Bak Yeon or Park Yeon (; 20 August 1378 - 23 March 1458) was a government official, scholar, writer, astronomer and musician in the Early Joseon Dynasty period, who was a teacher of

King Sejong Sejong of Joseon (15 May 1397 – 8 April 1450), personal name Yi Do (Korean: 이도; Hanja: 李祹), widely known as Sejong the Great (Korean: 세종대왕; Hanja: 世宗大王), was the fourth ruler of the Joseon dynasty of Korea. Initial ...

and created

Armillary sphere An armillary sphere (variations are known as spherical astrolabe, armilla, or armil) is a model of objects in the sky (on the celestial sphere), consisting of a spherical framework of rings, centered on Earth or the Sun, that represent lines of ...

Honcheonui,

Water clock A water clock or clepsydra (; ; ) is a timepiece by which time is measured by the regulated flow of liquid into (inflow type) or out from (outflow type) a vessel, and where the amount is then measured. Water clocks are one of the oldest time-m ...

Borugak Jagyeongnu and

sundial A sundial is a horological device that tells the time of day (referred to as civil time in modern usage) when direct sunlight shines by the apparent position of the Sun in the sky. In the narrowest sense of the word, it consists of a flat ...

Yangbu Ilgu along with

Jang Yeong-sil Jang Yeong-sil (; ; 1390 – after 1442) was a Korean mechanical engineer, scientist, and inventor during the Joseon Dynasty (1392–1897). Although Jang was born as a peasant, King Sejong allowed Jang to work at the royal palace. Jang's inven ...

and five basic sounds(Gung, Sang, Gak, Chi, Wu), which corresponds to five consonant groups (Aeum, Seoreum, Suneum, Chieum, Hueum) in

Hunminjeongeum ''Hunminjeong'eum'' () is a document describing an entirely new and native script for the Korean language. The script was initially named after the publication but later came to be known as hangul. Originally containing 28 characters, it was c ...

. He has also adapted court music to the new

Confucian Confucianism, also known as Ruism or Ru classicism, is a system of thought and behavior originating in ancient China. Variously described as tradition, a philosophy, a Religious Confucianism, religion, a humanistic or rationalistic religion, ...

philosophy, particularly in the concept of ''yeak'', a Confucian ideology that combines ritual and music. He made appeals to the king

Sejong Sejong of Joseon (15 May 1397 – 8 April 1450), personal name Yi Do (Korean: 이도; Hanja: 李祹), widely known as Sejong the Great (Korean: 세종대왕; Hanja: 世宗大王), was the fourth ruler of the Joseon dynasty of Korea. Initial ...

450 times for the necessity of organizing the imperfect musical instrument coordination and compiling the sheet music, and correctly measured the notes according to his own 12 notes. And this has reformed the court music in general. Along with Wangsan of Goguryeo and Ureuk of Silla, Bak Yeon is considered one of the three most popular music saints in Korea.

Life

Bak Yeon was born into a family of government officials in 1378 in Yeongdong. When he was 15, his father passed away, so he spent three years at the burial site in mourning for his father. When he was 18, his mother passed away, so he spent another three years at his parents' tomb. Bak Yeon receives a memorial stone of the

filial piety In Confucianism, Chinese Buddhism, and Daoist ethics, filial piety (, ''xiào'') (Latin: pietas) is a virtue of respect for one's parents, elders, and ancestors. The Confucian ''Classic of Filial Piety'', thought to be written around the late W ...

from king

Taejong Taejong of Joseon (13 June 1367 – 8 June 1422), personal name Yi Bang-won (Korean: 이방원; Hanja: 李芳遠), was the third ruler of the Joseon dynasty of Korea and the father of King Sejong the Great. Before ascending to the throne, he wa ...

in 1402. Soon after his father and mother died, Bak Yeon started playing the

piri The ''piri'' is a Korean double reed instrument, used in both the folk and classical (court) music of Korea. Originating in Central Asia, it was introduced to the Korean peninsula from China, and has been used there as early as the Three Kingdom ...

