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{{Short description|Queen consort of Goguryeo (c. 160–234)}}
{{Infobox royalty
{{Infobox royalty
| name =Queen U
| consort = yes
| image =
| name = Queen U<br />왕후 우씨
| caption =
| image =
| succession =[[Queen consort]] of [[Goguryeo]]
| caption =
| succession = [[Queen consort]] of [[Goguryeo]]
| reign =180–197 (16 years)<br>197/8–227 (30 years)
| reign = 180–197<br />197/8–227
⚫
| succession1 = [[Queen dowager]] of [[Goguryeo]]
| reign-type =Tenure
| reign1 = 227–234
⚫
| succession1 =[[Queen dowager]] of [[Goguryeo]]
| birth_name =
| reign1 =228–234 (6 years)
⚫
| birth_date = {{circa}} 160–5
| regent1 =[[Dongcheon of Goguryeo|Go Uwigeo, King Dongcheon]]
⚫
| birth_place = Jenabu or Yeonnabu, [[Goguryeo]]
| reg-type1 =Monarch
| birth_name =
| death_date = 234
⚫
| death_place = [[Goguryeo]]
⚫
| birth_date =around 160–5
| burial_date =
⚫
| birth_place =Jenabu or Yeonnabu, [[Goguryeo]]
| burial_place =
| death_date =234
⚫
| spouse = [[Gogukcheon of Goguryeo]] (m. 180; d. 197)<br />[[Sansang of Goguryeo]] (m. 197/8; d. 227)
⚫
| death_place =[[Goguryeo]]
| burial_date =
| house = U clan
| burial_place =
| father = U So
⚫
| mother =
⚫
| spouse =[[Gogukcheon of Goguryeo|Go Nammu]] (m. 180)<br>[[Sansang of Goguryeo|Go Yeonu]] (m. 197/8)
⚫
| religion =
| house =U clan (by birth)<br>[[Go dynasty|Go clan]] (by marriage)
| father =U So
⚫
| mother =
⚫
| religion =
}}
}}
'''Queen U''' or romanized as '''Queen Woo''' ([[Hangul]]: 왕후 우씨, [[Hanja]]: 王后 于氏; d. 234), was a [[queen consort]] of [[Goguryeo]] as the wife of [[Gogukcheon of Goguryeo|King Gogukcheon]] (Go Nammu) and later his younger brother, [[Sansang of Goguryeo|King Sansang]] (Go Yeonu) after his death.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://folkency.nfm.go.kr/en/topic/detail/5545|title=King Sansang(山上王) - Folklare|last=Hyun-seol|first=Cho|website=Encyclopedia of Korean Folk Culture|access-date=June 15, 2022|lang=ko}}</ref> She was famous for maintaining her supreme position and power there, which even the king couldn't easily control it. Also, despite her action that is very different from others, she is recognized as an independent-minded woman who successfully lives according to her own desire and gave an example of a [[Levirate marriage|levirate marriage]] custom in Goguryeo.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Pae-yong|first1=Yi|last2=Chan|first2=Ted|date=2008|title=Women in Korean History 한국 역사 속의 여성들|page=122-125|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=p3yW5MdzKnUC&dq=queen+u+goguryeo&pg=PA125|language=ko|location=[[Ewha Womans University]]|publisher=Ewha Womans University Press|isbn=978-8973007721}}</ref> Due to this, she became one of the few women in the past who left a name and lifetime story in Korean history.
'''Queen U''' ({{Korean|hangul=왕후 우씨|hanja=王后 于氏}}; d. 234), sometimes [[Romanization|romanized]] as '''Queen Woo''', was the [[queen consort|queen]] of [[Goguryeo]] as the wife of both [[Gogukcheon of Goguryeo|King Gogukcheon]] (Go Nammu) and later his younger brother [[Sansang of Goguryeo|King Sansang]] (Go Yeonu).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://folkency.nfm.go.kr/en/topic/detail/5545|title=King Sansang(山上王) - Folklare|last=Hyun-seol|first=Cho|website=[[Encyclopedia of Korean Folk Culture]]|access-date=June 15, 2022|language=ko}}</ref> She was famous for maintaining supreme authority. Her second marriage is a well-known example of Goguryeo's [[levirate marriage]] custom.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Pae-yong|first1=Yi|last2=Chan|first2=Ted|date=2008|title=Women in Korean History 한국 역사 속의 여성들|pages=122–125|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=p3yW5MdzKnUC&dq=queen+u+goguryeo&pg=PA125|language=ko|location=[[Ewha Womans University]]|publisher=Ewha Womans University Press|isbn=978-8973007721}}</ref>


