[K-Women Talk] The Joseon Court Lady Who Moved a Nation with Her Brush

Jo Dudae: The Linguistic Genius Who Rose from Slave to Sang-gung
A Central Figure of State Power Who Transcended Status and Gender

The official script of Joseon was Classical Chinese. The Annals of the Joseon Dynasty, as well as various official documents and letters, were all recorded in Classical Chinese. However, it was so difficult that ordinary people could barely read, let alone write, in Classical Chinese. The yangban (aristocrats) learned Classical Chinese, but only men; the vast majority of women remained illiterate. Yet, throughout history, there was a woman who, as a linguistic genius, mastered Classical Chinese with ease.

Jo Dudae lived during the early Joseon period. She was originally a slave and served as a maid to Grand Prince Gwangpyeong, one of King Sejong's sons. However, Jo Dudae soon demonstrated her linguistic talent, learned Classical Chinese, and became proficient in it, which led to her appointment as a court lady. In the Joseon era, being a court lady was one of the highest professional positions a woman could attain.

Life as a court lady was smooth for Jo Dudae. She became close to Grand Prince Suyang, who would later become King Sejo, and, above all, she mastered Sanskrit thanks to her exceptional linguistic talent. Through these connections, Jo Dudae participated in the project to translate the Buddhist scripture Surangama Sutra into Hangul, working alongside Subin, who was both Sejo's daughter-in-law and later became Queen Insu, as well as other officials. She also took part in the publication of various books, proving herself to be a true linguistic genius.

However, Jo Dudae's true era began when King Seongjong ascended the throne and Queen Dowager Jeonghui became regent. In Joseon, a Confucian country, men and women were strictly separated, and the queen managed the inner court. However, in the unusual situation where the king was only twelve years old and his grandmother, the Grand Queen Dowager, ruled the country, a pipeline was needed to connect the inner and outer courts. Moreover, Queen Dowager Jeonghui was not literate in Classical Chinese. Therefore, Jo Dudae, a woman who could read and write in Classical Chinese, was appointed as a messenger, responsible for conveying the queen's orders.

Ultimately, Jo Dudae translated the queen dowager's orders into Classical Chinese, drafted official documents, and delivered them to the officials at the State Council, becoming, quite literally, the voice of state power. The governance of the country moved according to Jo Dudae's pen. King Sejo, Queen Dowager Jeonghui, Queen Insu, and even King Seongjong all held Jo Dudae in great favor and granted her numerous privileges. Jo Dudae rose to the highest rank a court lady could achieve, Sangung, and ultimately, she was freed from her status as a slave and became a commoner. Even her family and nephews were awarded official positions and honors.

Having become extremely wealthy, Jo Dudae donated vast sums to temples, praying for a blissful afterlife. However, not everything was positive; many sycophants seeking personal gain flocked to her. Her family, relying on her power, became so arrogant that they looked down on officials and abused their authority. The censors criticized Jo Dudae for her involvement in various corrupt acts and accused her of "yeoal," meaning a woman interfering in politics.

Nevertheless, Jo Dudae's role is recorded only fragmentarily and vaguely in official records, with few details of her activities surviving. It is presumed that her power waned after Queen Dowager Jeonghui stepped down as regent, but the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty do not record when Jo Dudae died. This was likely because she was a woman, a commoner, and involved in politics.

Yet, it was King Yeonsangun who truly demonstrated the power Jo Dudae once wielded. During the literati purges, he exhumed the graves of many people under the pretext that they were involved in the death of his mother, Deposed Queen Yoon. Among them was court lady Jo Dudae. Although it was a tragic event, the fact that she was exhumed alongside other high-ranking officials shows just how influential Jo Dudae was. With her innate linguistic talent, she transcended both status and gender, ultimately becoming a true behind-the-scenes power who moved the nation.

Lee Han, Historical Writer