Chang Noksu

Chang Noksu
Royal Consort of the Junior Third Rank
Bornc. 1470
Joseon
Died28 September 1506(1506-09-28) (aged 35–36)
Hanseong, Joseon
Consort ofYeonsangun of Joseon
Issue1 daughter
Names
  • Chang Noksu (장녹수; 張綠水)
  • Ranks: Sugwon (숙원; 淑媛; from 1503) → Sugyong (숙용; 淑容; from 1504)
Clan
DynastyYi
FatherChang Hanp'il
Korean name
Hangul
장녹수
Hanja
張綠水
RRJang Noksu
MRChang Noksu

Sugyong Chang (Korean숙용 장씨; Hanja淑容 張氏; c. 1470 – 28 September 1506),[a] of the Heungdeok Chang clan, personal name Chang Noksu, was a consort of Yeonsangun of Joseon. She has often been compared with Jang Ok-jeong and Chŏng Nanjŏng, two other infamous women of the Joseon period. After Yeonsangun was deposed, she was executed by the new ruler, King Jungjong.

Biography

Chang Noksu's father was Chang Hanp'il, a county magistrate who lived in the western part of Chungcheong Province, and her mother was a concubine from the cheonmin social class. Because of this, Chang Noksu lived as a servant of Grand Prince Jean, son of Yejong of Joseon and Queen Ansun. After having a son with Gano (가노; 家奴), another servant of Grand Prince Jean, she learned to sing and dance and became a kisaeng. She was of only ordinary beauty, but had a vibrant and youthful appearance, and possessed an extraordinary talent for music.

One day, Yeonsangun heard her voice and took Chang Noksu into the palace, appointing her as a royal consort of the junior fourth rank (숙원; 淑媛; sugwon) and sending gifts and wealth to her family. Chang Noksu seems to have treated Yeonsangun as a child, but he so favored her that all rulings and punishments were made under her influence. In 1504, she was elevated to the third junior rank (숙용; 淑容; sugyong). Based on the king's favor, her brother-in-law Kim Hyo-son (husband of her sister) was given an official post.

Although Chang Noksu lived in the palace, she demolished her private house to rebuild a new and bigger one. In 1506, a group of officials plotted against the despotic ruler Yeonsangun. He was dethroned and sent into exile. The last moments of Chang Noksu's life were miserable. She was publicly beheaded and people threw rocks at her dead body.

Family

  • Father: Chang Hanp'il (장한필; 張漢弼; 1455–?)
  • Sibling(s)
    • Sister: Chang Poksu (장복수; 張福壽)
      • Brother-in-law: Kim Hyo-son (김효손; 金孝孫)
  • First husband: Kano (가노; 家奴)
    • Unnamed son
  • Second husband: Yeonsangun of Joseon (조선 연산군; 23 November 1476 – 20 November 1506)
    • Yi Yŏngsu (이영수; 1502–?), Yeonsangun's sixth daughter
      • Son-in-law: Kwŏn Han (권한; 權鷴)

Notes

  1. ^ In the Korean calendar, she died on the 2nd day of the 9th lunar month.

References

  1. ^ "The Rebel". MBC Global Media. MBC&iMBC. Retrieved September 9, 2019.
  2. ^ "7일의 왕비 인물관계도". Korean Broadcasting System (in Korean). Retrieved September 9, 2019.
  3. ^ "82024852". Netflix.