Gwon Geun (1352–1409) was a

Korea Korea ( ko, 한국, or , ) is a peninsular region in East Asia. Since 1945, it has been divided at or near the 38th parallel, with North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) comprising its northern half and South Korea (Republic o ...

Neo-Confucian Neo-Confucianism (, often shortened to ''lǐxué'' 理學, literally "School of Principle") is a moral, ethical, and metaphysical Chinese philosophy influenced by Confucianism, and originated with Han Yu (768–824) and Li Ao (772–841) in t ...

scholar at the dawn of the

Joseon dynasty Joseon (; ; Middle Korean: 됴ᇢ〯션〮 Dyǒw syéon or 됴ᇢ〯션〯 Dyǒw syěon), officially the Great Joseon (; ), was the last dynastic kingdom of Korea, lasting just over 500 years. It was founded by Yi Seong-gye in July 1392 and r ...

, and a student of

Yi Saek Yi Saek (Korean language, Korean: 이색, Hanja: 李穡, 17 June 1328 – 17 June 1396), also known by his pen name Mogeun (Korean language, Korean: 목은), was a Korean people, Korean writer and poet. His family belonged to the Hansan Yi clan ...

. He was one of the first Neo-Confucian scholars of the Joseon dynasty, and had a lasting influence on the rise of Neo-Confucianism in Korea.

Background

Gwon Geun was a

n Neo-Confucian scholar at the time of the change from the

Goryeo Goryeo (; ) was a Korean kingdom founded in 918, during a time of national division called the Later Three Kingdoms period, that unified and ruled the Korean Peninsula until 1392. Goryeo achieved what has been called a "true national unificat ...

dynasty (during which

Buddhism Buddhism ( , ), also known as Buddha Dharma and Dharmavinaya (), is an Indian religions, Indian religion or Indian philosophy#Buddhist philosophy, philosophical tradition based on Pre-sectarian Buddhism, teachings attributed to the Buddha. ...

was a prominent philosophy) to Joseon. He was a member of the Andong Gwon clan that was very influential in the Goryeo court. He was a student of

, and passed the first level of civil service examinations at the age of fourteen. He later went to Yuan China, and during his six years stay there he passed the second and the third level examinations. After his return to Korea, he became associated with the loyalist faction, and was exiled in 1389 for his defense of the loyalist minister Yi Sungin (1349–1392). While in exile he got involved in the faction's attempt to prevent the rise of

Yi Seonggye Taejo of Joseon (4 November 1335 – 27 June 1408), born Yi Seong-gye (), was the founder and first ruler of the Joseon dynasty of Korea. After ascending to the throne, he changed his name to Yi Dan (), and reigned from 1392 to 1398. He was ...

, by alerting the

Ming dynasty The Ming dynasty (), officially the Great Ming, was an imperial dynasty of China, ruling from 1368 to 1644 following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan dynasty. The Ming dynasty was the last orthodox dynasty of China ruled by the Han peo ...

. His was acquitted when a flood that stopped the trial was accepted as an omen. A year later he returned from his exile and retired to the village of Yangchon, on which he based his pen name. However, king Taejo (R. 1392 - 1398) convinced him to devote his talent for the new dynasty.Kalton, Michael C. "The Writings of Kwon Kun: The Context and Shape of Early Yi Dynasty Neo-Confucianism." In Wm. Theodore de Bary and JaHyun Kim Haboush, eds. The Rise of Neo-Confucianism in Korea. New York: Columbia University Press, 1985. At first, resentment from

Jeong Dojeon Jeong Dojeon (Korean: 정도전, Hanja: 鄭道傳, 1342 – October 6, 1398), also known by his pen name Sambong (Korean: 삼봉), was a prominent Korean scholar-official during the late Goryeo to the early Joseon periods. He served as the first ...

's faction kept his role minimal, but Jeong Do-jeon and many of his colleagues were wiped out during the succession straggle of 1398. From that point until his death, Gwon Geun became the most important scholar in the government. During this time Gwon Geun directed the education system back toward literary accomplishments.

