여흥 민씨(驪興 閔氏) — It is regarded as the principal lineage of the Min clan whose ancestral seat is Yeoheung.
It is regarded as the principal lineage of the Min clan whose ancestral seat is Yeoheung. In the 2015 Census the 여흥 민씨 clan numbered about 159,522 people, one of Korea's major surnames and clans. Even among people surnamed 민, a different clan seat (bon-gwan, 여흥) means a different lineage. New to these terms? See the bon-gwan, pa & hangnyeol guide.
Sangseo-gong-pa, Jeongui-gong-pa, Sambang-pa
The Sangseo-gong branch descends from Min Sik (閔湜), eldest son of Min Yeong-mo (閔令謨), who served as Pyeongjangsa under King Injong of Goryeo. Min Sik passed the state examination in 1167 and rose to Minister of Punishments.
His great-grandson Min Ji (閔漬) took first place in the examination in 1266, became Chancellor under King Chungsuk and was made Prince Yeoheung. Under Joseon this line is reckoned to have produced more examination passers than the Min Gong-gyu line, and sub-branches such as the Gongmok-gong and Yeogam-gong branches stem from it.
The Jeongui-gong branch descends from Min Gong-gyu (閔公珪), second son of Min Yeong-mo, who passed the civil examination in 1177 and served as Munha Pyeongjangsa. His great-grandson Min Jong-yu (閔宗儒) retired as Chanseongsa and was made Prince Bokheung, and Min Jong-yu's son Min Jeok (閔頔) became Grand Scholar of the Jinhyeongwan.
The daughter of Min Jeok's grandson Min Je (閔霽) became Queen Wongyeong, consort of King Taejong, and all four Joseon queens from the Min clan came from this line, which is reckoned to have far outnumbered the Sangseo-gong line in high-ranking officials.
The Sambang branch is a sub-branch of the Jeongui-gong line founded by Min Gwang-hun (閔光勳), 12th-generation descendant of Min Jeok (閔頔). The daughter of his third son Min Yu-jung (閔維重) became Queen Inhyeon, consort of King Sukjong, and Min Yu-jung was made Prince Yeoyang; his elder brother Min Jeong-jung (閔鼎重) became Left State Councillor and Min Jeong-jung's son Min Jin-jang (閔鎭長) Right State Councillor.
Queen Inhyeon's elder brother Min Jin-hu (閔鎭厚) served as Left Chamber Councillor, and her younger brother Min Jin-won (閔鎭遠) led the Noron faction and became Left State Councillor under King Yeongjo. The daughter of Min Chi-rok (閔致祿), Min Jin-hu's great-great-grandson, became Empress Myeongseong, consort of King Gojong, which opened the era of Yeoheung Min in-law government.
Branch divisions vary by lineage and jokbo; confirm your own branch in your family's records.
원경왕후(Queen Wongyeong), 명성황후(Empress Myeongseong), 민영환, 민복기
Tap a name for the full profile (life, career, grave, descendants).
여흥 민씨 figures recognized as independence patriots (National Independence Hall / Gonghun public data). Tap a name for the citation.
For other branch associations, see the Korean E-Jokbo Library clan-association directory.
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