. And one night he saw an

orchid Orchids are plants that belong to the family Orchidaceae (), a diverse and widespread group of flowering plants with blooms that are often colourful and fragrant. Along with the Asteraceae, they are one of the two largest families of flowering ...

growing between rocks and decided to adopt the penname 'Nangye'. He passed Saengwonsi and first in Mungwa

gwageo The ''gwageo'' or ''kwago'' were the national civil service examinations under the Goryeo and Joseon dynasties of Korea. Typically quite demanding, these tests measured candidates' ability of writing composition and knowledge of the Chinese cla ...

exams at the age of 28 and 34. He then has successively filled various government posts including

Jiphyeonjeon The Hall of Worthies, or Jiphyeonjeon (; ), was a royal research institute set up by Sejong the Great of the Korean Joseon Dynasty in March 1420. Set up during the beginning of his reign, King Sejong staffed the Hall of Worthies with talented sc ...

, Saganwon,

Saheonbu Saheonbu ( ko, 사헌부; Hanja: , ) administered inspections during Goryeo and Joseon dynasty in Korea. The organ inspected Hanyang, the capital, and periphery. It has several nicknames. It was also responsible for licensing officials, impeachmen ...

and Sejasigangwon Munhak, where he met Chungnyeong daegun. As soon as Sejong ascends the throne in 1418, he appoints Bak Yeon to an agency affiliated with Yejo, which oversees music-related affairs. Bak Yeon organized music into three groups:

aak ''Aak'' is a genre of Korean court music. It is an imported form of the Chinese court music ''yayue'', and means "elegant music". ''Aak'' was performed almost exclusively in state sacrificial rites, and in the present day it is performed in ce ...

dangak ''Dangak'' (syllables: ''dang-ak'') is a genre of traditional Korean court music. The name means " Tang music", and the style was first adapted from Tang Dynasty Chinese music during the Unified Silla period in the late first millennium. It was ...

and

hyangak ''Hyangak'', literally "indigenous/native music, folks music" is a traditional form of Korean court music with origins in the Three Kingdoms period (57 BC – 668 AD). It is often accompanied by traditional folk dances of Korea, known as ''hyan ...

. Domestic production of musical instruments for aak was done under his direction. Bak Yeon helped Sejong to improve the music. He has contributed greatly to the completion of music from the early Joseon Dynasty by producing musical notes and

Pyeongyeong The ''bianqing'' ( Chinese: 编磬) is a traditional Chinese percussion instrument consisting of a set of L-shaped flat stone chimes known as ''qing'', played melodically. The chimes were hung in a wooden frame and struck with a mallet. Along w ...

. The

Jongmyo jerye ''Jongmyo Jerye'' or ''Jongmyo Daeje'' is a rite held for worshipping the late kings and queens of the Joseon Dynasty in Jongmyo Shrine, Seoul, South Korea. It is held every year on the first Sunday of May. The Jongmyo rite is usually accompanie ...

, which includes Jeongdaeeop and Botaepyeong was composed by Bak Yeon and is also listed in 'Nangyeyugo(蘭溪遺藁)' in 39 petitions, including the production of musical notes, the correction of the original notes, the claim to revise the axis system and the publication of music. However, in the Sejo Sillok, Jeongdaeeop and Botaepyeong is recorded as king Sejong's work. On 22 August 1443, when Pak Yeon was 60 years old, his position was suddenly changed from Yejo chamui(禮曹參議) to Jungchuwon busa(中樞院副使), which oversees the palace in shifts. Soon after, the king

announces the creation of

on 30 December 1443. Some scholars argue Bak Yeon, who is well versed in rhymes such as Yullyeo Sinseo(律呂新書), Hongmu Jeong-un(洪武正韻), fully understands Sasung Chil-eum(四聲七音) and appealed to king

in his first petition of Nangyeyugo(蘭溪遺藁) to correct the custom and sound by teaching people the Samganghaengsil(三綱行實) and Oeumjeongseong(五音正聲), might have taught king Sejong the Korean alphabet

Hangul The Korean alphabet, known as Hangul, . Hangul may also be written as following South Korea's standard Romanization. ( ) in South Korea and Chosŏn'gŭl in North Korea, is the modern official writing system for the Korean language. The let ...

during this period and proclaimed it in the name of king Sejong. As soon as Bak yeon ascends to Yemun Daejehak in 1453, Gyeyujeongnan Revolts broke out. Bak Gye-woo, the third son of Bak Yeon, a

Hall of Worthies The Hall of Worthies, or Jiphyeonjeon (; ), was a royal research institute set up by Sejong the Great of the Korean Joseon Dynasty in March 1420. Set up during the beginning of his reign, King Sejong staffed the Hall of Worthies with talented sc ...

scholar, was killed by a group of

king Sejo Sejo of Joseon (2 November 1417 – 23 September 1468), personal name Yi Yu (Korean: 이유; Hanja: 李瑈), sometimes known as Grand Prince Suyang (Korean: 수양대군; Hanja: 首陽大君), was the seventh ruler of the Joseon dynasty of K ...

along with other numerous loyalists for leaking Grand Prince Suyang's

plan A plan is typically any diagram or list of steps with details of timing and resources, used to achieve an objective to do something. It is commonly understood as a temporal set of intended actions through which one expects to achieve a goal. F ...

