Exploring Joseon history through the royal lives and political roles of Joseon queens: The case of the Yeoheung Min clan

Abstract

Confucianism not only played a dominant role throughout the 500-year history of the Joseon dynasty but also became deeply embedded in various cultural, political, and social aspects of the kingdom since its establishment. Compared to the preceding Goryeo dynasty, Confucianism gained dominance during the gradual decline of Buddhism due to the “Respect Confucianism, Suppress Buddhism” policy executed by the Joseon ruling classes. However, over its long history, Joseon Confucianism itself underwent significant changes, which were reflected chronologically through the political and social transformations of the period. In this article, the author seeks to explore the royal life and political roles of Joseon queens from the Yeoheung Min clan (present-day Yeoju city, Gyeonggi-do) to shed light on the development and enforcement of Confucianism. Furthermore, this study proposes an approach to understanding Joseon history through the analysis of several influential individuals, consequently contributing to an empirical method of teaching and researching Korean political history.