"There's no such thing as heaven's will. It's...Mishil's will."
A killer gaze, impossibly controlled face and musical laugh. That’s how most people describe her. For me, she’s the greatest Villain I’ve ever saw. The wisest and the most captivating.
According to Silla’s history, Lady Mishil was a lover to some Pungwolijus, and a concubine to the three kings of Silla. She was one of the most important figures in the Kingdom’s history.
She was a daughter of a Lord named Mijinbu, with her father’s mother being princess Samyeop, daughter of king Beopheung (Note: please don’t be discouraged by the confusing names! I do not know them that much as well, but you must continue to read about this interesting Lady Mishil. *giggles*) . Her mother was the Lady Myodo, sister of the queen mother Sado , a concubine of king Jinheung. With these relations, Mishil gained the qualifications of being a “jinggeol” a noble within the bone rank system or in simple words, something like the second rank after the main members of a royal family.
She became powerful due to her relations with several Pungwolijus that time : she’s a wife of Lord Sejong(6th pungwoliju) ,a lover to Lord Seolwon (7th Pungwoliju) and was a concubine to 3 successive kings of Silla, King Jinheung the Great, King Jinji and King Jinpyeong.
Her enormous power was proved when she persuaded various nobles to expel King Jinji from his throne. 2 of her sons (through her many relations), Lords Hajong & Bojong, became the 11th & 16th Pungwolju, respectively.
Portrayal in TV series
In 2009, she was portrayed in a Korean historical drama tittled Queen Seon Deok. It was based on the true history of Silla about the life of Princess Deokman, who later became Queen Seon Deok.
She was one of the most powerful characters in the story. Being a court lady and the beholder of the royal Seal ( Seju) and a Wohnwa( female leader of the Hwarang corps), she worked her way to the throne.
Before King Jinheung( Queen Seon Deok’s great grand father) died, he asked Mishil to write his last injunctions. One of them was ordering Mishil to renounce all her post and serve Buddha for the rest of her life. This doesn’t sound good for Mishil and so, she hid the injunction, and talked to Prince Geumyeun, King Jinheung’s son. He was also one aiming for the throne. But the true successor was Prince Baekjong(later King Jinpyeong, Queen Seon Deok’s father). Mishil told Prince Geumyeun that she will alter the injunction if he will let her be his queen. Meanwhile, King Jinheung had already realized that, while he was alive, Mishil was a treasure to Silla, but when he died, she will become a poison. He made a secret injunction ordering the killing of Mishil. He gave it to Seolwon(7TH Pungwoliju). But unknown to him, Seolwon was Mishil’s lover and so, he gave the injunction to Mishil. Mishil was about to stage a coup when Jinheung died. Prince Geumyeun became King Jinji, but his reign was shortlived. He didn’t acknowledge Mishil’s son with him as his son. Next thing he knew was he’s dethroned and was replaced by the young Prince Baekjong, who became King Jinpyeong. She then abandoned her son who Gukseon Munno(grand master) took care of.
Later, Lady Maya gave birth to twin princesses. Mishil saw this as an opportunity to oust King Jinpyeong from the throne. It was because of a prophecy,
“Eochul Ssangsaeng Seonggol Nam Jin”
that says if a king bears twin princesses, all the male seonggol (royal) seeds will dry up, that will cause the kingdom to fall.
With Mishil’s troops all over the palace, the other twin was safely brought outside the palace by the king’s maid, Sohwa and Gukseon Munno. Mishil was devastated. She sent her main hand, Chilsuk to search for the twin.
The other twin that escaped was named Deokman( later Queen Seon Deok) by the maid Sohwa who will be her mother for half her life. Searching for her true identity, and also from running away from Chilsuk, she disguised as a male and became a nangdo (trainee) in the palace. On the other hand,Princess Cheonmyeong, her sister who remained in the palace became almost timid, and fearful for she grew up in Mishil’s terror. She almost lost her right as princess and was always under Mishil.
But then, the time came for Deokman to claim her rightful title. She discovered her identity and made a wise way to claim it, without causing bad effect to her father the king, save Princess Cheonmyeong’s death (she was killed by Mishil’s hwarang, mistakening her as Deokman).Thus, this was Mishil’s first defeat.
Mishil had always been bitter because of her not being a seonggol. But with Deokman much stronger than her sister, they always had arguments, wise ones. Despite being rivals, they learned from each other, voicing out their opinions bravely, but will always be left wondering.
When the king’s health declined, everyone talked about who will the next successor be. This pressured Mishil, forcing her to stage a coup. At first, she devised a plan to accuse the princess of treason. Her hwarang, Seokpum, stabbed the Sangdaedung (prime minister),Sejong(not king Sejong) who was Mishil’s husband. It was Sejong’s contribution for Mishil’s cause. They blamed it on Deokman’s soldiers and eventually organized a council to oust Deokman. But Deokman fought, which caused a civil war. When the situation reversed, Mishil took refuge in Daeya Fortress. Meanwhile, Bidam, a lover of Deokman and Mishil’s abandoned son was emotionally confused on what to do. Sohwa found the secret injunction that ordered Mishil’s death. It was then at Bidam’s hand but he hid it, refusing to use it against his mother. Despite Mishil not giving any concern, care or even, probably love to Bidam, Bidam still hoped for her affection. He learned Mishil’s order to send him to an excursion in the mountains before the coup, which Bidam hoped was because of love.
Mishil used her great influence to gather private troops of nobles. Many of them enjoyed prosperity because of Mishil and they return the favor of loyalty to her, and devotion.
