Deposed Crown Princess Kim (), of the (old) Andong Kim clan, also known as Crown Princess Hwi, was the first wife of Crown Prince Hyang (King Munjong), later the fifth monarch of Joseon. She was demoted to commoner status and banished from the palace after using witchcraft to gain her husband's affection.
Biography Early life and lineage Lady Kim was most likely born during the reign of King Taejong, but the exact date and year of birth are unknown. Her father was Kim O-mun (), a high-ranking official in charge of military affairs, and her mother was a lady from the Hadong Jeong clan (). She had at least one brother.
Her paternal aunt was Concubine Myeong (; consort of King Taejong), and through her great-great-great-grandfather, Min Jeok (), she was a second cousin twice removed of Queen Wongyeong.
Life in the palace Lady Kim was invested as crown princess in 1427, but her husband showed little interest in her.Veritable Records of Sejong, volume 36.
Court records indicate that in the winter of 1428, Lady Kim asked her maid, Ho-cho (), how she could gain a man's love. Ho-cho told her to burn her rivals' shoes to ash, grind them into powder and have the man drink it. She recommended that Lady Kim test the method using two palace ladies of whom she was already jealous, Hyo-dong () and Deok-geum (), which she promptly did. When it didn't work out, Lady Kim requested further methods. Ho-cho instructed her to drain the fluids from a snake and rub those essences onto a cloth, claiming that if Lady Kim wore that cloth in the crown prince's presence, he would love her. Meanwhile, another maid named Sun-deok (), whom Lady Kim had brought into the palace from her natal home, found remains of the burnt shoes in her perfume pouch and reported the matter to Lady Kim's mother.
When King Sejong and Queen Soheon belatedly discovered Lady Kim's actions and interrogated her, she readily confessed.Veritable Records of Sejong, volume 45. After Sun-deok presented the shoe remains and all testimonies were clear, Ho-cho was executed by beheading and Lady Kim was demoted to commoner status,黜還私第, 終不使薄行之人, 汚我家法。 while her father's official titles were revoked and her brother was removed from his position.
Later life and death There are no surviving records about Lady Kim's life after her banishment from the palace; as such, it remains unknown when she died and where her tomb is located.
Titles
During the reign of King Taejong (): Lady, of the Andong Kim clan (; from unknown date) Kim O-mun's daughter () Lady Kim () During the reign of King Sejong (): Crown Princess Hwi (; from 14 May 1427) Commoner (; from 27 August 1429)
Family Father: Kim O-mun () Mother: Lady, of the Hadong Jeong clan () Sibling(s) Brother: Kim Jung-eom () Husband: King Munjong (; 15 November 1414 – 10 June 1452) — No issue. Father-in-law: King Sejong (; 15 May 1397 – 8 April 1450) Mother-in-law: Queen Soheon (), of the Cheongsong Shim clan (; 20 October 1395 – 28 April 1446)
Ancestry
See also Styles and titles in Joseon Korean clans Society of Joseon
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Works cited