The Suzerain shall reign with grace and dignity, facing the south in humility. Embodying truth and righteousness, honouring virtue and recognising merit, the Suzerain shall bear witness to order being maintained throughout the Commonwealth by simply allowing his robes to fall and folding his hands. The Suzerain shall carry out his kingly responsibilities with integrity and impartiality; following the Kingly Way of Humaneness free from personal bias. By avoiding self-interest and favouritism, he shall embrace the righteous Kingly Way of Humaneness. Through fairness and impartiality, the Kingly Way of Humaneness becomes wide and enduring; by remaining unbiased and fair, it becomes open and accessible. By avoiding distortion and one-sidedness, the Kingly Way of Humaneness remains correct and direct. Striving for excellence always, and constantly aiming for the highest standards.
Article III(2), Constitution of the Myeong Commonwealth
The Myeong Commonwealth is a free confederation with a constitutional monarchy as its focus of unity. The monarch exercises none of the executive, legislative, judicial, prosecutorial, and superintendent powers of the Commonwealth. These powers are exercised by confederal authorities, including HM Government and the chambers of the Commonwealth Assembly, which are selected through free, fair, and open democratic procedures.
The monarch of the Myeong Commonwealth is obligated to remain impartial and aloof of politics. He 'shall have no power to veto any act or decision of either or both chambers of the Commonwealth Assembly, His Majesty’s Government, the Supreme Court of Justice, the Commonwealth Prosecutorate, the Commonwealth Inspectorate, independent statutory commissions mentioned in this Constitution, and the public authorities of confederal subjects': Article III(5) of the Constitution of the Myeong Commonwealth. Indeed, modern government is most efficient where the ceremonial functions of the state are separated from daily executive, law-making, and judicial operations.
Constitutional monarchy humbly embodies notions such as allegiance, duty, and hierarchy which might offend modern ears but are essential for the existence or survival of any successful civilisation. With a constitutional monarch, rather than a career politician or political appointee of the Government-of-the-Day, serving as a stable figurehead and symbolic head of state, the Myeong Commonwealth can provide its diverse peoples with a sense of permanence, continuity, and unity during times of chaos and change.
Whether through preserving cultural traditions or promoting external relations, constitutional monarchy has much to offer in today's ever-changing political landscape.
We inherited the achievements of Our Ancestors, and were ordained to the roles of monarch and teacher; having endured hundreds of difficulties and thousands of challenges, We remain committed in Our heart to maintain the Religion ... The Crown Prince and Us shall be the Head of the Realm's Confucian Religion, teaching the Way of Gija and Confucius, and living out the will of Our Sagely Ancestors.
Gwangmu Emperor (r. 1897-1907) Emperor of the Daehan Empire
THE CONFUCIAN
MANSEYA
The honorific Manseya (만세야) ('Lord of Ten Thousand Years') is used to address HM The Emperor, who holds the spiritual title 'Suzerain of All-Under-Heaven' according to the ancient Confucian doctrine of 'There is Nowhere Under Heaven That is Not the Suzerein's' (하늘 아래 왕의 땅 아닌 곳이 없다), as a form of respect and reverence.
Within the polity of the constitutional monarchy of the Myeong Commonwealth, the role of HM The Emperor is largely ceremonial. Following Ming court practice, the Commonwealth confers the title of Manseya on HM The Emperor (pictured here, accompanied by HM The Empress Consort) and his legitimate successors. HM The Emperor retains significant moral responsibilities despite lacking legal and political powers.
Article III of the Constitution of the Commonwealth spells out the universal monarch's full title as 'By the Grace of God, the Emperor of the Myeong Commonwealth, Suzerain of All-Under-Heaven, Defender of the Way' (황천상제의 은총으로의, 명연방황제, 천하공주, 왕도수호자). As 'Defender of the Way,' HM The Emperor has a unique constitutional responsibility—as a prospective Sage King—to admonish, from time to time, the entire Commonwealth to organise their lives in greater accord with the Way of humaneness, justice, propriety, wisdom, and trustworthiness, through documents known as 'Exhortations.' Exhortations are not legally binding.
Using the Manseya title for the Suzerain during the Ming Empire was a way to express hope in the Emperor's longevity and divine mandate to reign. In traditional Confucian culture, the number ten thousand symbolises infinity or an immeasurable quantity, so calling the Suzerain the 'Lord of Ten Thousand Years' is a way of wishing him a long reign.
HM THE EMPEROR
성상폐하
HM The Emperor, reign name Seongchi (성치) ('He Who Reigns as a Sage'), personal name Ju Sung-jun (주숭준), formerly the Convenor of the Constituent Assembly and a Founding Father of the Myeong Commonwealth, acceded to the throne on 12 August Yunghui 117 (2023). A Confucian philosopher, he is known for his passion in promoting traditional familial values throughout the Commonwealth and beyond with humane love, and for tirelessly performing charitable works to provide aid and support to the needy, especially as those who are mentally unhealthy.
HM THE EMPRESS CONSORT
중전 폐하
HM The Empress Consort Won So-yong (원소용) is consort to HM The Emperor, and a Founding Mother of the Myeong Commonwealth in her own right, as a Representative of the Constituent Assembly. She supports her husband in his deliverance of constitutional responsibilities and is deeply involved in promoting the rights and interests of children and adolescents. Recognising the transformative power of education, she champions initiatives to improve training for teachers and the provision of educational materials to those who are marginalised and vulnerable.
