혜경궁 홍씨 惠慶宮 洪氏
Consort of Crown Prince Sado, mother of King Jeongjo and author of the Hanjungnok; posthumously Empress Heongyeong
| Life | 1735 ~ 1816 |
| Era | 조선 후기 |
| Clan | 풍산 홍씨 |
Life & career
Lady Hyegyeong (惠慶宮 洪氏, 1735-1816) was the consort of Crown Prince Sado, second son of King Yeongjo, and the mother of King Jeongjo; her clan was Pungsan. Her father was Chief State Councillor Hong Bong-han and her mother was of the Hansan Yi clan. Born in 1735 as the second daughter in Banson-bang, Hanseong, she was chosen as crown princess in 1743 and in 1744 was invested and married the prince. She had two sons and two daughters: Crown Grandson Uiso (1750-1752), Jeongjo (1752-1800), Princess Cheongyeon (1754-1821) and Princess Cheongseon (1756-1802). After her husband died in the rice chest in 1762, Yeongjo gave her the title Hyebin, and after Jeongjo's accession her palace title was raised to Hyegyeong-gung.
Her best-known work, the Hanjungnok, is an autobiographical memoir written in several stages over more than ten years beginning in 1795, when she turned sixty. It is regarded as a masterpiece of palace literature, giving details of Sado's death, court life, her family and portraits of people that official history does not. One account of her motive is that after Jeongjo's death she sought to restore the honor of her natal family, badly harmed by the Byeokpa faction; after Sunjo's accession the title was reportedly read as "Record of a Quiet Time" (閑中錄) turned "Record of Resentment" (恨中錄). Some scholars read it as self-defense. The clan association also lists the Eupyeolrok among her writings.
Being one person's testimony, the Hanjungnok is also noted for a biased portrayal of some figures, such as Hong Guk-yeong. Lady Hyegyeong received the devotion of her son Jeongjo, and the 1795 procession to Hyeollyungwon at Hwaseong was largely to mark her sixtieth birthday. She died in 1816, and when her husband was posthumously raised to Emperor Jangjo under Gojong, she was named Empress Heongyeong; she lies with him in Yungneung in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi. Since the Pungsan Hong in-law family stood in the middle of the Sado affair, the Hanjungnok is read as both literature and historical source. Among her kin who appear in it are Hong In-han, Hong Nak-seong and Hong Guk-yeong.
Becoming Crown Princess
Chosen in 1743 and invested in 1744, she married Crown Prince Sado. Her father Hong Bong-han, now Yeongjo's in-law, gained great influence in politics.
The Hanjungnok
Begun around her sixtieth birthday in 1795, it narrates Sado's death, palace life and her natal family's position. Some passages are noted as biased.
Yungneung
Yungneung in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi, is the joint tomb of Sado (Jangjo) and Empress Heongyeong; its predecessor is the Hyeollyungwon that Jeongjo established by moving his father's grave.
Grave
She is buried with her husband Crown Prince Sado (Jangjo) in Yungneung, Hwaseong, Gyeonggi.
Descendants
Two sons and two daughters (Crown Grandson Uiso, Jeongjo, Princess Cheongyeon, Princess Cheongseon).