The Whereabouts(臨御) of Grand King(上王) Taejo(太祖) during king Jeongjong’s reign(定宗代), and the Deoksu-gung(德壽宮) palace at Gaeseong(開城)

Abstract

Examined in this article is how Grand king Taejo(太祖) and the sitting king Jeongjong(定宗) came to stay in Gaeseong, due to a capital transfer decided and implemented by Jeongjong himself, who was enthroned as a result of the first rebellion of the princes. Also examined is how the power and status of king Taejong(太宗), who newly rose to power because of the second rebellion of the princes, was affected by Taejo’s movements and locations, as well as how the relationship among all three figures continued to fluctuate. Right after his enthronement, Jeongjong returned the capital to Gaeseong, with the intention of preventing any more political turmoil from happening, but Founder king Taejo did not agree with that decision. In a gesture of protest, Taejo refused to stay at Suchang-gung(壽昌宮) where Jeongjong was staying, and chose to stay at the Chudong Bon’gung(楸洞本宮) instead, to put a distance between his son and himself. After the second rebellion of the princes, Taejo helped his other son Taejong consolidate his(Taejong’s) new power, and released Chudong Bon’gung. Then he secured a new title(Deoksugung[德壽宮]) for his earlier residence, which was in front of the Sung’in-mun(崇仁門) gate, and re-initiated his political activities by greeting foreign envoys visiting Joseon. After King Taejong was enthroned, the Suchang-gung palace where Jeongjong was staying was incinerated by a fire, and Chudong Bon’gung where Taejong was staying after Taejo released it to him, continued to be repaired as the Main palace(正宮), and was finalized as new the Gyeongdeok-gung(敬德宮) palace.