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{{Short description|Legendary Korean figure (fl. 6th–7th century)}}
{{more citations needed|date=January 2017}}
{{Infobox noble
| name        = Mishil
| birth_date  = c. 546/548
| death_date  = c. 612
| spouse      = Lord Sejong, 6th Pungwolju
| father      = Mijinbu
| mother      = Lady Myodo
| issue       = {{Plainlist|
*Lord Hajong (564–? CE)
*[[Bojong|Lord Bojong]] (580–621 CE)
*Lord Okjong
*Prince Sujong
*Princess Banya
*Princess Nanya
*Princess Aesong
*Princess Bohwa
}}
}}
{{Infobox Korean name
|hangul=미실
|hanja=美室
|rr=Misil
|mr=Misil
}}
'''Mishil''' (c. 546/548 – c. 612) was a [[Silla]] aristocrat whose historical existence is debatable. According to the ''[[Hwarang Segi]]'', she was a concubine to several kings and, along with her aunt [[Queen Sado]], played an instrumental role in dethroning [[Jinji of Silla|King Jinji]]. However, it has been questioned whether Misil was truly a historical figure, as she is only mentioned in the Hwarang Segi, and not in the historical texts Samguk Sagi or Samguk Yusa.
==Biography==
According to the ''[[Hwarang Segi]]'', Mishil was the daughter of Lord Mijinbu and Lady Myodo, a sister of Queen Sado, the consort of [[Jinheung of Silla]]. Her paternal grandmother was Princess Samyeop, daughter of [[Beopheung of Silla|King Beopheung]]. Due to her lineage, Mishil was a member of the {{Transliteration|ko|jingol}} ({{Korean|hangul=진골|hanja=眞骨|labels=no}}), or the noble [[Bone-rank system#Rank|true bone caste]]. Matrilineally, she belonged to the Matrilineal clan of Daewon Shintong ({{Korean|hangul=대원신통|hanja=大元神統|labels=no}}) or directly translated as the divine succession of the great prime. The Daewon Shintong is believed to be descent from Bomi, however, the records in the reigns of Soji of Silla, that Bomi, the Lady Daewon (大元夫人), passed away and buried at the age of 82. Lady Daewon has given birth to 12 children from several different fathers. Because of her nobility, her descendants were known as Daewon or great prime tribe. (大元族).<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=52Q-AwAAQBAJ&q=%E5%A4%A7%E5%85%83%E7%A5%9E%E7%B5%B1&pg=PA71|title = The Journal of Korean Studies, Volume 13, Number 1 (Fall 2008)|isbn = 9781442234864|last1 = Duncan|first1 = John|date = 16 December 2008| publisher=Rowman & Littlefield }}</ref>
She was the wife of Lord Sejong (the sixth Pungwolju), the lover of General Seolwon (the seventh Pungwolju) and the older sister of Lord Misaeng (the tenth Pungwolju). She was concubine to three successive Silla kings: [[Jinheung of Silla|King Jinheung]], [[Jinji of Silla|King Jinji]], and [[Jinpyeong of Silla|King Jinpyeong]]. Legend states that she was in love with Crown Prince Dongnyeon. Her sons became the 11th and 16th pungwoljus, Hajong (through Sejong) and Bojong (through Seolwon), respectively.
According to Hwarang Segi: Mishil became King Jinji's concubine after his father, King Jinheung died. However, he lost interest on her after falling in love with another woman. His mother, Queen Sado, was angered about his sudden change of heart and failing to keep his promise on making her niece (Mishil) into his Queen.
As a result, Queen Sado, with the help of Mishil's lovers; Lord Sejong and General Seolwon, managed to get the support of the court to dethrone King Jinji. They gained people's support after blaming him for Silla's defeat which resulted to famines. They spread the rumor that heavens has forsaken Silla for having an immoral king. Jinji's removal resulted in the installation of his nephew, [[Jinpyeong of Silla|King Jinpyeong]], to the throne. Jinji's grandson, Kim Chunchu, would later succeed the throne as [[Muyeol of Silla|King Muyeol]].
