{{Short description|Historical Korean title for women}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2022}} {{Infobox Korean name/auto |hangul=상궁 |hanja=尙宮 }} '''{{Transliteration|ko|Sanggung}}''' was an official title of the senior 5th rank ({{Hanja|正五品}}; {{Transliteration|ko|Jeong 5 pum}}), the highest attainable for ''kungnyŏ'', a lady-in-waiting during the Joseon period of Korea.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_zqGOEkqp8kC&q=sanggung+court&pg=PA62 |title=The Memoirs of Lady Hyegyŏng: The Autobiographical Writings of a Crown Princess of Eighteenth-century Korea |author=Hyegyŏnggung Hong Ssi |author-link=Lady Hyegyŏng|translator=JaHyun Kim Haboush |publisher=University of California Press |year=1996 |isbn=0-520-20055-1 |page=62 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aks.ac.kr/glossary/glossary_detail.asp?g_code=15278&page=1&c_code=&search_field=g_korean&keyword=%EC%83%81%EA%B6%81&order=g_korean&kanada= |script-title=ko:상궁(尙宮), Sanggung |publisher=The Academy of Korean Studies |language=Korean, English |access-date=2009-02-07 |archive-date=2016-03-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303183543/http://www.aks.ac.kr/glossary/glossary_detail.asp?g_code=15278&page=1&c_code=&search_field=g_korean&keyword=%EC%83%81%EA%B6%81&order=g_korean&kanada= |url-status=dead }}</ref> Female officers with the title were assigned to govern the inner affairs of the palace. When a regular ''nain'' served for more than 15 years, she would be awarded with an ornamental hairpin for a {{Transliteration|ko|sanggung}}. Therefore, a newly appointed {{Transliteration|ko|sanggung}} was usually 35–45 years old. A court lady at the rank of {{Transliteration|ko|sanggung}} was treated well enough to live in her own house with servants.<ref>[http://www.food.co.kr/english/05_5.html Who made royal cuisines] {{webarchive|date=4 January 2007 |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070104045629/http://www.food.co.kr/english/05_5.html}}</ref>
The title first appears in Goryeosa ('History of Goryeo'), a compiled book about the Goryeo period. In the chapter of the book titled {{Transliteration|ko|Baekgwanji}} ({{Hanja|百官志}}), regarding all official titles, there were posts named {{Transliteration|ko|sanggung}} ({{Hanja|尙宮}}, managing the palace), {{Transliteration|ko|sangchim}} ({{Hanja|尙寢}}, managing bedding), {{Transliteration|ko|sangsik}} ({{Hanja|尙食}} managing food), and another {{Transliteration|ko|sangchim}} ({{Hanja|尙針}}, managing sewing) during the reign of King Hyeonjong. The book also has another record that Lady Han was appointed as {{Transliteration|ko|sanggung}} in March 1031, the 22nd year of the king's reign. These records prove that the {{Transliteration|ko|sanggung}} system had existed since the Goryeo period.<ref name="Britannica">{{cite web|url=http://100.empas.com/dicsearch/pentry.html?s=B&i=153787&v=44 |script-title=ko:상궁(尙宮) |publisher=Empas / Britannica |language=Korean}}</ref><ref name="EncyKorea">{{cite web|url=http://100.empas.com/dicsearch/pentry.html?i=267246 |script-title=ko:상궁(尙宮) |publisher=Empas / EncyKorea |language=Korean}}</ref>
As a system on ''Naemyŏngbu'' ({{Hanja|內命婦}}) which refers to women at court with a rank including queen and lady-in-waiting<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.encyber.com/search_w/ctdetail.php?masterno=36521&contentno=36521 |script-title=ko:내명부 (內命婦) |publisher=Doosan Encyclopedia |language=Korean}}</ref> was revised since the start of the Joseon period, female officers with the title, {{Transliteration|ko|sanggung}} began to manage inner affairs of the court in general as the highest position of the {{Transliteration|ko|gunggwan}} (literally a palace officer). The {{Transliteration|ko|Naemyŏngbu}} was largely divided into {{Transliteration|ko|naegwan}} (literally 'internal offices'<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.aks.ac.kr/glossary/glossary_detail.asp?g_code=1370&page=1&c_code=&search_field=all&keyword=naegwan&order=g_korean&kanada= |script-title=ko:한국학 용어,용례 사전 |access-date=2009-02-07 |archive-date=2011-07-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716074000/http://www.aks.ac.kr/glossary/glossary_detail.asp?g_code=1370&page=1&c_code=&search_field=all&keyword=naegwan&order=g_korean&kanada= |url-status=dead }}</ref>) and {{Transliteration|ko|gunggwan}} according to ''Kyŏngguk taejŏn''. The former refers to a king's concubines or a crown prince's consort while {{Transliteration|ko|gunggwan}} are female officers with a rank.<ref name="Britannica" />
The social status of {{Transliteration|ko|sanggung}} generally belonged to the ''yangin'' (common people) class, distinguished from {{Transliteration|ko|naegwan}} in policy.
