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Chilgung Shrine and Its History
Chilgung Shrine (Yuksanggung Shrine) is a shrine that treasures the ancestral tablets of seven concubines who were never queens but produced kings of the Joseon dynasty.
The area initially hosted the shrine of Royal Noble Consort Suk-bin Choi, the birth mother of King Yeongjo, in 1725 (the 1st year of King Yeongjo) and was named the Sukbinmyo In 1744 (the 20th year of King Yeongjo), it was renamed "Yuksangmyo," until the name changed again to "Yuksanggung Shrine" under the policy of Gungwonje (a system of elevating the status of shrines and tombs of concubines who produced kings) in 1753 (the 29th year of King Yeongjo).

Later, all shrines scattered within the four gates of Hanyang, namely Yeonhogung Shrine, Jeogyeonggung Shrine, Daebingung Shrine, Seonhuigung Shrine, and Gyeongugung Shrine, were relocated to Yuksanggung Shrine during the King Gojong and Emperor Sunjong periods. Deogangung Shrine was the last to move into the complex in 1929, completing the present-day Chilgung Shrine (meaning the Seven Shrines). Chilgung Shrine hosts the ancestral tablets of seven royal concubines, but there are only five shrine buildings, as Yeonhogung Shrine and Gyeongugung Shrine belong to Yuksanggung Shrine and Seonhuigung Shrine, respectively, housing two tablets each. Other than shrine buildings, structures such as the ritual hall (the room where rites are prepared), Pungwolheon, Songjukjae, Samnakdang, and Naengcheonjeong are all later additions built during the reign of King Yeongjo when Yuksanggung Shrine was established.
History
Classification Detail
1722 (the 2nd year of King Gyeongjong)
Elevated the status of Royal Noble Consort Hui-bin of the Jang Clan (a concubine of King Sukjong) to Oksanbu Daebin and established a shrine near the present Jongno District Tax Office in Nagwon-dong, Jongno-gu
1725 (the 1st year of King Yeongjo)
Established the shrine of Royal Noble Consort Suk-bin of the Choi Clan at the current location (Sukbinmyo Shrine)
1744 (the 20th year of King Yeongjo)
Changed the name to Yuksangmyo Shrine
1753 (the 29th year of King Yeongjo)
Elevated the status of Yuksangmyo to Yuksanggung Shrine
1755 (the 31st year of King Yeongjo)
Moved the Shrine of Royal Noble Consort In-bin of the Kim Clan (a concubine of King Seonjo) to Songhyeongung Manor (near the present Bank of Korea in Jung-gu) and elevated the status, naming it Jeogyeonggung Shrine
1764 (the 40th year of King Yeongjo)
Established a shrine near the present Seoul National School for the Blind in Jongno-gu after the passing of Royal Noble Consort Yeong-bin of the Yi Clan (a concubine of King Yeongjo)
1765 (the 41st year of King Yeongjo)
Granted the title of Uiyeol to Royal Noble Consort Yeong-bin of the Yi Clan
1778 (the 2nd year of King Jeongjo)
Established the Shrine of Royal Noble Consort Jeong-bin of the Yi Clan, a concubine of King Yeongjo, titled it Yeonhogung Shrine, in Sunhwabang, near the present north section of Gyeongbokgung Palace
1788 (the 12th year of King Jeongjo)
Renamed Uiyeolgung Shrine to Seonhuigung Shrine
1824 (the 24th year of King Sunjo)
Established Gyeongugung Shrine near the present Anguk Station in Gye-dong, Jongno-gu after the passing of Royal Noble Consort Yu-bin of the Bak Clan (a concubine of King Jeongjo)
1870 (the 7th year of King Gojong)
Moved Jeogyeonggung Shrine to a space within Yuksanggung
1882 (the 19th year of King Gojong)
Lost Yuksanggung Shrine due to a fire
1883 (the 20th year of King Gojong)
Rebuilt Yuksanggung Shrine
1886 (the 23rd year of King Gojong)
Moved Gyeongugung Shrine to present-day Ogin-dong, Jongno-gu
1887 (the 24th year of King Gojong)
Moved Daebingung Shrine to its original location
1897 (the 34th year of King Gojong)
Moved Seonhuigung Shrine to its original location
1901 (the 5th year of Gwangmu Emperor)
Elevated Royal Noble Consort Yu-bin of the Bak Clan to Yu-bi
1908 (the 2nd year of Yunghui Emperor)
Relocated Jeogyeonggung, Daebingung, Seonhuigung, and Gyeongugung Shrines to a space within Yuksanggung Shrine
1911
Established Deogangung Shrine within the present-day Deoksugung Palace after the passing of Imperial Noble Consort Sunheon of the Eom Clan, a concubine of Emperor Gojong
1913
Moved Deogangung Shrine to present-day Taepyeongno 1(il)-ga
1929
Moved Deogangung Shrine to a space within Yuksanggung Shrine