==Life==
==Life==
===During King Gogukcheon's reign===
===During King Gogukcheon's reign===
Lady U, as the daughter of U So (우소, 于素) from an unclear region (it might be Jenabu (제나부, 提那部) or Yeonnabu (연나부, 椽那部))<ref>{{cite book|last=Ki-hong|first=Kim|date=2021|title=삼국사기 바로알기 5: 차대왕, 신대왕, 고국천왕|trans-title=Get To Know About History of the Three Kingdoms 5: King Chadae, King Shindae, King Gogukcheon|page=2|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hLNIEAAAQBAJ&dq=%EC%99%95%ED%9B%84+%EC%9A%B0%EC%94%A8&pg=RA3-PA2|language=ko|publisher=ePurple}}</ref> was married to [[Gogukcheon of Goguryeo|Go Nammu, King Gogukcheon]] in 180 AD and became his queen consort not long after that.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://db.history.go.kr/item/level.do?setId=26&totalCount=26&itemId=sg&synonym=off&chinessChar=on&page=1&pre_page=1&brokerPagingInfo=&position=8&levelId=sg_016r_0030_0020&searchKeywordType=BI&searchKeywordMethod=EQ&searchKeyword=%EC%99%95%ED%9B%84+%EC%9A%B0%EC%94%A8&searchKeywordConjunction=AND|title=우씨를 왕후로 삼다 (180년 02월(음))|website=[[Samguk Sagi]]|access-date=June 15, 2022|lang=ko}}</ref> However, a rebellion started when the king tried to stop her relatives (include [[Eobiryu]] and [[Jwagaryeo]]) from abusing their power and their children were rude and arrogant by believing their authority and plundering other children with took their houses in 190.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://db.history.go.kr/item/level.do?setId=26&totalCount=26&itemId=sg&synonym=off&chinessChar=on&page=1&pre_page=1&brokerPagingInfo=&position=9&levelId=sg_016r_0030_0090&searchKeywordType=BI&searchKeywordMethod=EQ&searchKeyword=%EC%99%95%ED%9B%84+%EC%9A%B0%EC%94%A8&searchKeywordConjunction=AND|title=왕후의 친척인 어비류와 좌가려가 4연나와 함께 반란을 도모하다 (190년 09월(음))|website=[[Samguk Sagi]]|access-date=June 15, 2022|lang=ko}}</ref> Beside this, no significant story about Queen U during Gogukcheon's reign.
Lady U was the daughter of U So ({{Korean|hangul=우소|hanja=于素|labels=no}}). Her birthplace is unclear, but it may have been the region of Jenabu ({{Korean|hangul=제나부|hanja=提那部|labels=no}}) or Yeonnabu ({{Korean|hangul=연나부|hanja=椽那部|labels=no}}).<ref>{{cite book|last=Ki-hong|first=Kim|date=2021|script-title=ko:삼국사기 바로알기 5: 차대왕, 신대왕, 고국천왕|trans-title=Get To Know About History of the Three Kingdoms 5: King Chadae, King Shindae, King Gogukcheon|page=2|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hLNIEAAAQBAJ&dq=%EC%99%95%ED%9B%84+%EC%9A%B0%EC%94%A8&pg=RA3-PA2|language=ko|publisher=ePurple|isbn=9791139000740 }}</ref> She was married to [[Gogukcheon of Goguryeo|King Gogukcheon]] in 180 AD and became his queen consort soon afterwards.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://db.history.go.kr/item/level.do?setId=26&totalCount=26&itemId=sg&synonym=off&chinessChar=on&page=1&pre_page=1&brokerPagingInfo=&position=8&levelId=sg_016r_0030_0020&searchKeywordType=BI&searchKeywordMethod=EQ&searchKeyword=%EC%99%95%ED%9B%84+%EC%9A%B0%EC%94%A8&searchKeywordConjunction=AND|script-title=ko:우씨를 왕후로 삼다 (180년 02월(음))|website=[[Samguk sagi]]|access-date=June 15, 2022|language=ko}}</ref> However, a rebellion began in 190 when the king tried to stop Lady U's relatives (including [[Eobiryu]] and [[Jwagaryeo]]) from abusing their power.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://db.history.go.kr/item/level.do?setId=26&totalCount=26&itemId=sg&synonym=off&chinessChar=on&page=1&pre_page=1&brokerPagingInfo=&position=9&levelId=sg_016r_0030_0090&searchKeywordType=BI&searchKeywordMethod=EQ&searchKeyword=%EC%99%95%ED%9B%84+%EC%9A%B0%EC%94%A8&searchKeywordConjunction=AND|script-title=ko:왕후의 친척인 어비류와 좌가려가 4연나와 함께 반란을 도모하다 (190년 09월(음))|website=[[Samguk sagi]]|access-date=June 15, 2022|language=ko}}</ref> King Gogukcheon died without issue in 197.


