Grand Prince Wŏlsan


Grand Prince Wŏlsan was a Korean Royal Prince as the oldest son of Deokjong of Joseon and Queen Sohye. His personal name was Yi Chŏng.
He become a Grand Prince in 1470. Even his father was honoured as King Uigyeong in 1470, Great King Hoegan in 1475, and given temple name Deokjong, the Prince didn't succeed his father as a Crown Prince. Later, he built a villa in his hometown in Bukchon and spent his life reading books and writing poetry there.

Biography

Early life and marriage

The Prince was born on 18 December 1454 as the oldest son of Crown Prince Uigyeong and Crown Princess Han of the Cheongju Han clan, he was also the oldest grandson of King Sejo. When the Prince was young, he grew up under the love of his grandfather. In 1457, his father died suddenly, then he was raised in the court by his grandfather.
In 1460, he was appointed as Prince Wŏlsan. When his uncle, Yejong of Joseon died suddenly at the young age, his little brother was appointed as the new King for succeeded him and then, he was appointed as Grand Prince Wŏlsan.
On 19 August 1466, when the Prince was 9 year old, he then married Lady Pak, the daughter of Pak Chungsŏn from the Suncheon Park clan and Lady Hŏ of the Yangcheon Heo clan. Lady Pak was one year older than the Prince.

Later life

After his death, Seongjong firstly gave him a posthumous name as Konggan then changed into Hyomun. After his death, the Prince was buried in 427, Sinwon-ri, Wondang-myeon, Goyang-gun, Gyeonggi Province alongside his wife, Grand Princess Consort Seungpyeong. His concubine, Lady Kim was also buried nearby from his. His tombstone was written by Im Sahong in 1498.

Others

Arts

The Prince often wrote some poems such as:
  1. Kukchosisan
  2. Tongmunsŏn
  3. Yŏjisŭngnam
  4. Taedongsirim
  5. P'ungwŏljŏngjip ; was published by King Seongjong to the Ming dynasty after his death
And his other poems were also introduced to Ming dynasty and some of them were added to the Chŏnusanyŏljo Poetry Book in China.

Cultural properties

Family

Sibling:
  1. Younger sister: Yi Gyeong-geun, Princess Myeongsuk
  2. Younger brother: Yi Hyeol, Grand Prince Jalsan
  • Consort and their respective issue:
  1. Grand Princess Consort Seungpyeong of the Suncheon Park clan – No issue.
  2. Grand Princess Consort of the Wonju Kim clan
  3. #Son: Yi Yi, Prince Deokpung

In popular culture