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Real events & facts about Joseon and Goryeo

DOUSHKA

The king Taejong (Yi Bang Won) ruled from 1400 to 1418. He played an important role as he established and solidified the foundation of the Joseon Dynasty. 

The king’s father : Taejo (Yi Seong Gye) was the founder of the Joseon Dynasty. He ruled from 1392 to 1398. Initially, his son Bang Won was his most capable supporter. But once Joseon was founded, tensions arose between the two. 

Yi Bang Won believed he deserved the crown prince title because of how much he contributed to the establishment of the Joseon Dynasty.  But Yi Seong-gye favored other sons from his second wife (Queen Sindeok). This led to resentment and eventually conflict.

The First Strife of Princes (1398):  Yi Bang-won staged a coup, killing his half-brothers Yi Bang-seok and Yi Bang-beon ( Queen Sindeok’s sons). 

Yi Seong-gye was deeply affected by the violence and abdicated the throne in 1398 in favor of his second son, Yi Bang-gwa (King Jeongjong). (Ep 4 where the King’s brother says he’s not the king anymore and his followers should stop plotting…) 

 Yi Bang-won eventually forced his brother to abdicate in 1400 and ascended the throne as King Taejong.

—-> If you want to know more about the foundation of Joseon, I highly recommend watching Six Flying Dragons. It teaches a lot for those who have no access to books or sources in English and don’t understand Korean. 

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DOUSHKA

1. Taejo (Yi Seong Gye) : a famous General. 1 st king of Joseon, founder of the dynasty. 

2. Jeongjong (Yi Bang Wa) : 2nd king of Joseon. his father abdicated the throne in his favor after the strife of Princes. Ruled for 2 years. 

3. Taejong (Yi Bang Won) : 3rd king of Joseon. Took the throne after forcing his older brother to abdicate. Strengthened Joseon’s foundation. (He’s the King in this show).

And the following might be spoilers for those who didn’t know about the history of Joseon: 


4. King Sejong the Great (Yi Do): he’s the 4th king of Joseon. He’s the son of King Taejong and Queen Wongyeong (the Queen  this show is based on). 

He ruled from 1418 to 1450. He’s regarded as one of Korea’s greatest monarchs. He’s know for his contributions in the advancement of science, technology and gouvernance but most importantly : he’s the one who created the Hangul (Korean alphabet used to this day). 

I find this fact truly fascinating 😁

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DOUSHKA

Queen Wongyeong:

She was from the prominent Min clan of Yeoheung and the wife of King Taejong (Yi Bang-won).

She played a significant role in politics during Taejong’s reign, though her relationship with her husband was sometimes strained due to political power struggles involving her family, the Min clan. Despite this, she was the mother of several influential children, including King Sejong, who became one of the most celebrated kings in Korean history.

Queen Wongyeong was deeply involved in palace politics, often advocating for the interests of her family. This led to friction with King Taejong, who sought to consolidate royal authority and diminish the influence of powerful clans, including the Mins.

In 1416, King Taejong executed several members of the Min clan, including Queen Wongyeong’s brothers, accusing them of conspiracy. This strained their marriage and deeply affected the queen.

Queen Wongyeong was the mother of King Sejong the Great and played a critical role in his early life. Her intelligence and influence likely shaped Sejong’s development as a thoughtful and capable ruler.

She had eight children, including Sejong, and her lineage continued to play a prominent role in Joseon’s history

Queen Wongyeong passed away in 1420, two years after Sejong ascended the throne. She was buried alongside King Taejong.

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DOUSHKA

Women’s rights:

1. Family & Marriage

Goryeo Period: Women retained their own family names after marriage and had inheritance rights. They often maintained strong ties to their natal families, and matrilocal marriages (where the husband lived with the wife’s family) were common, especially early in the period.

Joseon Period: With the influence of Neo-Confucianism, patriarchal family systems became dominant. Women lost many inheritance rights, and patrilineal descent was emphasized. The practice of strict male primogeniture (favoring firstborn sons for inheritance) became standard.


2. Property rights


Goryeo Period: Women could own, inherit, and manage property. Daughters had equal inheritance rights as sons, especially in the early Goryeo period.