===During King Sansang's reign===
===During King Sansang's reign===
After King Gogukcheon died without issue in 197, Queen U met his brother–Prince Balgi to discuss the throne's successor while kept silent about the king's death. Yet, due to Balgi's optimistic thinking that he would ascend the throne, she then completely ignored him and visited his other brother–Prince Yeonu. Unlike Balgi, Yeonu greeted Queen U politely and courteously, making she liked his behavior and plotted Balgi for a treason, even asked Yeonu to take her with him.<ref>{{cite book|last=Lee|first=Hyun-hee|date=2014|title=한국의 역사. 02 삼국의 성장과 발전|trans-title=Korean's History. 02 Growth and Development of the Three States|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5PjkDwAAQBAJ&dq=%EC%99%95%ED%9B%84+%EC%9A%B0%EC%94%A8&pg=PT83|language=ko|publisher=ChungAh Publishing House}}</ref>
After King Gogukcheon's death, Queen U met with his brother Prince Balgi to discuss the throne's successor. Balgi believed that he would ascend to the throne, and his ill-mannered behavior and ambition disconcerted U. U later met with Balgi's younger brother Prince Yeonu, whom, unlike Balgi, she found polite and courteous. U chose to support Yeonu and plotted to accuse Balgi of treason.<ref>{{cite book|last=Lee|first=Hyun-hee|date=2014|script-title=ko:한국의 역사. 02 삼국의 성장과 발전|trans-title=Korean's History. 02 Growth and Development of the Three States|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5PjkDwAAQBAJ&dq=%EC%99%95%ED%9B%84+%EC%9A%B0%EC%94%A8&pg=PT83|language=ko|publisher=ChungAh Publishing House|isbn=9788936820299 }}</ref>