==Historicity==
It has been questioned whether Misil was truly a historical figure, as she is only mentioned in the ''[[Hwarang Segi]]'',<ref>{{cite journal|title=The Historical Drama Queen Seondeok: Imaginary Memory of an Ancient Heroine|author-last=Sohn|author-first=Byung Woo|journal=The Review of Korean Studies|volume=14|issue=2|date=2011|page=67|url=http://www.dbpia.co.kr/journal/articleDetail?nodeId=NODE01658248&language=ko_KR|access-date=17 June 2019}}</ref> and not in the historical texts ''[[Samguk sagi]]'' or ''[[Samguk yusa]]''.<ref>{{cite web|title='절대권력자' 미실에게도 한계는 있었다|trans-title=There were limits on even the 'authoritarian' Misil|language=Korean|publisher=[[OhmyNews]]|author=Kim Jongseong 김종성|url=http://www.ohmynews.com/NWS_Web/View/at_pg.aspx?CNTN_CD=A0001171917|date=7 July 2009|access-date=17 June 2019}}</ref> Additionally, her role as mother to her various sons and daughters is not acknowledged by either of these historical texts, only the ''Hwarang Segi''.<ref>{{cite web|title=미실에겐 몇 명의 남자들이 있었을까?|trans-title=How many men did Misil have?|language=Korean|publisher=[[OhmyNews]]|author=Kim Jongseong 김종성|url=http://www.ohmynews.com/NWS_Web/View/at_pg.aspx?CNTN_CD=A0001153505|date=10 June 2009|access-date=17 June 2019}}</ref><ref name=communication>{{cite book|title=화랑세기/해동고승전 천줄읽기|trans-title=Hwarang segi/Haedong Goseungjeon (in a thousand lines)|language=Korean|author1=Kim Dae-mun|author-link=Kim Dae-mun|author2=Gakhun 각훈|translator=Yeo Seonggu 여성구|publisher=CommunicationBooks|date=2012}}</ref>
==In popular culture==
*Portrayed by Seo Kap-sook in 2006–2007 [[Seoul Broadcasting System|SBS]] TV series ''[[Yeon Gaesomun (TV series)|Yeon Gaesomun]]''.
*Portrayed by [[Go Hyun-jung]] and [[Uee]] in the 2009 [[Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation|MBC]] TV series ''[[Queen Seondeok (TV series)|Queen Seondeok]]''.
==Genealogy==
===Ancestors===
{{ahnentafel
|collapsed=yes |align=center
|boxstyle_1=background-color: #fcc;
|boxstyle_2=background-color: #fb9;
|boxstyle_3=background-color: #ffc;
|boxstyle_4=background-color: #bfc;
|boxstyle_5=background-color: #9fe;
|1= 1. '''Mishil'''<br />({{Korean|hangul=미실|hanja=美室|labels=no}})
|2= 2. {{ill|Lord Mijinbu|ko|미진부|lt=Lord Mijinbu (미진부공; 未珍夫公)}}<br>2nd [[Hwarang|Pungwolju]] (풍월주; 風月主)
|3= 3. [[Lady Myodo]]<br />({{Korean|hangul=묘도부인|hanja=妙道夫人|labels=no}})
|4= 4. {{ill|Lord Asi|ko|아시공}}<br />({{Korean|hangul=아시공|hanja=阿時公|labels=no}})
|5= 5. {{ill|Princess Samyeop|ko|법흥왕#가계}}<br>(삼엽공주; 三葉公主)
|6= 6. [[Park Yeongsil]]<br />({{Korean|hangul=박영실|hanja=朴英失|labels=no}})
|7= 7. {{ill|Lady Okjin|ko|옥진궁주}}<br />({{Korean|hangul=옥진궁주|hanja=玉珍宮主|labels=no}})
|8= 8. Seonmo<br />({{Korean|hangul=선모|hanj=善牟|labels=no}})
|9= 9. {{ill|Bohye|ko|미진부#가족 관계}}<br>(보혜; 寶兮)
|10= 10. [[Beopheung of Silla|Beopheung (법흥왕; 法興王)]]<br />[[List of monarchs of Korea#Silla|23rd King of Silla]]
