dear

One of the most prominent features of Confucianism in which Joseon Dynasty based its political idealogy of their reign on; is the belief in the importance of the family & in the hierarchy of the family. While Confucius recognised the importance of friend-friend relationships and emperor-subject relationships, he considered family relationships the backbone of society.

Confucius began his studies by looking at Chinese villages. While doing so, he recognised three pairs of relationships within each family. To his mind, these relationships where hierarchal with one person “in charge” of the other. The relationships pairs he recognised were parent to child, husband to wife, & elder to younger. In each case, Confucius believed that one person e.g. the husband, parent, or elder should command and protect while the others i.e.the wife, the child, or the younger should obey. Each position came with it certain responsibilities & obligations

Therefore Jang Hee Bin is considers an elder to Choi Dong Yi & Jang Hee Bin was a “Bin” & enter the Inner Court before Choi Dong Yi therefore her Senior. Historically there is also an aged gap of 11 years between the 2 women, being Jang Hee Bin is the elder, therefore Choi Dong Yi must render certain dues of obligation to Jang Hee Bin hence the bow, but you may seen or notice that Choi Dong Yi’s bow of greeting is in a slight some degree higher that she would have bow when she was Suk Ui & the address of respect “Mama” is due to Jang Hee Bin because of her seniority while Jang Hee Bin address Choi Dong Yi the younger or Junior as ‘Sukbin”

As of modern time, no matter how diluted it may be, East Asian family hierarchy still hold strongly to that beliefs.