Taejong's love story

Who is Taejong?

Taejong was the third king of Joseon and the fifth son of Yi Seong-gye. Before becoming king, Taejong's name was Lee Bang-won. Lee Bang-won liked to sit down and study more than martial arts. He learned of Chung Mong-ju's strategy of slandering his father Lee Seong-gye by gathering troops. So he made a great contribution to the elimination of Chung Mong-ju and the Joseon Dynasty. However, Lee Seong-gye did not like Lee Bang-won's choice, and Lee Bang-won did not become a crown prince.

After that, Yi Bang-won made a plan to become a king. Yi Bang-won joined forces with those who wanted him to be king and removed both his brothers, the Crown Prince and the Crown Prince. Yi Bang-won became a crown prince and king with the help of his brother King Jeongjong. Jeongjong and Lee Bang-won contributed to the country by participating together and defeating Japanese pirates.

Lee Bang-won was worried that there would be a force that did not want him even after King Tae-jong and King. So he was wary of and purged of his subjects who he thought would pose a threat to him. As a result, Taejong became the most powerful king in history. On the other hand, he is considered the cruelest king.

Some people say that King Taejong's powerful exercise of royal authority allowed his successor King Sejong to make great achievements. Taejong had 12 princes and 17 princesses. There were 12 wives of King Taejong, and the woman whom King Taejong loved the most is known as Shin Bin Shin.

Who is Shinbin?

Originally, Sinbin was a Goryeo person and was an aristocrat, but he was involved in the tyranny of Sindon and collapsed as a commoner. So Shin, who entered the palace to work, becomes a maid of honor for Queen Wonkyung. She was a reliable maid who protected her from the dangers of Queen Wonkyung.

King Taejong and Queen Wonkyung did not get along well. This is because Queen Wonkyung worked hard to help King Taejong become king. However, King Taejong argued that the more princes there are, the more powerful the royal authority becomes. So Taejong had an affair with Kim, the maid of honor of Queen Wonkyung. Queen Wonkyung was angry at the huge betrayal, but Taejong protected Kim.

Queen Wonkyung and King Taejong kept their distance, and King Taejong approached the queen's court lady (God). However, Queen Won-kyung did not get too angry.

Queen Wonkyung is said to have asked Shinbin when King Taejong was having a hard time. She was named "Shinbin" by the king, and later became Sinnyeonggungju. When Queen Won-kyung passed away, Shin Bin became the manager of the palace's women. The fact that the concubine became a caretaker and led well means that he had a good reputation. Shinbin is said to have lived alone with Taejong's death and shaved head. And when Sejong was sick, Shinbin cared for Sejong with great care. Sinbin was wise and merciful and loved by the people in the palace.

The man who rejected the princess was punished by Taejong.

Taejong recognizes his son-in-law to marry Shinbin's first daughter (spiritual princess). A fortune teller who went around looking for the perfect princess's groom under the king's direction arrives in Gangwon-do. He finds Lee Seok in Gangwon-do and buries his son's property.

But Lee Seok wouldn't send my son to a princess who wasn't the queen's daughter. He told the fortune teller that he would marry the princess if she was adopted as the queen's daughter. King Taejong was angry at Lee Seok's words and punished him. He said: "I find this comment very offensive. Lock this up and knock. And let them live in the lowest social class."

And he confiscated his property and enslaved him. And his son was punished for not marrying for life. Such excessive punishment was imposed because of the idea of "How dare you reject my daughter's father when I am there" and "I will underestimate the king's authority if I leave it alone. King Taejong visited the princess' son-in-law again and called Yoon Hyang, a native of a prestigious noble family, and married Yoon Hyang's son. Later, Taejong created a system to select the bride and groom for the royal family. So the royal family made a law to marry the children of the nobility.