Things I Have Learned Today

The Pitiable Princess

In 1650, Prince Regent of the Qing Dynasty sent an emissary to King Hyojong telling him to find him a bride to be his sixth wife. The girl had to either be from the royal family or noble blood. King Hyojong politely told the emissary that his daughter was only two-years old, but he would see what he could do. The king and ministers, who also didn't want to give up their girls, decided that the best plan of action would be to pay an official to allow the king to 'adopt' their daughter and give her to Prince Regent Dorgon to be his bride.

Nearly a month after being 'adopted', the fifteen-year old Yi Ae-suk, now named Princess Uisun, was sent to Beijing accompanied by 16 maids, a female physician, and her nursemaid. Immediately, Regent Prince Dorgon began complaining about her appearance as soon as he saw her and even doubted Joseon's loyalty to the Qing Dynasty. Luckily, he died only seven months later and she didn't have to endure the man for long. Unluckily, she was immediately told that she needed to marry her former husband's nephew, Prince Bolo, a corrupt general for the Qing. Once again, her groom died less than a year later though and she would spend the next three years languishing in a state of limbo within Beijing.

Eventually, her biological father was sent to Beijing to deliver Joseon's annual tribute to the Qing. Once there though, he broken down in tears and begged to be allowed to bring his former daughter home. The Qing allowed it and she returned in the summer of 1656. King Hyojong decreed that she would have a monthly pension for the rest of her life; however, her father would be impeached from his post for requesting for her safe return without consulting the king beforehand. When Princess Uisun died of an illness in 1662, her burial rites were provided for by King Hyeonjong, who described her fate as 'pitiable'.