신정왕후 神貞王后
Grand queen dowager who decided Gojong's accession and ruled as regent behind the screen; "Queen Dowager Jo"
| Life | 1808 ~ 1890 |
| Era | 조선 후기 |
| Clan | 풍양 조씨 |
Life & career
Queen Sinjeong of the Jo clan was a queen consort of the late Joseon period, eldest daughter of Lord Pungeun Jo Man-yeong and Lady Song of the Eunjin clan, born on 6 December 1808 (Sunjo 8) at the family home in Dumo-bang, Hanseong. In 1819 she married Sunjo's son Crown Prince Hyomyeong and became crown princess, and in 1827 she bore the royal grandson (Heonjong). Widowed when her husband died young in 1830, she became queen dowager directly, without passing through queenship, when her son Heonjong took the throne in 1834. She is commonly known as "Queen Dowager Jo (趙大妃)".
In Heonjong's time there was a contest for power between her husband's in-law house, the Andong Kim, and her natal house, the Pungyang Jo. When Heonjong died without an heir in 1849 Queen Sunwon installed Cheoljong, and after Sunwon's death in 1857 Sinjeong became grand queen dowager. When Cheoljong died without an heir in 1863 she adopted the second son of Prince Heungseon (Gojong) as Ikjong's son, placed him on the throne and ruled as regent until 1866, opening the way for the Heungseon Daewongun's rule.
During her regency she issued an order easing limits on the officeholding of secondary sons, supporting the Daewongun's reforms, and in 1866 she ended the regency and handed full authority to the Daewongun. She died on 17 April 1890 at Heungbokjeon in Gyeongbokgung; she is described as the longest-lived queen of Joseon (81 years) and as having been grand queen dowager for the longest time (about 32 years). In 1899, when her husband was honored as Munjo, she was posthumously titled Empress Sinjeong Ik.
From Crown Princess to Queen Dowager
She became crown princess in 1819; when her husband died in 1830 their son Heonjong became royal grandson. When Heonjong took the throne in 1834 her husband was honored as Ikjong and she became queen dowager.
Gojong's Accession and Regency
Prince Heungseon is recorded as visiting her often to build ties and securing her consent on the condition that one of his sons be adopted as Ikjong's heir. Gojong was eleven, so she ruled as regent, and the unprecedented situation arose of his living father holding power as Daewongun.
The Treasure Screen and Tomb
The screen depicting her 40th-birthday banquet in 1847, Josaengbi Sasun Chinggyeong Jinhado, is Treasure No. 732. Her tomb is Sureung at Donggureung.
Grave
Buried together with her husband Munjo at Sureung (綏陵) within Donggureung, Guri, Gyeonggi Province
Descendants
Her son was King Heonjong; after Cheoljong's death she adopted the son of Prince Heungseon and had him enthroned as King Gojong. Her great-grandfather was Jo Eom who brought the sweet potato to Korea, her father Jo Man-yeong and her uncle Chief State Councillor Jo In-yeong. Her mother is described as a seventh-generation descendant of Song Jun-gil.