== Types of ''sanggung'' == *{{Transliteration|ko|Jejo sanggung}} ({{Hanja|提調尙宮}}) – also called {{Transliteration|ko|Keunbang sanggung}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.encyber.com/search_w/ctdetail.php?masterno=87011&contentno=87011 |script-title=ko:상궁 (尙宮) |publisher=Doosan Encyclopedia |language=Korean}}</ref> They had the highest position among {{Transliteration|ko|Kungnyŏ}}, and they were responsible for the management of properties. They served the king with many other ladies-in-waiting in his palace, received the king's orders and held political power. *{{Transliteration|ko|Bujejo sanggung}} ({{Hanja|副提調尙宮}}) – also called {{Transliteration|ko|Arigo sanggung}} ({{Hanja|阿里庫尙宮}}); they managed the properties in the warehouse of the palace. *{{Transliteration|ko|Jimil sanggung}} ({{Hanja|至密尙宮}}) – also called {{Transliteration|ko|Daeryeong sanggung}} ({{Hanja|待令尙宮}}); they waited closely on the king. *{{Transliteration|ko|Bomo sanggung}} ({{Hanja|保姆尙宮}}) – literally 'a nurse {{Transliteration|ko|sanggung}}'; they took care of the princes and princesses. *{{Transliteration|ko|Sinyeo sanggung}} ({{Hanja|侍女尙宮}}) – literally 'a maid-in-waiting {{Transliteration|ko|sanggung}}'; they assisted {{Transliteration|ko|jimil saggung}} with books and ceremony. *{{Transliteration|ko|Gamchal sanggung}} ({{Hanja|監察尙宮}}) – literally 'an inspector {{Transliteration|ko|sanggung}}'; they inspected and gave out punishments to {{Transliteration|ko|kungnyŏ}}.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://100.nate.com/dicsearch/pentry.html?s=K&i=255134&v=42 |script-title=ko:'궁녀' - 네이트 백과사전 |access-date=2010-08-29 |archive-date=2011-06-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110610020536/http://100.nate.com/dicsearch/pentry.html?s=K&i=255134&v=42 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
== See also == *Korean royal court cuisine
== References == {{Reflist}} *{{cite journal |url=http://khistory.korea.ac.kr/bbs/table/koreanhistory/upload/2217_005.pdf |publisher=International Journal of Korean History |title=Women's Life during the Chosŏn Dynasty |author=Han, Hee-sook |date=December 2004 |volume=6 |pages=141–146 & 152–153 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090224212600/http://khistory.korea.ac.kr/bbs/table/koreanhistory/upload/2217_005.pdf |archive-date=2009-02-24 }} *{{cite book|title=Gungnyeo - The Flower of the Palace (궁녀 - 궁궐의 꽃)|author=Shin, Myung-ho (신명호)|publisher=Sigongsa |isbn=978-89-527-3671-0 |date=2004-04-20 |language=Korean}} *{{cite book |title=Korean royal court cuisine (궁중음식) |author=Prof. Jo Mun-su (조문수교수) |url=http://e-foodservice.co.kr/food/main01-03.html |publisher=Jeju University |language=Korean |access-date=2009-05-16 |archive-date=2001-11-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011115092712/http://e-foodservice.co.kr/food/main01-03.html |url-status=dead }}
Category:Women's social titles Category:Obsolete occupations Category:Society of Goryeo Category:Society of Joseon Category:Korean ladies-in-waiting Category:History of women in Korea