The historical sources ''[[Samguk Sagi]]'' pointed out that, Yeonu who served U, cut the meat but his finger was injured by a knife, then U loosened her skirt strap and covered his wound. The two then returned to the palace by holding hands with each other. Meanwhile, the anger Balgi fled to [[Liaodong Peninsula|Liaodong]] and requested support from [[Gongsun Du]], head of the Gongsun clan in Liaodong by borrowed 30,000 troops to invade Goguryeo.<ref>{{cite book|author=Gong Mi-ra, Choi In-soo, Go Jong-hoon|date=2017|title=생방송 한국사 02. 삼국 ․ 가야: 수능 한국사 강의 1인자 고종훈의 동영상 강의 수록|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ykIoDwAAQBAJ&dq=%EC%99%95%ED%9B%84+%EC%9A%B0%EC%94%A8&pg=PA39|language=ko|publisher=Owlbook}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Patricia Buckley|first1=Ebrey|last2=Anne|first2=Walthall|date=2013|title=East Asia: A Cultural, Social, and Political History|page=102|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QfkWAAAAQBAJ&dq=queen+u+goguryeo&pg=PA102|publisher=Cengage Learning}}</ref> Knowing this, Balgi's youngest brother–Prince Gyesu subdued it, defeated him, and then rebuked him. Balgi then committed suicide due to his guilt for bringing a great crisis to his royal family and country.
According to the historical source ''[[Samguk sagi]],'' during the ensuing conflict, Yeonu was injured by a knife, and U loosened her skirt scrap and used the fabric to cover the wound. The two then returned to the palace hand-in-hand. Meanwhile, Balgi fled in anger to [[Liaodong Peninsula|Liaodong]] and requested support from [[Gongsun Du]], head of the Gongsun clan. Gongsun Du loaned Balgi 30,000 troops to invade Gorguryeo.<ref>{{cite book|author=Gong Mi-ra, Choi In-soo, Go Jong-hoon|date=2017|script-title=ko:생방송 한국사 02. 삼국 ․ 가야: 수능 한국사 강의 1인자 고종훈의 동영상 강의 수록|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ykIoDwAAQBAJ&dq=%EC%99%95%ED%9B%84+%EC%9A%B0%EC%94%A8&pg=PA39|language=ko|publisher=Owlbook|isbn=9788950963682 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Patricia Buckley|first1=Ebrey|last2=Anne|first2=Walthall|date=2013|title=East Asia: A Cultural, Social, and Political History|page=102|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QfkWAAAAQBAJ&dq=queen+u+goguryeo&pg=PA102|publisher=Cengage Learning|isbn=978-1285528670 }}</ref> Knowing this, Balgi's youngest brother, Prince Gyesu, successfully defeated Balgi's forces. Balgi then committed suicide due to his guilt for bringing a great crisis to his royal family and country.


After Balgi's death, Yeonu ascended the throne as King Sansang with Queen U's help and eventually made her as his primary spouse or the queen consort in the same year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://db.history.go.kr/item/level.do?setId=26&totalCount=26&itemId=sg&synonym=off&chinessChar=on&page=1&pre_page=1&brokerPagingInfo=&position=11&levelId=sg_016r_0040_0020&searchKeywordType=BI&searchKeywordMethod=EQ&searchKeyword=%EC%99%95%ED%9B%84+%EC%9A%B0%EC%94%A8&searchKeywordConjunction=AND|title=우씨를 왕후로 삼다. (197년 09월(음))|website=[[Samguk Sagi]]|access-date=June 15, 2022|lang=ko}}</ref> However, as they couldn't have any children, the king then had a prophecy that he could have a son through the other woman after praying in a mountain at night, but didn't dare to hire other consorts due to his respect for Queen U.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://db.history.go.kr/item/level.do?setId=26&totalCount=26&itemId=sg&synonym=off&chinessChar=on&page=1&pre_page=1&brokerPagingInfo=&position=10&levelId=sg_016r_0040_0010&searchKeywordType=BI&searchKeywordMethod=EQ&searchKeyword=%EC%99%95%ED%9B%84+%EC%9A%B0%EC%94%A8&searchKeywordConjunction=AND|title=산상왕이 왕위에 오르다 (197년 05월(음))|website=[[Samguk Sagi]]|access-date=June 15, 2022|lang=ko}}</ref>
After Balgi's death, Yeonu ascended the throne as King Sansang with Queen U's support and eventually made her his primary spouse, or the queen consort, later that year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://db.history.go.kr/item/level.do?setId=26&totalCount=26&itemId=sg&synonym=off&chinessChar=on&page=1&pre_page=1&brokerPagingInfo=&position=11&levelId=sg_016r_0040_0020&searchKeywordType=BI&searchKeywordMethod=EQ&searchKeyword=%EC%99%95%ED%9B%84+%EC%9A%B0%EC%94%A8&searchKeywordConjunction=AND|script-title=ko:우씨를 왕후로 삼다. (197년 09월(음))|website=[[Samguk sagi]]|access-date=June 15, 2022|language=ko}}</ref> However, Sansang and U were not able not have children. After praying in a mountain at night, Sansang received a prophecy that he would have a son with another woman.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://db.history.go.kr/item/level.do?setId=26&totalCount=26&itemId=sg&synonym=off&chinessChar=on&page=1&pre_page=1&brokerPagingInfo=&position=10&levelId=sg_016r_0040_0010&searchKeywordType=BI&searchKeywordMethod=EQ&searchKeyword=%EC%99%95%ED%9B%84+%EC%9A%B0%EC%94%A8&searchKeywordConjunction=AND|script-title=ko:산상왕이 왕위에 오르다 (197년 05월(음))|website=[[Samguk sagi]]|access-date=June 15, 2022|language=ko}}</ref>


