Why do the Korean Joseon kings have the title JO or JONG?

Have you noticed that all the 27 Korean Joseon kings (except two) have the title  Jo or Jong? JONG is by far the most popular title with 18 kings using it. Only 7 of the kings have names ending in JO. And then to add to the mystery, there are two kings with names ending in ‘GUN’.

We can see this with a quick review of all the kings:

Taejo, Jeongjong, Taejong, Sejong, Munjong, Danjong, Sejo, Yejong, Seongjong,Yeonsangun, Jungjong, Injong, Myeongjong, Seonjo, Gwanghaegun, Injo, Hyojong, Hyeonjong, Sukjong, Gyeongjong, Yeongjo, Jeongjo, Sunjo, Hyeongjong, Cheoljong, Gojong, Sunjong

These titles are known as the posthumous temple names. In fact, the king needed several names during his reign and after his death. But the two most commonly known names for the king was the birth name and posthumous temple name.

In this post I will take a brief look at the use of the king’s birth name and then focus on the meanings behind the temple names (JO or JONG).

related posts:

Chart of Joseon kings and related historical dramas

Overview of the Joseon kings 

So why do some Joseon Kings have the title Jo and others Jong? 

Best selling author Sul Min Suk reveals all in this Korean history lecture. (조선왕조실록 Korean). Here’s what I learned.

The king’s birth name 諱휘

First of all, there was the birth name. The Joseon dynasty was the Yi family, so all the kings had the surname Yi. And of course they each had a first name too. For instance, King Sejong’s first name was Do. So his birth name was Yi Do.

The king was usually addressed simply as ‘Your Majesty‘ Jeon-ha. He was never addressed by his birth name. That’s because the king’s name was sacred. While he was on the throne, it was forbidden for the people to say the king’s name out loud. Even writing the hanja character was a no-no. Essentially, it was an ‘unsayable’ name. And breaking the rule was punishable by exile.

However, I noticed that in the drama Deep Rooted Tree (SBS 2011) King Sejong’s father, King Taejong, calls him YI DO. But this was an unusual situation. King Taejong abdicated so there were two living kings. Perhaps that’s why.

Why did the king only have one first name?

A noteworthy point is that the king only had one first name. Most Korean first names are made up of two hanja characters. But since the king’s name was an ‘unsayable name,’ this could cause problems in day-to-day life.

So the king only had one first name. And furthermore, it had to be an unusual name. A word that wouldn’t come up in everyday conversation. Because even out of context the word was taboo!

Let’s imagine that the king’s name was, say, ‘flower‘. Then the people wouldn’t be allowed to say ‘flower’ anymore. They’d have to say something like, ‘oh that’s a beautiful, um, pink thing‘. Nightmare.

JO or JONG: The king’s temple name 廟號 묘호

The name that we are most familiar with is the king’s temple name. This was given to him after he died. Hence the fact that we NEVER hear anyone address the king by his temple name in historical dramas!

It was the posthumous name chosen to honour the king. And there were two choices JO vs JONG.

JO & JONG

Originally, the choice of JO or JONG was easy. The founder of a new dynasty had the title JO, his successors were JONG.

In a perfect world, the Joseon dynasty would have ONE king with the title JO – the founding King Taejo. All the following kings would be first sons and given the title JONG.

But the successor had to be in direct line to the throne. Ideally, he would be the first son of the king and queen (not concubine). But this was not always possible. Kings died young without sons. Politics and power intervened. And there was tragedy too – see Prince Sado and the rice chest. So sometimes brothers, nephews, and grandsons became the successor. But they were still in direct line to the throne and were entitled to the name JONG.

the kings who started a new family line were given the title JO

As the FOUNDER and first king of the new  dynasty, King TAEJO (r.1392-1398) is a JO. But King SEJO (r.1455-1468) is a JO because he usurped the throne from his nephew in a coup changing the Yi family line. INJO  (r.1623-1649) also became King after a coup.

So three kings were not in direct line to the throne, changed the family line, and have the title JO.

