ROYAL FAMILY. 367 AtemySML Bad Davgh' Died Throne. Sont. ten. tU. Yingdaoong Hienhiao „ (4thflonofSod80ong)1724 2 12 88 Jundsoong Hiaojang „ (eldest son of last) 1776 11 Jnngdsoong Jwaoihiao ^ „ . . . . 1776 2 2 49 Chwunjoo Chinghiao <» „ - . - - 1800 2 3 45 Yidsoong Hiaomin „ (eldest son of last) 1834 1 22 Hendsoong „ (son of last) 1834 no child ChuadsoongjOrChiuljong,, (next of kin) 1849 Dang Jie (adoptedbywidowof Yidsoong) 1864; — ^was then an infant. During his infancy occurred the two wars with France and America. He has only recently assumed the reins of government. His title of Dang Jie is that of every Corean king while living, the historical title being invariably posthumous. The dsoong of Chinese is always jong in Corean. The above list will serve to illustrate the statement, that the reigniDg king chooses which of his sons he pleases, or even passes them over for a cousin or an uncle, according to pleasure. If the king has many children he has many wives ; 300 being the
- ' round number'^ of his secondary wives or concubines. If a
chief queen has a son, the son of a concubine cannot ordinarily succeed ; but the son of a concubine is considered the proper heir if a chief queen has no child or daughters. The present king, son of Dewun Ooon, adopted when the late king despaired of an heir, had a son by a secondary wife, who was three years (four awi) old, and would, on the following year, be proclaimed heir ; but that the queen was pregnant, and in due time gave birth to a son, who is heir. This heir is seven years old (1879), and the other eleven. The heir is a Wang, the other sons are Kiln princes ; in Corean, 6o(yrL Depabtmekts. To advise and consult with the strong king, to guide and command the weak, there are three great councillors, called Yijuvg, and six presidents (Pcmaie) of as many state depart- menta The Prime Minister is Niungijung — ^in Chinese, Ling Sicmg — "Chief Councillor." The second is Dao Siang — ^in
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