. And Bak Yeon was put into an exile at the age of 80 and died the following year. His descendants were prohibited from taking

exams for 331 years until

king Yeongjo Yeongjo of Joseon (31 October 1694 – 22 April 1776), personal name Yi Geum (Korean: 이금, Hanja: 李昑), was the 21st monarch of the Joseon dynasty of Korea. He was the second son of King Sukjong, by his concubine Royal Noble Consort Suk ...

awarded him an honorable title of Mun Heon in 1767.

Family

*Great-Grandfather **Bak Sun-jung (박순중, 朴純中) *Grandfather **Bak Si-yong (박시용, 朴時庸) *Father **Bak Cheon-seok (박천석, 朴天錫) *Mother **Lady Gim of the Gyeongju Gim clan (경주 김씨) ***Grandfather: Gim Oh (김오, 金珸) * Siblings ** Sister - Lady Bak of the Miryang Bak clan (밀양 박씨) *** Brother-in-law - Geum Yu (琴柔) ** Sister - Lady Bak of the Miryang Bak clan (밀양 박씨) *** Brother-in-law - Jeong Gan (鄭諫) ** Sister - Lady Bak of the Miryang Park clan (밀양 박씨) *** Brother-in-law - Bak Yeo-saeng (朴汝生) ** Sister - Lady Bak of the Miryang Park clan (밀양 박씨) *** Brother-in-law - Gim Bo-rin (金寶麟)) *Wife: Lady Song of the

Yeosan Song clan Yeosan Song clan () is one of the oldest Korean clans. Their Bon-gwan was in Yeosan, present day Iksan, North Jeolla Province North Jeolla Province (; ''Jeollabuk-do''), also known as Jeonbuk, is a province of South Korea. North Jeolla has a ...

(정경부인 여산 송씨) – Daughter of ''Panseo'' Song Yun (송윤) and the 2nd cousin of

. ** Son: Bak Maeng-woo (박맹우, 朴孟愚) ** Son: Bak Jung-woo (박중우, 朴仲愚) ** Son: Bak Gye-woo (박계우, 朴季愚) ** Daughter: Lady Bak of the Miryang Bak clan (밀양 박씨) ** Daughter: Lady Bak of the Miryang Bak clan (밀양 박씨) **Daughter: Lady Bak of the Miryang Bak clan (밀양 박씨) ** Daughter: Lady Bak of the Miryang Bak clan (밀양 박씨)

In popular culture

* Portrayed by

Ahn Hyo-seop Ahn Hyo-seop (born April 17, 1995) or Paul Ahn, is a Canadian actor and singer based in South Korea. He gained recognition for his main roles in the Korean dramas ''Still 17'' (2018), '' Abyss'' (2019), ''Dr. Romantic 2'' (2020), ''Lovers of th ...

in the 2015 MBC TV series ''

Splash Splash Love ''Splash Splash Love'' () is a South Korean television series starring Kim Seul-gi and Yoon Doo-joon. It initially aired on web platform Naver TV Cast in a 10-episode format. It was then broadcast by MBC on December 13 and 20, 2015 in two 60-mi ...

''. * Portrayed by Lee Geon-Myeong in the 2016

KBS1 The Korean Broadcasting System (KBS) () is the national broadcaster of South Korea. Founded in February 1927, it is one of the leading South Korean television and radio broadcasters. KBS operates seven radio networks, ten television channels, a ...

TV series ''

'' * Yeo-Nak, the musical dedicated to Bak Yeon

Legacy

* The Nangye Temple in Yeongdong is named after Bak Yeon and hosts a traditional music celebration every October * Nangye yugo, a posthumous collection of Bak Yeon. * In the Nangye Museum of Traditional Music, Bak Yeon's life and achievements are displayed in the Video Room and the Nangye Room. The Korean Music room displays wind instruments, strings, and percussion. * Miryang Bak clan

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bak, Yeon Traditional musicians 15th-century Korean people 1378 births 1458 deaths