lady of Bright Countenance | 소용 | 昭容 | Soyong | Soyong | senior 3 (정3품) |
| Lady of Warm Countenance | 숙용 | 淑容 | Sugyong | Sukyong | junior 3 (종3품) |
| Lady of Bright Beauty | 소원 | 昭媛 | Sowon | Sowŏn | senior 4 (정4품) |
| Lady of Warm Beauty | 숙원 | 淑媛 | Sugwon | Sukwŏn | junior 4 (종4품) |
| Crown prince[40] | |||||
| Lady of Excellence | 양제 | 良娣 | Yangje | Yangje | junior 2 (종2품) |
| Lady of Beauty | 양원 | 良媛 | Yangwon | Yangwŏn | junior 3 (종3품) |
| Lady of Inherent Excellence | 승휘 | 承徽 | Seunghwi | Sŭnghwi | junior 4 (종4품) |
| Lady of Clear Instruction | 소훈 | 昭訓 | Sohun | Sohun | junior 5 (종5품) |
| Hangul | Hanja | Revised Romanization | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Court ladies (궁녀;gungnyeo)[41] | |||
| 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 | Jeonui | |
| 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 | Jeonsik | |
| 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 (내시;naesi)[42] | |||
| 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) |
| English | Hangul | Hanja | Revised Romanization | Rank | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oemyeongbu (외명부) | |||||
| Honorable and Respectful Madame | 정경부인 | 貞敬夫人 | Jeonggyeongbuin | 1st (1품) | Wife of a senior and junior 1st rank official |
| Honorable Madame | 정부인 | 貞夫人 | Jeongbuin | 2nd (2품) | Wife of a senior and junior 2nd rank official |
| Virtuous Madame | 숙부인 | 淑夫人 | Sukbuin | 3rd (3품) | Wife of a senior 3rd rank official |
| Virtuous Lady | 숙인 | 淑人 | Sugin | Wife of a junior 3rd rank official | |
| Clever Lady | 영인 | 伶人 | Yeongin | 4th (4품) | Wife of a senior and junior 4th rank official |
| Courteous Lady | 공인 | 恭人 | Gongin | 5th (5품) | Wife of a senior and junior 5th rank official |
| Proper Lady | 의인 | 宜人 | Uiin | 6th (6품) | Wife of a senior and junior 6th rank official |
| Peaceful Lady | 안인 | 安人 | Anin | 7th (7품) | Wife of a senior and junior 7th rank official |
| Regular Lady | 단인 | 端人 | Danin | 8th (8품) | Wife of a senior and junior 8th rank official |
| Junior Lady | 유인 | 孺人 | Yuin | 9th (9품) | Wife of a senior and junior 9th rank official |