Joseon Period: Women’s property rights were drastically reduced. Inheritance largely favored male heirs, and women’s property was often absorbed into the husband’s family

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DOUSHKA

3. Social Participation

Goryeo Period: Women participated more actively in society. They could hold court positions, contribute to cultural activities, and were more visible in public life. Royal women, in particular, played significant political roles.

Joseon Period: Confucian ideology confined women to the domestic sphere. The ideal of “naebang” (inner room) restricted women’s movements and roles to managing the household.


4. Remarriage and Widowhood

Goryeo Period: Remarriage for widows was socially acceptable. There was little stigma attached to starting a new family after the death of a spouse.

Joseon Period: Widows were discouraged or even prohibited from remarrying, especially among the yangban (aristocratic) class. Chastity was highly idealized, and widows were often pressured to remain unmarried for life.

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DOUSHKA

5. Education

Goryeo Period: Education for women, especially among the elite, was not as rigidly gendered. Royal and aristocratic women were often literate and had access to education, as knowledge was valued for managing family affairs and even influencing political matters.

Joseon Period: Education for women became centered on Confucian ideals, focusing on domestic skills and moral virtues. Women were expected to learn texts like the Samgang Haengsil-do (Three Bonds and Five Relationships) and the Naehun (Instruction for Women), which emphasized chastity, obedience, and loyalty.

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DOUSHKA

6. Clothing

Goryeo Period: Women had more freedom in clothing styles. Aristocratic women wore luxurious and colorful clothing, and hairstyles were elaborate. There was less societal pressure on modesty in clothing compared to later periods.

Joseon Period: Modesty became a key aspect of women’s attire. The jeogori (upper garment) became shorter, and layered clothing emphasized modesty and conformity. Strict dress codes regulated attire based on social status, and elaborate adornments were discouraged for commoners.

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DOUSHKA

7. Sexual Autonomy

Goryeo Period: Sexual relations were less strictly regulated, and women generally had more autonomy over their personal lives. Concubinage existed but was less emphasized as a formal institution.

Joseon Period: Women’s sexual autonomy was greatly restricted. Chastity became a highly praised virtue, and any deviation from it, especially among yangban women, led to severe social consequences. Concubinage was institutionalized, often marginalizing legitimate wives.

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Shin

Thank you for your interesting info!

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Angel22400

Thank you for this information. I am just about to start the drama and this information really helps me understand the characters and know what to expect.

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LucyL
 DOUSHKA:
The king Taejong (Yi Bang Won) ruled from 1400 to 1418. He played an important role as he established and solidified the foundation of the Joseon Dynasty

Based on everything you've so graciously provided, how close to history is the drama following? Is it more fictional than historical?

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DOUSHKA
 LucyL:

Based on everything you've so graciously provided, how close to history is the drama following? Is it more fictional than historical? 

I’d say it’s following the main points/events but ofc the relationship between the King and Queen and the King’s father (Taejo)  is fictional. Meaning,  we don’t know what exactly happened between these 3 during their private interactions. Also the King’s father was just living quietly till his death after his son (Bang Won) took the throne. He didn’t try to kill his son like in the TV show.  However, he did resent his son and blamed him. 

As for Taejong (Bang Won), his personality is ofc fictional in the Drama, however his struggle to solidify his power and his willingness to go against his own wife and her family in his attempts to do so are quite accurate I’d say. Because that indeed happened in real life. He killed her brothers and so on. Her family was very powerful even before he married into her family. Her family was influential even in Goryeo. 

As for the Queen herself, I don’t know how accurately she’s portrayed. Was she indeed so in love and torn between the King and her family? Or was she just loyal to her family? Or to the King? Was she a strong and brave woman like in the Drama? Would she have stayed with him had she the choice to leave him? Would she have given him 12 kids had she had the opportunity to leave? I don’t know. 

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movietourist313

Wow thanks for all the information! I had just finished Six Flying Dragons so the story here is still quite understandable, but it definitely helps seeing it all written out. Especially thanks for all the background information of Goryeo and Joseon!

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DOUSHKA

Y’all are welcome ☺️ Glad it was useful!

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