Importance

Gwon Geun lived and served during the dynastic change, and became eventually one of the architects of the Neo-Confucian ideology that provided both reasoning for the change, and ideological framework for the Joseon literati. He introduced Zhu Xi to the Korean audience, and his writings served as the basis for future scholars. Among his writing on Neo-Confucianism, the most influential is probably the Iphak toseol (Diagrammatic Treatise for Entering upon Learning). He created this book for some students who came with questions in 1390 while he was in exile. He also wrote commentaries on the

Book of Rites The ''Book of Rites'', also known as the ''Liji'', is a collection of texts describing the social forms, administration, and ceremonial rites of the Zhou dynasty as they were understood in the Warring States and the early Han periods. The ''Book ...

– A task entrusted by Yi Saek. He rearranged the text and added his own commentaries as well as those of Chinese contemporaries. The work began in 1391 but ended only in 1404. Unfortunately his commentaries on the other classics are lost now. Gwon Geun developed a theory of ritual and emphasized the role of ritual in social order. He rearranged the

Classic of Music The ''Classic of Music'' () was a Confucian classic text lost by the time of the Han dynasty. It is sometimes referred to as the "Sixth Classic" (for example, by Sima Qian) and is thought to have been important in the traditional interpretations ...

, taking the first part as the original and the second part as a commentary. Gwon Geun was a prolific writer, and he is also known for his contributions to several anti Buddhist texts, including his preface to Jeong Dojeon's Pulssi chappyeon (Arguments Against Mr. Buddha), as well as a contribution to the standardization of the sacrifices to pacify restless spirits.

Family

* Great-Grandfather ** Gwon Bu (권부, 權溥) (1262 - 1346) * Great-Grandmother ** Lady Ryu of the Siryeong Ryu clan (시령 류씨, 始寧柳氏) * Grandfather ** Gwon Go (권고, 權皐) * Father ** Gwon Hui (권희, 權僖) (1319 - 1405) * Mother ** Lady Han of the Hanyang Han clan (한양 한씨, 漢陽韓氏) (1315 - 1398) * Sibling ** Younger brother - Gwon Woo (권우) * Wife and children ** Princess Sukgyeong, Lady Yi of the Gyeongju Yi clan (숙경택주 경주 이씨, 淑敬宅主慶州李氏) (? - 1423); Daughter of Yi Jun-oh (이존오, 李存吾) (1341 - 1371) *** Son - Gwon Je (1387 - 1445) **** Daughter-in-law - Lady Lee (이씨, 李氏); daughter of Yi Jun (이준, 李儁) ***** Grandson - Gwon Ji (권지, 權摯) ***** Grandson - Gwon Ban (권반, 權攀) ***** Grandson - Gwon Ma (권마, 權摩) ***** Grandson - Gwon Hyeol (권혈, 權挈) ***** Grandson - Gwon Hyeong (권경, 權擎) ***** Granddaughter - Lady Gwon of the Andong Gwon clan ****** Grandson-in-law - Han Myeong-jin (한명진, 韓明溍) (1426 - 1454) ******* Unnamed great-grandson ******* Unnamed great-granddaughter ****** Granddaughter - Lady Gwon of the Andong Gwon clan ****** Half-grandson - Gwon Chu (권추, 權揫) ******* Unnamed granddaughter-in-law *** Son - Gwon Ram (권람, 權擥) (1416 - 6 February 1465) **** Daughter-in-law - Princess Consort Yeongwon of the Goseong Lee clan (영원군부인 고성 이씨, 寧原郡夫人固城李氏) (1410 - 18 October 1491) ***** Grandson - Gwon Geol (권걸, 權傑) ****** Granddaughter-in-law - Lady Nam of the Uiryeong Nam clan (의령 남씨, 宜寧南氏) ***** Grandson - Gwon Geon (권건, 權健) ***** Granddaughter - Lady Gwon of the Andong Gwon clan ****** Grandson-in-law - Han Seo-gu (한서구, 韓瑞龜) ***** Granddaughter - Lady Gwon of the Andong Gwon clan ****** Grandson-in-law - Park Sa-hwa (박사화, 朴士華) ***** Granddaughter - Lady Gwon of the Andong Gwon clan ****** Grandson-in-law - Shin Eok-nyeon (신억년, 申億年) ***** Granddaughter - Lady Gwon of the Andong Gwon clan ****** Grandson-in-law - Nam Yi (남이, 南怡) (1443 - 11 November 1468) ******* Great-Granddaughter - Nam Gu-eul-geum (남구을금, 南求乙金), Lady Nam of the Uiryeong Nam clan (의령 남씨, 宜寧南氏) ***** Granddaughter - Lady Gwon of the Andong Gwon clan ****** Grandson-in-law - Kim Su-hyeong (김수형, 金壽亨) ***** Granddaughter - Internal Princess Consort Yeongga of the Andong Gwon clan (영가부부인 안동 권씨, 永嘉府夫人安東權氏); Shin Su-geun's first wife ****** Grandson-in-law - Shin Su-geun (신수근, 愼守勤) (1450 - 1506) ******* Step-Great-Granddaughter -

