Queen Sinŭi

Queen Sinŭi (Korean: 신의왕후 한씨; Hanja: 神懿王后 韓氏; 6 October 1337 – 25 November 1391),^[a] of the Cheongju Han clan, was the first wife of Yi Sŏnggye (future King Taejo of Joseon). She was the mother of King Jeongjong and King Taejong.

She was firstly given the title of Consort Chŏl (절비; 節妃) in 1393. After her second son (Yi Bang-gwa) became king, she was posthumously honored as Queen Sinŭi (신의왕후; 神懿王后). In 1899, after the founding of the Korean Empire, she was elevated as Sinŭi, the Dignified Empress (신의고황후; 神懿高皇后).^[4]

The future Queen Sinŭi was born during King Chungsuk of Goryeo's 5th year of reign on 6 October 1337.^[5] Born into the Cheongju Han clan, Lady Han was the fifth child within ten siblings to Han Gyeong and his wife, Lady Sin of the Sangnyeong Shin clan.

In some sources, she is noted as a member of the Anbyeon Han clan, which was founded by Han Ryŏn (한련; 韓漣), a ninth-generation descendant of Han Ran (한란; 韓蘭), the progenitor of the Cheongju Han clan.

In 1351, when she was 15 years old, she was arranged to marry Yi Sŏnggye who was two years older than her. She later gave birth to six sons and two daughters from 1354 to the 1370s. While Yi Sŏnggye (later Yi Tan) was traveling through the battlefield, Lady Han took care of the household affairs in his hometown and helped out.

During the Goryeo Dynasty, aristocratic men were allowed two wives; one wife was known as the kyŏngch'ŏ (경처), the capital wife, while the other wife was known as the hyangch'ŏ (향처), the countryside wife. In Kaegyŏng (modern-day Kaeseong), Yi Sŏnggye welcomed Lady Kang, a daughter of Kang Yun-seong, from the noble Goksan Kang clan, as his second (kyŏngch'ŏ) wife in 1370. Lady Kang would later become Queen Hyeon.

In 1388, during the 14th year of King U of Goryeo's reign, Lady Han stayed in Jaebyeok-dong, Pocheon, and fled back to Dongbuk-myeon with her children and remaining family under the guidance of her fifth son Yi Pangwŏn.^[6] This eventually led her to be concerned about the threat of her life and she later passed away on 25 November 1391 at the age of 54. Her tomb is called Chenŭng and is located in present-day Kaesong, North Korea.

A year after Lady Han's death, her husband established the Joseon period; thus having her husband become king and her children become princes and princesses.

During King Taejo's 2nd year of reign in 1393, she was posthumously given the title of Queen Chŏl (절비; 節妃; Chŏlbi; 'Faithful Consort'). In 1398, during the first year of reign of her second eldest son, King Jeongjong, Lady Han was honored as Queen Sinŭi (신의왕후; 神懿王后).

After the death of Queen Hyeon in 1396, Queen Sinŭi's fifth son, Yi Pangwŏn, eventually led a coup d'etat with his wife, Princess Jeongnyeong's encouragement, while King Taejo was in mourning for his second wife. This event led to the deaths of Chŏng Tojŏn and his supporters, as well as the late Queen Sindeok's two sons: Yi Pangbŏn, Grand Prince Muan and Yi Pangsŏk, Grand Prince Uian. This incident became known as the First Strife of Princes.

• Father: Han Kyŏng, Internal Prince Ancheon (한경 안천부원군; 韓卿 安川府院君; 1300–?)
• Mother: Grand Lady of Samhan State of the Sangnyeong Shin clan (삼한국대부인 삭녕 신씨; 三韓國大夫人 朔寧 申氏; 1303–?)
• Sibling(s):
  • Older sister: Lady Han of the Cheongju Han clan (한씨; 韓氏; 1322–?)
  • Older sister: Lady Han of the Cheongju Han clan (한씨; 韓氏; 1326–?)
  • Older sister: Lady Han of the Cheongju Han clan (한씨; 韓氏; 1328–?)
  • Older sister: Lady Han of the Cheongju Han clan (한씨; 韓氏; 1330–?)
  • Brother: Han Sŏnggi, Prince Ansan (안산군 한성기; 安山君 韓成己)
  • Brother: Han Kŏm, Duke Yangjŏng, Prince Ancheon (양정공 안천군 한검; 良精公 安川君 韓劍)
  • Brother: Han Ch'angsu, Duke Yangjŏng, Prince Anwŏn (양정공 안원군 한창수)
  • Brother: Han Kŭmgang (한금강; 韓金剛)
  • Brother: Han Yungjŏn (한융전; 韓隆田)
• Husband: Yi Sŏnggye, King Taejo of Joseon (조선 태조 이성계; 27 October 1335 – 18 June 1408)
  • Father-in-law: King Hwanjo of Joseon (환조대왕; 20 January 1315 – 3 June 1361)
  • Mother-in-law: Queen Uihye of the Yeongheung Choe clan (의혜왕후 최씨; 1304–?)

Issue(s):

• Son: Yi Pangu, Grand Prince Chinan (진안대군 이방우; 1354 – 15 January 1394)
• Son: Yi Panggwa, Grand Prince Yŏngan (영안대군 이방과; 18 July 1357 – 15 October 1419)
• Son: Yi Pangŭi, Grand Prince Igan (익안대군 이방의; 1360 – 26 September 1404)
• Daughter: Princess Kyŏngsin (경신공주; 1362 – 29 April 1426)
• Son: Yi Panggan, Grand Prince Hoean (회안대군 이방간; 2 July 1364 – 10 April 1421)
• Son: Yi Pangwŏn, Grand Prince Chŏngan (정안대군 이방원; 13 June 1367 – 30 May 1422)
• Son: Yi Pangyŏn, Grand Prince Tŏgan (덕안대군 이방연; 1370–1385)
• Daughter: Princess Kyŏngsŏn (경선공주; 1372–?)

• Portrayed by Tae Hyun-shil in the 1983 KBS TV series Foundation of the Kingdom.
• Portrayed by Kim So-won in the 1983 MBC TV series The King of Chudong Palace.
• Portrayed by Han Young-Sook in the 1996 KBS TV series Tears of the Dragon.
• Portrayed by Lee Duk-hee in the 2021 KBS1 TV series The King of Tears, Lee Bang-won.