Deok-im and crown prince munhyo's graves and Yisan
Yisan made deok-im's grave right next to their son crown prince munhyo in 효창원(hyo chang won), the royal graveyard. Munhyo was royal born but she was "just" a concubine. According to law, her grave can not be next to the crown prince. But yisan let her be with her son. He said that's the only thing he can do for her. He visited deok-im and munhyo's grave often. The hill he passed when he visit them is now called '거동고개'.
Yisan couldn't bear the thought of deok-im's existence get lost in the history.
"Uibin's trace will be forgotten forever. If i don't write how she was the most amazing person, who would leave her story and let it known?"
He wrote that behind deok-im's tombstone. In epitaph, he wrote short biography of her and how wonderful she was as a person (he literally wrote that she was the perfect woman in every way) and how devastated he was to loose her. A king of joseon never did that for a concubine. A king of joseon rarely express their romantic feelings towards a woman. A king of joseon never mourned a concubine's death for long. But for deok-im, he did all of them. I think she wasn't just a concubine to him. She was a whole woman he respected and loved. He was her man. They were not equal but they were lovers and partners.
I love you. I feel like my inside is burning. You are gone and we are apart. Now I realize your absence. You are gone far away. I realize it now.
There is no way i can bring you back. I can't send someone and bring you back to me. Now i feel this. I'm grief-stricken. Losing you is the worst thing that ever happend to me. I have never felt this tremendous sadness before. But I can't follow you to the other side.
Thinking of you makes my heart break into million pieces. You are indeed leaving this world. You are wise, smart, clever, intelligent, generous, bright and polite person.
When we lost our son munhyo, you didn't take a rest. You didn't stop crying. I worried about your health and the baby in you. so i sent you to gyeong-hui palace to recuperate. How is your life so fragile?
Rest in peace. I will let our son rest beside you. This is the only thing i can do for you right now.
I love you.
- excerpt from yisan's writing
Traditional royal funeral ritual is very long and complicated. Don't ask me details. It ends in three years. On a marked day such as when it's full moon, dead person's birthday, 1 year anniversary of death...etc, you offer drinks and food to a dead person's grave and wish them peace. Yisan wrote to her everytime how much he missed her for three years.
"I can not accept your death. Mind of a heartbroken person is like floating in the air"
"You would be sad if you knew that i can't get over sadness"
"How are you receiving birthday meals after death. You were beautiful like a flower. I am weak. You understood me when we talked"
" i am alive. You are dead. We are parted from each other forever. I can't stand this. I'm drown in sadness"
"I miss you but i can't see you"
"I will never forget about you even after i die"
Were some of his words to her.
today, deok-im and munhyo's graves are moved to elsewhere. Mother and son are far away from each other. Back in japanese occupation in 1919, Japanese government demolished royal graveyard and built golf course. Their purpose was to dishonor and insult joseon dynasty. It doesn't seem like she would be moved back to her original place i think.. such a tragedy..
*historical facts to know about the red sleeve
*yisan's love for deok-im through the years