Upon knowing that her husband had a relationship with the other woman, Queen U became very angry and sent many soldiers to kill the woman he slept with. However, for the king's unborn child's sake, the soldiers didn't kill the woman and tell this to the king, which he then formally made this woman a concubine under the title "Little Queen" (소후, 小后). Not long after this, the little queen gave birth to a son in 209 under Queen U's pressure and threatened. Four years later, this boy formally became the crown prince.
Upon knowing that her husband had a relationship with another woman, U became very angry and sent many soldiers to kill this woman. However, the woman was pregnant with Sansang's son, and the soldiers refused to kill her for the sake of the unborn child. Sansang later formally made this woman a concubine with the title "Little Queen" ({{Korean|hangul=소후|hanja=小后|labels=no}}). Not long after this, the Little Queen gave birth to a boy, Uwigeo, in 209, and she and Uwigeo continued to face pressure and threats from U. Four years later, Uwigeo was named the crown prince.


===During King Dongcheon's reign===
===During King Dongcheon's reign===
Meanwhile, after King Sansang died in 227, his son–Prince Uwigeo ascended the throne as [[Dongcheon of Goguryeo|King Dongcheon]] although planned to be killed by Queen U since young. She, who was anxious to test his generosity, once had him cut the mane of his horse and on the other occasion, ordered a servant to spill soup on his clothes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://db.history.go.kr/item/level.do?setId=26&totalCount=26&itemId=sg&synonym=off&chinessChar=on&page=1&pre_page=1&brokerPagingInfo=&position=12&levelId=sg_017r_0020_0010&searchKeywordType=BI&searchKeywordMethod=EQ&searchKeyword=%EC%99%95%ED%9B%84+%EC%9A%B0%EC%94%A8&searchKeywordConjunction=AND|title=동천왕이 왕위에 오르다 (227년 05월(음))|website=[[Samguk Sagi]]|access-date=June 15, 2022|lang=ko}}</ref> Even so, Dongcheon was never angry and instead made her clan hold the most political influence by appointed them to the highest position of state minister, also honoured her as the queen dowager (왕태후, 王太后).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://db.history.go.kr/item/level.do?setId=26&totalCount=26&itemId=sg&synonym=off&chinessChar=on&page=1&pre_page=1&brokerPagingInfo=&position=13&levelId=sg_017r_0020_0030&searchKeywordType=BI&searchKeywordMethod=EQ&searchKeyword=%EC%99%95%ED%9B%84+%EC%9A%B0%EC%94%A8&searchKeywordConjunction=AND|title=우씨를 왕태후로 삼다 (228년 03월(음))|website=[[Samguk Sagi]]|access-date=June 15, 2022|lang=ko}}</ref>