IMPERIAL STANDARDS
Banner of HM The Emperor
Banner of HM The Empress Consort
The Emblem of the House of Ju features a stylised Molan flower (모란), symbolising love, resilience, determination, and the family.
THE HOUSE OF JU
The House of Ju (주 왕가) was established by Constituent Assembly Chair Ju Sung-jun (주숭준), upon his being officially proclaimed as Emperor of the Myeong Commonwealth by that Assembly on 12 August Yunghui 117 (2023).
The Commonwealth named the Dynastic House of the Myeong Commonwealth (명연방 왕실) 'Ju (주)' after HM The Emperor's surname, signifying vermilion, a vivid red hue befitting the celestial confederation of Sublime Illumination.
The House of Ju is not descended from the Imperial House of the same surname of the Ming Empire but distantly related to the latter. According to a family tradition, HM The Emperor is a twenty-fifth generation overseas descendant of Song Empire (960-1279) peasant Ju Sa-gu (주사구) through his third son, Ju Hyo (주효). Ju Sa-gu, who lived in the thirteenth century, was the great-grandfather of the Hongmu Emperor (홍무제), founder of the Ming Empire, through his eldest son, Ju Cho-il (주초일). The Hongmu Emperor posthumously venerated Ju Sa-gu, the last common paternal ancestor of the Imperial House of Ming and the House of Ju of the Myeong Commonwealth, as the Uijo Emperor (의조황제) of Ming.
Additionally, the Commonwealth's naming of the 'House of Ju' honours Confucian cultural luminaries including the greatest synthesist of Neo-Confucian philosophy Ju Hui (주희) (1130-1200), the morally upright Yangmyeonghak peasant-philosopher Ju Seo (주서) (1545-1598); and the Confucian scholar Ju Sunsu (주순수) (1600-1682), who staunchly assisted the resistance against the Manchu invasion of 1644, later becoming a prominent Ming political exile in Tokugawa Japan, significantly contributing to the development of Japanese Confucianism, education, and intellectual history.
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Above: Their Majesties at the establishment of The Emperor's Trust (Courtesy: HM Government).
Above: Official Photograph of Their Majesties (Courtesy: Imperial Household Agency).
Above: On 25 August Seongchi 2 (2024), Their Majesties were solemnly crowned and enthroned in Myeongdeokgung Palace, Gyeongsa. HM The Emperor was robed with the Myeonbok (면복), and HM The Empress Consort the Jeok-ui (적의), both the most solemn vestment that a Confucian monarch and his consort could wear (Courtesy: Imperial Household Agency).
THE PRIVY COUNCIL OF THE MYEONG COMMONWEALTH
The highest advisory body to the Suzerain is the Privy Council (한림원). Ex officio Privy Counselors (한림원 대학사) include the Supreme Patriarch, the Lord Chancellor, the Prime Minister, the First Deputy Prime Minister (Foreign Affairs), the Second Deputy Prime Minister (Home Affairs), the Lord Speaker of the House of Representatives of Parliament, the Lord Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Justice, the Lord Prosecutor-General, and the Lord Inspector-General.
The Lord Chancellor (한림원 대승지), appointed by the Suzerain for renewable five-year terms, upon recommendation of an independent statutory commission, will also serve as the Lord President of the Privy Council, the Lord President of the Confederal Council, the Secretary of Justice of His Majesty's Government, and the Lord President (대리관) of the Court of Appeals of the Supreme Court of Justice. This office aims to promote mutual respect and a better understanding of fundamental constitutional principles, especially the rule of law and judicial independence, among these organs of the Commonwealth.
The Suzerain must obtain the consent of the Privy Council, by a simple majority of attending Privy Counselors, before making decisions regarding his enthronement; the promulgation of charters, edicts, and letters patent; the adoption of a new reign name, the investiture of peers; the interpretation or amendment of the Grand Rules of the Imperial Household; and adbdication. The organisation of the Privy Council is to be determined by law.
THE SUPREME ORDER OF SUBLIME ILLUMINATION
The Grand Cordon of the Supreme Order of Sublime Illumination (대훈위대명대수장) is the most prestigious award of the Myeong Commonwealth. It was established in Seongchi 2 (2024) by the Seongchi Emperor as the continuation of the Grand Cordon of the Golden Ruler (대훈위 금척대수장) established in 1897 by the Gwangmu Emperor as the highest award in the Daehan Empire. The Seongchi Emperor currently serves as the Sovereign of the Supreme Order of Sublime Illumination, whose Grand Cordon is bestowed only to distinguished foreign heads of state and the most outstanding statesmen of the Myeong Commonwealth for their dedicated service to the conservation of human civilisation.
The Grand Cordon showcases the Il-wol Habmyeong (일월합명) symbol inspired by the Myeong Commonwealth flag, representing the harmonious brilliance of the sun and moon illuminating the world. This symbol signifies that individuals of virtuous character, such as the recipients of this important award, embody a genuine visibility akin to the synchronised movements of celestial bodies. It symbolises the authenticity and radiant conscience of a sage, free from pretense, insincerity, deceit, or secrecy. Those awarded the Grand Cordon can use the post-nominals 'GSOSL' after their names.
Current Members of the Supreme Order of Sublime Illumination (in alphabetical order):
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