During the Chosŏn dynasty in Korea, Neo-Confucian values restricted royal women to the domestic sphere and “inner” spaces. While these women primarily operated within such boundaries, rare instances allowed them to engage in public or “outer” spaces. The Queen Dowager, a widowed queen, held the position of head of the royal household, often blurring the lines of the gender divide in Chosŏn. However, it was only through queen dowager regency that a royal woman could legally participate in court politics. This study utilises royal court records to investigate how gender was navigated in the Chosŏn royal court when royal women crossed into the outer or the political sphere. It discusses how queen dowager regency was employed in nineteenth-century Korea to address unprecedented succession issues to the throne while still upholding Confucian gender ideals.

In nineteenth century, four successive kings ascended to the throne at a young age or without sufficient preparation, prompting the court to install queen dowagers as regent. Codified rules were created to standardise this practice, they encouraged the joint governance of the queen dowager and the king. The Queen Dowager participated in court discussions from behind a hanging curtain, remaining physically present in court but separated from the male ministers. Through this system, royal women were able to navigate gender spaces and uniquely engage in governance. This study argues that queen dowager regency both upheld and challenged royal court gender roles, highlighting the complex relationship between gender and leadership in the royal court.

Authors:
Lucy Waugh, SOAS, University of London, United Kingdom

About the Presenter(s)
Lucy Waugh is currently a PhD candidate in Korean Studies at SOAS, University of London, specialising in Korean history focused on the Chosŏn dynasty and royal women. She holds a BA from SOAS and MSt from the University of Oxford.

Connect on Linkedin
https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucy-waugh

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