However, there are seven Joseon kings with the title JO…

title JO becomes prestigious

The rule of succession and title was followed for the temple names of the first 13 kings. But then the title JO started to become more prestigious.

This was because JO suggested that the king had made a great achievement by establishing a new dynasty. And then his descendants were supposed to be named JONG. So in a way, the title JO could be considered superior to JONG.

And from now on this was the case. JO was seen as a more elite title to JONG. So their supporters lobbied to give the kings the title of JO. It started with King SEONJO (r.1567-1608). YEONGJO  (r. 1724-1776) JEONGJO  (r.1776-1800) and SUNJO  (r.1800-1834) followed.

So by the end of the dynasty, three kings had changed the Yi family line and four kings had their titles changed from JONG to JO.

GUN

Let’s not forget the two kings who are not JO or JONG.

Yeonsangun and Gwanghaegun have the title ‘Gun’. This was the title for a prince not a king. That’s because these two rulers were deposed (for different reasons, more about that later) and so they both lost the right to a posthumous temple name. Consequently, they have the lower title of Gun.

Let’s take a closer look at each individual king.

List of Joseon Kings and their posthumous temple name

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(1) 태조 TAEJO (r.1392-1398)

the FIRST king of Joseon (name: Yi Seong-gye)

Traditionally, the FOUNDER of a new dynasty was named Taejo. The first king of Goryeo (the previous dynasty) was also called Taejo.

(2) 정종 JEONGJONG  (r.1398-1400)

2nd SON of King Taejo (name: Yi Bang-gwa)

didn’t last long and quickly abdicated to let his fierce brother Yi Bang-won take the throne!

(3) 태종 TAEJONG  (r.1400-1418)

5th SON of King Taejo (name: Yi Bang-won)

a strong but ruthless ruler

(4) 세종 SEJONG the Great  (r.1418-1450)

3rd SON of King Taejong (name: Yi Do)

the most famous Joseon king who promulgated Hangul

(5) 문종 MUNJONG (r.1450-1452)

SON of King Sejong (name: Yi Hyang)

died of illness after two years

OK STOP! Get ready for a coup…

(6) 단종 DANJONG  (r.1452-1455)

SON of King Munjong (name: Yi Hong-wi)

uncle Yi Yu (a.k.a Grand Prince Suyang) usurped the throne in a coup!

see the chart of Joseon kings and related historical dramas 

(7) 세조 SEJO (r.1455-1468)

SON of King Sejong (name: Yi Yu)

 Although he was the son of a king, he was not next in line to the throne. Actually  he usurped the throne from his nephew King Danjong so his title is JO. 

(8) 예종 YEJONG,  (r.1468-1469)

2nd SON of King Sejo (name: Yi Gwang)

became crown prince after his elder brother Crown Prince Uigyeong died

(9) 성종 SEONGJONG (r.1469-1494)

grandson of King Sejo (name: Yi Hyeol)

son of Crown Prince Uigyeong who died 

(10) 연산군 YEONSANGUN  (r.1494-1506)

SON of King Seongjong (name: Yi Yung)

a tyrant king who was not given a king’s title after his death so he remains ‘gun’ – prince. But as the son of Seongjong he would have had the title JONG.  

(11) 중종 JUNGJONG  (r.1506-1544)

half-brother of yeonsangun and son of King Seongjong (name: Yi Yeok)

became king after yeonsangun was deposed (he was son of King Seongjong so in line to throne)

(12) 인종 INJONG  (r.1544-1545)

SON of King Jungjong  (name: Yi Ho)

possibly poisoned so that his half-brother could take the throne

(13) 명종 MYEONGJONG  (r.1545-1567)

2nd son of King Jungjong (name: Yi Hwan)

became king at age 12 so Queen Munjeong ruled in his name

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STOP again!

now we find reason number 2 for the use of JO and JONG!