After King Sansang died in 227, Prince Uwigeo ascended the throne as [[Dongcheon of Goguryeo|King Dongcheon]], despite U's plotting against him since he was young. As a test of his generosity and patience, she once had him cut the mane of his horse, and on another occasion she ordered a servant to spill soup on his clothes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://db.history.go.kr/item/level.do?setId=26&totalCount=26&itemId=sg&synonym=off&chinessChar=on&page=1&pre_page=1&brokerPagingInfo=&position=12&levelId=sg_017r_0020_0010&searchKeywordType=BI&searchKeywordMethod=EQ&searchKeyword=%EC%99%95%ED%9B%84+%EC%9A%B0%EC%94%A8&searchKeywordConjunction=AND|script-title=ko:동천왕이 왕위에 오르다 (227년 05월(음))|website=[[Samguk sagi]]|access-date=June 15, 2022|language=ko}}</ref> Despite this, Dongcheon was never angry. Rather than retaliate against U, he granted her clan political influence by appointing them to the highest position of state minister, and he continued to honour her as the queen dowager ({{Korean|hangul=왕태후|hanja=王太后|labels=no}}).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://db.history.go.kr/item/level.do?setId=26&totalCount=26&itemId=sg&synonym=off&chinessChar=on&page=1&pre_page=1&brokerPagingInfo=&position=13&levelId=sg_017r_0020_0030&searchKeywordType=BI&searchKeywordMethod=EQ&searchKeyword=%EC%99%95%ED%9B%84+%EC%9A%B0%EC%94%A8&searchKeywordConjunction=AND|script-title=ko:우씨를 왕태후로 삼다 (228년 03월(음))|website=[[Samguk sagi]]|access-date=June 15, 2022|language=ko}}</ref>


U still became the queen dowager until her own death in 234 (8th years reign of King Dongcheon). Just before her death, she told her will by wrote a letter requesting that she should be buried next to Sansang tomb instead of Gogukcheon tomb. When King Dongcheon read this, he planted seven layers of pine trees around Gogukcheon tomb to hide and cover it.
U remained the queen dowager until her own death in 234, the eighth year King Dongcheon's reign. Just before her death, she wrote a letter requesting that she be buried next to Sansang's tomb instead of Gogukcheon's tomb. When King Dongcheon read this, he planted seven layers of pine trees around Gogukcheon's tomb to hide and cover it.


==In popular culture==
==In popular culture==

Queen U appears as '''Woo Seo-ran''' (우서란) in the 2020 [[Manhwa|manhwa]] "''The Queen's Empire''" (왕후의 제국) by Hyuneung (현응).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://bufftoon.plaync.com/series/1003907|title=왕후의 제국 - 만화|website=bufftoon|access-date=June 13, 2022|lang=ko}}</ref>
* Portrayed in the 2020 [[manhwa]] ''The Queen's Empire''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://bufftoon.plaync.com/series/1003907|script-title=ko:왕후의 제국 - 만화|website=bufftoon|access-date=June 13, 2022|language=ko}}</ref>
* Portrayed by [[Jeon Jong-seo]] in the 2024 [[TVING]] series ''[[The Queen 'Woo']]''


