Korean nobility

Korean monarchy and native nobility existed in Korea until the end of the Japanese occupation. (In Imperial Japan, Korean nobles have continued holding noble titles.) The system is roughly the same as that of the Chinese nobility. It included "je", "wang" and "gun".

Ruler and princely styles

Original titles

Rulers of Goguryeo during the Three Kingdom Period adopted the style of "Taewang", and the rulers of Goryeo used the title of "Daewang". The title of Daewang was abandoned after the Mongol invasion as the Korean monarch was forced to use the title of king under Mongolian pressure. The literal translation of the title is "great king".Some kings, especially of the Silla period, have used the title of Maripgan. This follows from an earlier tradition when Korean kings were styled either "Han" or "Gan". "Marip" originally meant the highest, and "gan" meant rulers. In addition, Baekje used the title of Eoraha, "Ha" means rulers and eora means the largest [이도학, 백제사 (History of Baekje), 2005, ISBN : 89-89899-57-5] , [도수희, 백제왕칭어에 대하여: 어라하 , 건길지 , 구드래 , 구다라를 중심으로 (About the title of Baekje's ruler: Eoraha, Keongilji, Kudeurae and Kudara), "한국언어문학", 11, 244-247 (1973)] , [도수희, 백제어 연구 II (Study of Bakej Language II, 백제문화개발연구원(1989)] , [도수희, 백제어 연구 III (Study of Baekje Language III) (1994), 백제문화개발연구원] , [도수희, 존칭의 비(卑)칭화에 대하여 (About an honorific title and a humble name), 한국현대언어학회 특강논문 (1998)] .

Emperor

The rulers of Korea adopted the title "Je" (제; 帝), or emperor during the Balhae. The title was revived for less than two decades during the Korean Empire.

Kings

"Wang" (Hangul: 왕; Hanja: 王), or king, was a Chinese royal style used in many states rising from the dissolution of Gojoseon, in Silla from 500 to 935 and in Goryeo from 1274 - 1392. The monarchs of Goguryeo used the title "Taewang", meaning "great king". In late Goryeo (1274-1392) and the Joseon Dynasty (until 1897) the rulers of Korea were still known as "kings", as evident in the title of King Sejong the Great, 世宗大王. However, they were referred to by their temple names.

Prince

"Goon" (군; 君) is translated as "prince". The Royal Prince born of the Principal Royal consort (Queen) was designated "Daegoon", translated as the Grand Prince of the Blood. The princes born of concubine was given the title "goon" (often distinguished as "wangja-goon"), translated as the Prince of the Blood. The father of the king who himself has never reigned was given the special title of "Daewongoon" (The Grand Prince of the Blood in the Court).

Those who has distinguished himself in the service of the court were also given the princely title as well. "Buwongoon" (The Grand Prince of the Court), were the title of the father of the Queen, or those who have reached the rank of the Chief State Councellor. "Goon" was the title of the meriteous subjects who reached the rank of the State Councellor. These princes created for service had a prefix attached to the princely title, a town that a subject is affiliated to. Though designed as a titular appointment as a Lord of the area, the title was purely honorific.

The title "goon" can also refer to the dethroned rulers of Joseon dynasty as well. There were three dethroned kings to be called "Goon" in Joseon Dynasty (one restored to the dignity of king posthumously).

Under the Korean Empire (1897-1919), the Prince of the Blood was given the title of "Chinwang". While the literal translation is the Imperial King of the Blood, a more appropriate title is the Imperial Prince of the Blood. Only four "chinwang" were appointed.

Lower aristocracy

In Silla kingdom, the nobility was long split into two classes: sacred bone, which meant eligibility for the royal succession, and true bone, until the former was extinguished.

There also were several lower ranks of aristocracy under the empire, similar to those in China, with ranks descending generationally, by one degree with each succeeding heir to a title, with the exception of Gun and Kong. These were the seven main grades, with tentative Western equivalents, in descending order:
* "Goon" Prince (see above).
* "Gong" Duke. This was the title given to the Progenitor of the major branches of a clan.
* "Champan" Marquis.
* "Poguk" Count.
* "Panseo" Viscount.
* "Chamise" Baron.
* "Chusa" somewhat similar to the British Baronet.

ee also

* Rulers of Korea
* List of Korea-related topics
* Posterity of Heaven

References

External links

* Almanach de Bruxelles (now a paying site)
* [http://www.4dw.net/royalark/Korea/titles.htm Titles] of the Joseon Dynasty