영조대 숙빈 최씨 추숭과 가상시호加上諡號의 의의

Abstract

King Yeongjo succeeded to the throne in an unstable political situation, and in order to strengthen the legitimacy of the throne, he used the logic of ‘Filial Piety and Fraternity (孝悌)’ to carry out the project of enshrining Sukbin Choi (淑嬪崔氏). However, due to the presence of his mother, Queen Inwon, hasty worship could lead to discord. In response, King Yeongjo devised the use of “Posthumous epithet (諡號)” as a way to honor his biological mother [sachin 私親] without exceeding her status as queen. Sukbin Choi’s first Posthumous epithet came during the implementation of the The Gung·Won-je (宮園制). Although it was unprecedented for the King’s concubines to be honored, the process was smooth due to the gradual veneration that began with the maintenance of shrines and mausoleums. With one successful Sangsihoui (上諡號儀), King Yeongjo created a New Posthumous epithet (加上諡號) and and a series of new Sangsihoui were held. In the New Posthumous epithet process, King Yeongjo fo cused on the ‘relationship’ surrounding Sukbin, seeking to strengthen Sukbin’s veneration and thus his legitimacy. As a concubine of King Sukjong, Sukbin Choi was elevated to the status of King Sukjong’s queen consort as part of King Yeongjo’s lifelong campaign of sachin worship, and became an important precedent for the king’s birth mother.