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}
*{{cite web|url=https://m.mk.co.kr/news/culture/view/2016/12/851418/|title=3대에 걸쳐 왕후와 태후 고구려의 여걸 우씨 왕후|last=Ki-hwan|first=Im|date=8 December 2016|website=[[Maeil Kyungje]]|access-date=June 15, 2022|lang=ko}}
*{{cite web|url=https://m.mk.co.kr/news/culture/view/2016/12/851418/|script-title=ko:3대에 걸쳐 왕후와 태후 고구려의 여걸 우씨 왕후|last=Ki-hwan|first=Im|date=8 December 2016|website=[[Maeil Kyungje]]|access-date=June 15, 2022|language=ko}}
*{{cite web|url=http://www.ohmynews.com/NWS_Web/View/at_pg.aspx?CNTN_CD=A0001496105|title=시동생과 결혼한 우씨왕후, 미실에 뒤지지 않네|last=Jong-sung|first=Kim|date=21 December 2010|website=OhmyNews|access-date=June 15, 2022|lang=ko}}
*{{cite web|url=http://www.ohmynews.com/NWS_Web/View/at_pg.aspx?CNTN_CD=A0001496105|script-title=ko:시동생과 결혼한 우씨왕후, 미실에 뒤지지 않네|last=Jong-sung|first=Kim|date=21 December 2010|website=[[OhmyNews]]|access-date=June 15, 2022|language=ko}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:U, Queen}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:U, Queen}}
[[Category:Year of birth unknown]]
[[Category:Year of birth unknown]]
[[Category:234 deaths]]
[[Category:234 deaths]]
[[Category:Goguryeo people]]
[[Category:2nd-century Korean people]]
[[Category:2nd-century Korean people]]
[[Category:3rd-century Korean people]]
[[Category:3rd-century Korean people]]
[[Category:Korean royal consorts]]
[[Category:Royal consorts of Korea]]

Latest revision as of 14:21, 3 November 2024

Queen U
왕후 우씨
Queen consort of Goguryeo
Tenure180–197
197/8–227
Queen dowager of Goguryeo
Tenure227–234
Bornc. 160–5
Jenabu or Yeonnabu, Goguryeo
Died234
Goguryeo
SpouseGogukcheon of Goguryeo (m. 180; d. 197)
Sansang of Goguryeo (m. 197/8; d. 227)
HouseU clan
FatherU So

Queen U (Korean: 왕후 우씨; Hanja: 王后 于氏; d. 234), sometimes romanized as Queen Woo, was the queen of Goguryeo as the wife of both King Gogukcheon (Go Nammu) and later his younger brother King Sansang (Go Yeonu).[1] She was famous for maintaining supreme authority. Her second marriage is a well-known example of Goguryeo's levirate marriage custom.[2]

Life

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During King Gogukcheon's reign

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Lady U was the daughter of U So (우소; 于素). Her birthplace is unclear, but it may have been the region of Jenabu (제나부; 提那部) or Yeonnabu (연나부; 椽那部).[3] She was married to King Gogukcheon in 180 AD and became his queen consort soon afterwards.[4] However, a rebellion began in 190 when the king tried to stop Lady U's relatives (including Eobiryu and Jwagaryeo) from abusing their power.[5] King Gogukcheon died without issue in 197.

During King Sansang's reign

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After King Gogukcheon's death, Queen U met with his brother Prince Balgi to discuss the throne's successor. Balgi believed that he would ascend to the throne, and his ill-mannered behavior and ambition disconcerted U. U later met with Balgi's younger brother Prince Yeonu, whom, unlike Balgi, she found polite and courteous. U chose to support Yeonu and plotted to accuse Balgi of treason.[6]

According to the historical source Samguk sagi, during the ensuing conflict, Yeonu was injured by a knife, and U loosened her skirt scrap and used the fabric to cover the wound. The two then returned to the palace hand-in-hand. Meanwhile, Balgi fled in anger to Liaodong and requested support from Gongsun Du, head of the Gongsun clan. Gongsun Du loaned Balgi 30,000 troops to invade Gorguryeo.[7][8] Knowing this, Balgi's youngest brother, Prince Gyesu, successfully defeated Balgi's forces. Balgi then committed suicide due to his guilt for bringing a great crisis to his royal family and country.