Deokman met with her and offered an alliance which Mishil bitterly refused. She mentioned places within Silla kingdom and said:
Mishil: Know where those places are?
Deokman: Northern, western and southern borders of Silla.”
Mishil: No. They are not. They are places drenched in my own blood. The compeers I cherish, the troops, the Hwarangs. Still lie in there, not even granted an honorable burial. That is Shilla! The frontier of the land king Jinheung and I conquered. Heavenly kingdom… ruler,? And what would you know? Just as my heart was filled with devotion with Saddaham(Mishil’s first love), I cherish this country . As I fervently cherished it I merely wanted to posses it. Allegiance? Compliance? Deokman, could you share your devotion to anyone else?
And she then left Deokman moved.
After that came her great defeat. The troops she needed left the frontier and the Baekjeans (people of the enemy kingdom, Baekje) were already attacking. Due to her devotion for the nation, she sent back the troops and ordered her group to surrender. She talked to her greatest confidant and devotee, Seolwon and told him to save those who followed her and lead them in the future.
“Many chapters filled my days, and this is merely the last one.”
And she recited the song of the Hwarang:
“While you still can fight it,
Fighting is all you need to do.
And when you no longer can
Protecting it you must.
When you no longer can protect it,
Retreat is all it takes.
When retreat is not an option,
Surrender is your next best decision.
Should even surrender proved impossible,
On that day, demise shall be your best compeer.”
Bidam and Deokman on the other hand realized what will happen to Mishil and so they rushed to Daeya Fortress. Bidam was the first.
Bidam: So this was it? Why? Why!
Mishil: Do not scream. I only have one gak(half hour) left.
Bidam: So should I call you mother at least once?
Mishil snorted.
Bidam: Or apologize for abandoning me? Or at least! Deep down your soul, admit that you cherish me?
Mishil: There’s no such thing for me. You need not call me mother. And I do not need to apologize for anything. And… cherish you? What do you believe love is? Love means stealing without reserve or regret. That is what it means. If you truly love Deokman, that is what you must do.
Bidam: Princess Deokman might be a person but she also represents Shilla, and I will make sure she does!
Mishil: I was just concern about it. I tried to gain people’s hearts to gain this country. However you, are trying to gain this country to gain a people’s heart. With that devotion only people can forment, what the most innocent dream you’re aspiring for!”
After some moment, Deokman came but it was already too late. Mishil drank poison and died.
Deokman almost cried and paid tribute to her rival and her legacy.
“ I salute Mishil, and her legacy”. –Deokman
Seolwon moved to make Bidam know how much Mishil actually cared for him. Later, Bidam’s heart changed because of Mishil’s legacy.
I know all this are not enough and doesn’t do any justice to express Mishil’s greatness. I recommend you to watch Queen Seon Deok to feel her prominence. But as for me, I’ll say I’ll be forever hooked and spellbound by the queen of Villains, Lady Mishil.
Lady Mishil’s Quotes:
• "Sire, Did you say they who gain the hearts of people... will upon creation?! That with people by their side, they will rule aboved all ages to come?! People?! take a look, Sire! These are my people! Not yours but Mishils, my people! And... it is now, Mishils time to rule."
• "People can lack dexterity, people can display negligence. People... can make mistakes. People can certainly do that. But my people cannot.
• Time holds no keeper
• "Run! The seven stars... the Gaeyang's keeper?! Abandon such trifling delusions, and run far away. This... is my last shred of compassion for you". (threatening the young Princess Chonmyeong)
• Do you believe that people are good as Cheonmyeong? No way... Not at all! People, human beings in general are "evil" by nature!
• Once he starts to listen, then he will get an earful requests. Do this, do that...And if all the request are met, then do you think it will ever end? Nope, he will never see the end of it. However he may rule, he'll never be able to completely satisfy or fulfill a human beings tendency for greed. And yet... those who are clueless can easily utter words about Mishil being evil.
• A man's strength may appear great. But a man cannot survive on his won strength alone. One needs a little bit... of Heaven's will.
• Just a slight frown..and you will look stronger(to Bidam)
• For even if I gained everything,not being a queen would make it all meaningless.
• If you want to be Mishil, slay this Mishil! There can’t be two Mishils in the world.
• There’s no such thing as heaven’s will. It’s Mishil’s will.’
• I might exploit heaven. But I never let it daunt me.
*What do you believe love means? Love is stealing without reserve or regret. That is what it means.
* I was just concerned about you. I tried to gain this country by gaining the peoples' hearts. However you, you are trying to gain this country to gain peoples' heart. With that devotion only people can forment, what the most innocent dream you're aspiring for! (to Bidam)
* Like a juvenile screaming at his Belle 'look at me I will do everything for your sake'.Well, to that extent, or perhaps a child asking for his parents' attentions. (to Bidam).
*Mishil to Chunchu
"Because with the coarse hauteur their royal blood accorded them, they attempted to repress me. It is because they did not devote their all to repress me! That is the essence of conflict. Do not mistake subterfuges with mere mind games. To become queen, my life was drenched in stratagems. I devoted body and soul, my entire life to this. Should my presence daunt you, hold on to me. If revenge is your calling, devote your all to vanquish me like Princess Deokman. Those are the only ways you will ever be able to contend with me. Stake your life to fight me. Or else, just perish."
*Enough that Mishil will abandon principle to follow her dreams. And should even failure be bestowed upon her, she will go out in style. Well, to that extent?*