|11= 11. {{ill|Lady Byeokhwa|ko|벽화부인}}<br />({{Korean|hangul=벽화부인|hanja=碧花夫人|labels=no}})
|12= 12. Lord Suji<br />({{Korean|hangul=수지공|hanj=守知公|labels=no}})
|13= 13. [[Princess Bohyeon]]<br />({{Korean|hangul=보현공주|hanja=普賢公主|labels=no}})
|14= 14. {{ill|Wihwa Rang|ko|위화랑|lt=Wihwa Rang (위화랑; 魏花郞)}}<br>1st [[Hwarang|Pungwolju]] (풍월주; 風月主)
|15= 15. {{ill|Lady Odo|ko|오도부인}}<br />({{Korean|hangul=오도부인|hanja=吾道夫人|labels=no}})
|16=
|17=
|18= 18. {{ill|Kim Seup-bo|ko|습보|lt=Kim Seup-bo (습보; 習寶)}}<br>[[Galmunwang|Galmunwang (갈문왕; 葛文王)]]
|19=
|20= 20. [[Jijeung of Silla|Jijeung (지증왕; 智證王)]]<br />[[List of monarchs of Korea#Silla|22nd King of Silla]]
|21= 21. {{ill|Lady Yeonje|ko|연제부인}}<br />({{Korean|hangul=연제부인|hanja=延帝夫人|labels=no}})
|22= 22. {{ill|Paro (Silla)|ko|파로_(신라)|lt=Paro}}<br>(파로; 波路)
|23= 23. {{ill|Lady Byeoka|ko|벽아부인}}<br />碧我夫人 ({{Korean|hangul=벽아부인|labels=no}})
|24=
|25=
|26= 26. Jijeung (지증왕; 智證王) (= #20)<br />22nd King of Silla
|27= 27. Lady Yeonje (= #21)<br />({{Korean|hangul=연제부인|hanja=延帝夫人|labels=no}})
|28= 28. {{ill|Lord Seongshin|ko|위화랑#가족 관계}}<br>(섬신공; 剡臣公)
|29= 29. Lady Byeoka (= #23)<br />({{Korean|hangul=벽아부인|hanja=碧我夫人|labels=no}})
|30= 30. {{ill|Myoshim Rang|ko|오도부인#가족관계|lt=Myoshim Rang}}<br>(묘심랑; 妙心郞)
|31= 31. {{ill|Lady Seonhye|ko|선혜부인}}<br />({{Korean|hangul=선혜부인|hanja=善兮夫人|labels=no}})
}}
===Family===
*''For the lineage from Mishil's parents upwards, refer to the ancestry chart above''
*Younger Brother: Misaeng Rang (美生郞 미생랑), 10th Pungwolju
*Husbands and lovers, and their respective issue:
# Lord Sejong (世宗公 세종공, ?–588), 6th Pungwolju (561-568, 572)
## Lord Hajong (夏宗公 하종공, 564–?), 1st son, 11th Pungwolju (588–591)
## Lord Okjong (玉宗公 옥종공), 2nd son by Lord Sejong
# Lord Sadaham (斯多含公 사다함공, 546–564), 5th Pungwolju (562-564) – No issue.
# Seolwon Rang (薛原郞 설원랑, 549–606), 7th Pungwolju (572–579)
## [[Bojong|Lord Bojong]] (寶宗公 보종공, 580–621), Only son, 16th Pungwolju (616–621)
# [[Jinheung of Silla|King Jinheung]] (眞興王 진흥왕), 24th King of Silla
## Prince Sujong (壽宗殿君 수종전군), Only son
## Princess Banya (般若公主 반야공주), 1st daughter
## Princess Nanya (蘭若公主 난야공주), 2nd daughter
# Crown Prince Dongryun (銅輪太子 동륜태자, ?–572), son of King Jinheung
## Princess Aesong (艾松公主 애송공주), Only daughter
# [[Jinji of Silla|King Jinji]] (眞智王 진지왕), 25th King of Silla – No issue.
# [[Jinpyeong of Silla|King Jinpyeong]] (眞平王 진평왕), 26th King of Silla
## Princess Bohwa (寶華公主 보화공주), Only daughter
==References==
{{Reflist}}
[[Category:6th-century Korean women]]
[[Category:6th-century Korean people]]
[[Category:6th-century women]]
[[Category:Korean concubines]]
[[Category:Korean women in politics]]
[[Category:Royal consorts of Silla]]
[[Category:People whose existence is disputed]]
[[Category:Silla people]]
[[Category:Silla Buddhists]]
[[Category:Hwarang]]