After Balgi's death, Yeonu ascended the throne as King Sansang with Queen U's support and eventually made her his primary spouse, or the queen consort, later that year.[9] However, Sansang and U were not able not have children. After praying in a mountain at night, Sansang received a prophecy that he would have a son with another woman.[10]

Upon knowing that her husband had a relationship with another woman, U became very angry and sent many soldiers to kill this woman. However, the woman was pregnant with Sansang's son, and the soldiers refused to kill her for the sake of the unborn child. Sansang later formally made this woman a concubine with the title "Little Queen" (소후; 小后). Not long after this, the Little Queen gave birth to a boy, Uwigeo, in 209, and she and Uwigeo continued to face pressure and threats from U. Four years later, Uwigeo was named the crown prince.

During King Dongcheon's reign

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After King Sansang died in 227, Prince Uwigeo ascended the throne as King Dongcheon, despite U's plotting against him since he was young. As a test of his generosity and patience, she once had him cut the mane of his horse, and on another occasion she ordered a servant to spill soup on his clothes.[11] Despite this, Dongcheon was never angry. Rather than retaliate against U, he granted her clan political influence by appointing them to the highest position of state minister, and he continued to honour her as the queen dowager (왕태후; 王太后).[12]

U remained the queen dowager until her own death in 234, the eighth year King Dongcheon's reign. Just before her death, she wrote a letter requesting that she be buried next to Sansang's tomb instead of Gogukcheon's tomb. When King Dongcheon read this, he planted seven layers of pine trees around Gogukcheon's tomb to hide and cover it.

[edit]

References

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  1. ^ Hyun-seol, Cho. "King Sansang(山上王) - Folklare". Encyclopedia of Korean Folk Culture (in Korean). Retrieved June 15, 2022.
  2. ^ Pae-yong, Yi; Chan, Ted (2008). Women in Korean History 한국 역사 속의 여성들 (in Korean). Ewha Womans University: Ewha Womans University Press. pp. 122–125. ISBN 978-8973007721.
  3. ^ Ki-hong, Kim (2021). 삼국사기 바로알기 5: 차대왕, 신대왕, 고국천왕 [Get To Know About History of the Three Kingdoms 5: King Chadae, King Shindae, King Gogukcheon] (in Korean). ePurple. p. 2. ISBN 9791139000740.
  4. ^ 우씨를 왕후로 삼다 (180년 02월(음)). Samguk sagi (in Korean). Retrieved June 15, 2022.
  5. ^ 왕후의 친척인 어비류와 좌가려가 4연나와 함께 반란을 도모하다 (190년 09월(음)). Samguk sagi (in Korean). Retrieved June 15, 2022.
  6. ^ Lee, Hyun-hee (2014). 한국의 역사. 02 삼국의 성장과 발전 [Korean's History. 02 Growth and Development of the Three States] (in Korean). ChungAh Publishing House. ISBN 9788936820299.
  7. ^ Gong Mi-ra, Choi In-soo, Go Jong-hoon (2017). 생방송 한국사 02. 삼국 ․ 가야: 수능 한국사 강의 1인자 고종훈의 동영상 강의 수록 (in Korean). Owlbook. ISBN 9788950963682.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  8. ^ Patricia Buckley, Ebrey; Anne, Walthall (2013). East Asia: A Cultural, Social, and Political History. Cengage Learning. p. 102. ISBN 978-1285528670.
  9. ^ 우씨를 왕후로 삼다. (197년 09월(음)). Samguk sagi (in Korean). Retrieved June 15, 2022.
  10. ^ 산상왕이 왕위에 오르다 (197년 05월(음)). Samguk sagi (in Korean). Retrieved June 15, 2022.
  11. ^ 동천왕이 왕위에 오르다 (227년 05월(음)). Samguk sagi (in Korean). Retrieved June 15, 2022.
  12. ^ 우씨를 왕태후로 삼다 (228년 03월(음)). Samguk sagi (in Korean). Retrieved June 15, 2022.
  13. ^ 왕후의 제국 - 만화. bufftoon (in Korean). Retrieved June 13, 2022.
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