1. Overview
Marquess Hansan, personal name Wang Yun (왕윤Wang YunKorean) or Wang Gyun (왕균Wang GyunKorean), was a royal prince of Goryeo as the only son of King Seonjong and Princess Wonsin. He was appointed to the official position of Susado (수사도SusadoKorean) in 1094. His brief political involvement included being the intended beneficiary of an attempted usurpation by his maternal uncle, Yi Ja-ui, a conspiracy that ultimately failed and led to his exile. Historical records regarding his life after this event are scarce.
2. Life
The life of Marquess Hansan was marked by his royal lineage, a significant official appointment, and an attempted coup d'état by his maternal uncle that led to his banishment.
2.1. Family and Birth
Marquess Hansan was born into the Goryeo royal family as the son of King Seonjong (the 13th monarch of Goryeo) and his third consort, Wonshin Gungju (원신궁주Wonsin GungjuKorean). His ancestral seat was Gaeseong (개성GaeseongKorean), and his personal name was recorded as either Wang Yun (왕윤Wang YunKorean) or Wang Gyun (왕균Wang GyunKorean). His exact birth and death dates remain unknown.
His paternal grandparents were King Munjong (the 11th monarch) and Queen Inye, King Munjong's second consort. On his maternal side, Princess Wonsin was a member of the Incheon Yi clan (인천 이씨Incheon Yi-ssiKorean). She was the daughter of Yi Jeong (이정Yi JeongKorean) and the granddaughter of Yi Ja-yeon (이자연Yi Ja-yeonKorean). Princess Wonsin was also the sister of the powerful nobleman Yi Ja-ui (이자의Yi Ja-uiKorean). Notably, Queen Inye, Wang Yun's paternal grandmother, was Princess Wonsin's paternal aunt, making Princess Wonsin also a first cousin to her husband, King Seonjong. Wang Yun was an elder half-brother to King Heonjong and a maternal sixth cousin to him through their shared Yi lineage. He was also a nephew to King Sunjong and King Sukjong.
2.2. Princehood and Official Position
In 1094, upon the ascension of Crown Prince Wang Uk to the throne as King Heonjong, Wang Yun was appointed to the official position of Susado (수사도SusadoKorean). This appointment took place on the 30th day of the 6th month of King Heonjong's ascension year. He received this position alongside Wang Yu and Wang Yeong, signifying his status as a prominent royal prince.
2.3. Attempted Usurpation and Exile
King Heonjong was very young when he ascended the throne, leading his mother, Queen Sasuk, to manage state affairs in his stead. However, this situation resulted in political instability. Sensing an opportunity due to the young and sickly king, Wang Yun's maternal uncle, Yi Ja-ui, a powerful nobleman, began to plot an attempted usurpation. Yi Ja-ui hoped to place his only nephew, Wang Yun, on the throne.
Yi Ja-ui gathered a group of ruffians and declared, "The current King Heonjong is ill, and there are those outside the palace who covet the throne. You must uphold Marquess Hansan and ensure the divine vessel (신기SingiKorean, meaning the "royal throne") does not pass to another. I plan to gather soldiers in the palace and launch a major undertaking." He then proceeded to amass troops within the palace.
However, Yi Ja-ui's conspiracy was discovered by Wang Yun's paternal uncle, Duke Gyerim (who would later become King Sukjong). Duke Gyerim promptly informed So Tae-bo (소태보So Tae-boKorean) of the plot. So Tae-bo, in turn, brought troops into the palace along with Wang Guk-mo (왕국모Wang Guk-moKorean). In 1095, Duke Gyerim's faction moved swiftly to purge Yi Ja-ui's group, accusing them of rebellion. Yi Ja-ui was immediately assassinated. Following the thwarted coup, Duke Gyerim ascended to the throne, bypassing his nephew, King Heonjong. As a consequence of the conspiracy, Wang Yun and his mother, Princess Wonsin, were exiled to Gyeongwon-gun (경원군Gyeongwon-gunKorean), which is now part of Incheon.
2.4. Later Life and Lack of Records
Following his exile to Gyeongwon-gun, detailed historical records concerning Marquess Hansan's later life are notably absent. The official historical texts, such as the Goryeosa (History of Goryeo), do not provide further information about his activities or fate after this period, leaving his remaining years largely undocumented.
3. Cultural Connections
A notable legend associated with the Yongmi-ri Stone Buddha statues (용미리 석불입상Yongmi-ri SeokburipsangKorean), designated Korean Treasure No. 93, located in Gwangtan-myeon, Paju, Gyeonggi Province, is said to be connected to Marquess Hansan and his mother, Princess Wonsin.
The legend recounts that Princess Wonsin, early in her marriage, struggled to conceive a child. One day, she had a dream where two Buddhist monks appeared and requested food, stating they lived in a rock crevice on the southern slope of Jangjisan (장지산JangjisanKorean) mountain before vanishing. Upon waking, Princess Wonsin found the dream unusual and reported it to King Seonjong. The king immediately dispatched people to Jangjisan, who reported finding two large rocks standing side by side at the base of the mountain. King Seonjong then ordered that the two rocks be carved into the likeness of the two monks from Princess Wonsin's dream. A temple was also built nearby, where prayers were offered. Soon after, Princess Wonsin became pregnant and gave birth to a son, who was believed to be Wang Yun.
However, scholarly analysis suggests that the actual stone Buddha statues were constructed during the Joseon Dynasty, evidenced by an inscription dating to 1471 (the 2nd year of King Seongjong's reign). Regarding this discrepancy, Professor Lee Han-seong (이한성Lee Han-seongKorean) of Dongguk University has offered an interpretation. He speculates that the legend might have been created to subtly express criticism of King Sejo of Joseon, who controversially usurped the throne from his young nephew, King Danjong. This historical narrative could be a parallel to the story of King Sukjong of Goryeo, who also ascended the throne following a coup that involved his nephew, King Heonjong, providing a veiled commentary on the political maneuverings of the Joseon era through a Goryeo-era legend.