The ending JO was given to the founder of the dynasty – Taejo – for great achievements establishing a new dynasty. And then his descendants were supposed to be named JONG. So in a way, the title JO could be considered superior to JONG. And from now on this was the case. JO was seen as a more elite title to JONG. It started with King Seonjo…

(14) 선조 SEONJO  (r.1567-1608)

half-nephew of King Myeongjong (name: Yi Yeon)

Seonjo’s original temple name was Seonjong. But later, his son Gwanghaegun had it changed from Seonjong to Seonjo. Gwanghaegun thought the title JO was superior to JONG. And since his father had ruled the country through the difficult years of Imjin invasions from Japan, Gwanghaegun wanted his efforts recognised. So his father’s name was changed.

King Seonjo was also the first Joseon king whose mother was a concubine and not the Queen.

And he had a complex about this.

Princes (and princesses) had different titles depending on whether they were children of queens or concubines. Sons of queens were called ‘Dae-gun’ (big prince) whilst sons of concubines were just called Gun (prince). Rude.

Poor old Seonjo – as a prince he would have had a daily reminder of his lowly status – maybe that’s also why his son Gwanghaegun was so keen to change his father’s title to JO.

Anyway, from that time on, titles ending in JO were considered to be better than JONG. And more posthumous titles were later changed from JONG to JO.

Not all of them though.

Ironically, Gwanghaegun himself was not given a posthumous title AT ALL since he was deposed during political shenanigans.

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(15) 광해 GWANGHAEGUN  (r.1608-1623)

SON of King Seonjo (name: Yi Hon)

an accomplished ruler but due to the political situation ended up deposed in a coup

As King Seonjo’s son, he was eligible for the title JONG. But he remains a prince (GUN) and does not have a posthumous title. His son was the Crown Prince but was also deposed after the coup and the Westerners faction chose a new king… 

Here we are again!

(16) 인조 INJO  (r.1623-1649)

grandson of King Seonjo (name: Yi Jong)

considered a weak ruler through two Manchu invasions

He was not in direct line to the throne but was chosen to be king after a coup.

(17) 효종 HYOJONG (r.1649-1659)

SON of King Injo (name: Yi Ho)

spent time as a captive of the Qing Dynasty

(18) 현종 HYEONJONG  (r. 1659-1674)

SON of King Hyojong (name: Yi Yeon)

reigned through power struggles between political factions Westerners (Seoin) and Southerners (Namin)

see the chart of Joseon kings and related historical dramas 

(19) 숙종 SUKJONG  (r.1674-1720)

SON of King Hyeonjong (name: Yi Sun)

still power struggles between the Westerners and Southerners factions

(20) 경종 GYEONGJONG  (r.1720-1724)

SON of King Sukjong (name: Yi Yun)

weak and misfortunate son of Sukjong’s concubine Hee Bin

Now we have three kings in a row whose names were changed from JONG to JO…

(21) 영조 YEONGJO  (r. 1724-1776)

SON of King Sukjong (name: Yi Geum)

His original posthumous title was Yeongjong but it was changed to Yeongjo at a later date. 

(22) 정조 JEONGJO  (r.1776-1800)

grandson of King Yeongjo (name: Yi San)

considered to be one of the most successful rulers of Joseon. Became Crown Prince after his father was killed. His title was originally Jeongjong but changed to Jeongjo at a later date. 

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(23) 순조 SUNJO  (r.1800-1834)

2nd SON of King Jeongjo (name: Yi Gong)

King Sunjo’s title was originally Sunjong (as he was the son of the previous king) but later it was changed to Sunjo and the ‘superior’ JO.

But as the Joseon dynasty comes to an end, the last kings of the Joseon period are all JONG.  

(24) 헌종 HEONJONG  (r. 1834-1849)

grandson of King Sunjo (name: Yi Hwan)

died young without an heir

(25) 철종 CHEOLJONG  (r.1849-1863)

distant relative of King Yeongjo (name: Yi Byeon)

was adopted by the Dowager Queen so he could take the throne

(26) 고종 GOJONG  (r.1863-1897)

adopted son (name: Yi Myeong-bok)

(27) 순종 EMPEROR SUNJONG  (r.1897-1910)

The last Emperor of the Joseon period  (name: Yi Cheok)

***

Read more about how people address each other in historical dramas.

So now we know all about the JO and JONG kings. Phew! I can sleep at night now. 😉