Royal deaths, power struggles: Empress Gi and the forgotten memorial of Haengju

Sonjuk Bridge and Pyochung monument at Gaeseong, the capital of Goryeo. Robert Neff Collection.

By Robert Neff

The monument at Haengju Mountain Fortress dedicated to Empress Gi. Robert Neff Collection, March 2020.

The spring that never goes dry and the birthplace of the Haengju Gi clan. Robert Neff Collection, March 2020.

The park surrounding Haengju Mountain Fortress is basically a monument to General Kwon Yul and his decisive victory over Japanese forces in 1593. But there is also a smaller and relatively unknown monument that deserves some recognition.

At the foot of the fortress' earthen embankment is a small, crude structure from which flows a small stream. Legend claims this stream never goes dry but this is not what makes this spot special ― it is the history associated with the area. This was the birthplace of the Haengju Gi clan.

Probably the most famous (or infamous ― depending on your view) was the daughter of Gi Ja-oh, a Goryeon nobleman and general. We know little about her childhood, save that she was born in 1315 and apparently was well educated and grew into a beautiful and talented woman. She is described as being an accomplished singer and dancer, graced with the ability to compose and recite poetry, and skilled in calligraphy as well as being an able conversationalist. Her father was undoubtedly proud and had great expectations of her.

It seems only natural that, in 1333, at the age of 18, she was sent to China to serve as one of the concubines of Toghon Temur, the Mongol emperor of the Yuan Dynasty. The emperor soon noticed Lady Gi's beauty and intelligence and she soon became his favorite concubine. Others in the court also noticed her but negatively. She was feared and despised because of her ambition and nationality. By 1340, through the birth of a son, she was named as the emperor's secondary wife and became an empress.

As an empress, she carefully watched events in Goryeo and apparently had a great influence on the emperor's policies regarding the Korean Peninsula and its kings. At this period, the Korean monarchs had relatively short reigns and lives.

In 1344, at the age of 28, King Chunghye was summoned to the Yuan court and subsequently deposed by the emperor for his evil acts ― Chunghye died while being taken to his place of exile. The ex-king's eight-year-old son (Chungmok) was then summoned and asked if he would be like his father or his mother. The astute boy quickly answered that he would be like his mother and was promptly crowned king.

King Chungmok returned to Gaeseong [the capital of Goryeo] and changes were made ― some of them resulted in part of Empress Gi's family being removed from power, imprisoned or killed. The boy-king was apparently able to make amends with the furious empress but his reign was short ― in December 1348, at the age of 11, he died from an unidentified disease.

His 10-year-old half-brother, Chungjeong, succeeded him and his reign was equally short. In 1352, the Yuan emperor decided to place the boy's uncle on the throne ― he became known as King Gongmin. According to Homer Hulbert's historical accounts, the helpless boy “fled to Gangwha and the next year was killed by poison, but by whose hand administered or at whose instigation is neither known nor recorded.”

The walled city of Uiju near the Yalu River. Robert Neff Collection.

Although Gongmin was married to a Mongol princess [Queen Noguk in 1349], his policies soon displeased the Yuan court ― especially Empress Gi, who may have been trying to place her own son on the Goryeo throne. The relationship between the empress and the king worsened when many of the surviving members of her family were stripped of their property and wealth ― the unluckier ones were also stripped of their lives.

Some began to fear that the king's policies would result in the destruction of the Goryeo dynasty. According to Hulbert, during Gongmin's reign there were many omens that indicated supernatural displeasure with his rule:

“There were earthquakes, eclipses and comets; worms ate the leaves of the pine trees in the capital [Gaeseong], and as the pine tree was the emblem of the dynasty, this was ominous; red and black ants had war among themselves; a well in the capital became boiling hot; there was a shower of blood; for many days a fog-like red fire hung over the land; black spots were seen on the sun; there was a shower of white horse hair three inches long; hail fell of the size of a man's hand; there was a tremendous avalanche [near Seoul].”

The tombs of King Gongmin and Queen Noguk near Gaeseong, North Korea. Robert Neff Collection

But it wasn't the Goryeo dynasty that was falling (at least not yet) ― it was the Yuan dynasty. Insurrections weakened the Mongol dynasty's control of China and, subsequently, its influence on the Korean Peninsula.

Eventually, the Yuan court could no longer tolerate the Goryeon king's insolence and in 1364, a Mongol force of 10,000 soldiers crossed the Yalu River and lay siege to the walled city of Uiju. The Mongols won this first battle but suffered a great loss of men. The next battles ― further south ― were won by the Koreans and the invading army was forced to flee. According to Hulbert, only 17 of the Mongols managed to get safely back across the Yalu.

The Yuan dynasty's hold on China continued to weaken until 1368, when it was replaced by the Ming dynasty. The imperial family was forced to flee to the Mongol homeland and two years later, Toghon Temur died from dysentery.

What became of Empress Gi is unknown but two Korean television drama series (“Shin don,” 2005; and “Empress Gi,” 2013-14) did revive interest in this powerful woman. But apparently not enough interest.

The monument and spring lie at the foot of this earthen embankment. Robert Neff Collection, March 2020.

There is a turtle-shaped stone memorial dedicated to her near the spring but, surprisingly, there is no mention of her or the monument in the pamphlet provided by the Goyang City tourism department. Considering the increased popularity of Korean dramas and the multinational (Korean, Chinese, Japanese and Mongol) historical ties to this area, why isn't the Goyang government capitalizing on this aspect of their local history?

Note

I would like to thank Jeon Dong-hun for his assistance.