Princess Sukshin

Princess Sukshin (淑愼公主, 1634 – 2 August 1645) was a royal of Joseon, the eldest daughter of Hyojong and Queen Inseon.¹

Life

Birth

In 1634 (the 12th year of King Injo's reign), she was born as the eldest daughter of Prince Bongrim (Hyojong), the second son of King Injo, and his wife, Lady Jang, Lady Pungan of Pungan Buburin (Queen Inseon).

In 1637 (the 15th year of King Injo's reign), Prince Bongrim and Lady Jang were taken as hostages to Shenyang in the Qing dynasty.² Her younger sister, Princess Sukan, who was then only one year old, was not taken to the Qing but was raised in the palace. From this, it appears that Princess Sukshin was also raised in the palace together with Princess Sukan.³ This can be inferred from the passage in the elegy "On the Death of Princess Sukshin" by Kim Sang-heon, which reads: "Growing up for twelve years in the deep palace, / The Supreme Ruler (Injo) loved her, and his favor was especially deep."

Death

On 2 August 1645 (the 23rd year of King Injo's reign), she died.⁴⁵ She was 12 years old at the time of her death. As she had not yet undergone the coming-of-age ceremony (gyerye) and was a minor who died between the ages of 12 and 15, she was regarded as having died a "middle-aged" death (中殤). Her funeral was conducted according to the rites for a gunju (郡主), the legitimate daughter of the , and the various mourning rites followed those for a senior second-rank official as stipulated in the .