Queen Dangyeong Queen Dangyeong (7 February 1487 – 27 December 1557), of the Geochang Shin clan, was a posthumous name bestowed to the wife and first queen consort of Yi Yeok, King Jungjong, the 11th Joseon monarch. She was queen consort of Joseon for seven da ...

of the Geochang Shin clan (단경왕후 신씨) (7 February 1487 - 27 December 1557) ***** Granddaughter - Lady Gwon of the Andong Gwon clan ****** Grandson-in-law - Shin Mal-pyeong (신말평, 申末平) ***** Granddaughter - Lady Gwon of the Andong Gwon clan ****** Grandson-in-law - Min Sa-geon (민사건, 閔師騫) *** Son - Gwon Gyu (권규, 權跬) (1393 - 1421) **** Daughter-in-law - Princess Gyeongan (경안공주) (1393 - 22 April 1415) ***** Grandson - Gwon Dam (권담, 權聃) ***** Grandson - Gwon Chong (권총, 權聰) (1413 - 1480) *** Daughter - Lady Gwon **** Son-in-law - Lee Jung-seon (이종선) ***** Grandson - Lee Gye-ju (이계주) ****** Great-Grandson - Lee Gae (이개) (1417 - 1456) *** Daughter - Lady Gwon **** Son-in-law - Seo Mi-seong (서미성) ***** Granddaughter - Lady Seo of the Daegu Seo clan (대구 서씨, 大丘徐氏) ****** Grandson-in-law - Choi Hang-e (최항에) ***** Grandson - Seo Geo-gwang (서거광) ****** Granddaughter-in-law - Lady Baek of the Suwon Baek clan (수원 백씨) ***** Grandson - Seo Geo-jeong (서거정, 徐居正) (1420 - 1488)His descendant, Seo Seong (서성, 徐渻) (1558 - 1631), became the great-great-grandfather of Queen Jeongseong, the first wife of

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 ...

****** Granddaughter-in-law - Lady Kim; Kim Yeo-hoe's daughter (김여회) ****** Granddaughter-in-law - Lady Lee; Lee Yeong-geun's daughter (이영근) ******* Great-Grandson - Seo Bok-gyeong (서복경, 徐福慶)

Works

*Iphak doseol - Diagrams and Explanations upon Entering Learning (

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 le ...

: 입학도설,

Hanja Hanja (Hangul: ; Hanja: , ), alternatively known as Hancha, are Chinese characters () used in the writing of Korean. Hanja was used as early as the Gojoseon period, the first ever Korean kingdom. (, ) refers to Sino-Korean vocabulary, ...

: 入學圖說) *Ogyeong cheongyeonnok - Superficial Reflections on the Five Classics (

: 오경천견록,

: 五經淺見錄) *Saseo ogyeong gugyeol - Mnemonics for the Four Book and the Five Classics (

: 사서오경구결,

: 四書五經口訣) *Gwonhaksaui paljo - Eight Articles on Recommendations for Learning (

: 권학사의팔조,

: 勸學事宜八條) *Dongguk ssaryak - Concise History of the Eastern State (

: 동국사략,

: 東國史略) *Daeganjik imsamok - Admonition to the Appointment of Officials (

: 대간직임사목,

: 臺諫職任事目) *Yegi Cheon'gyeonnok - Comments on the

(

: 예기천견록,

: 禮記淺見錄) *Sangdae byeolgok (

:상대별곡,

: 霜臺別曲) *Yangchonjip - Collected Works of Yangchon (

: 양촌집,

: 陽村集)

Popular culture

* Portrayed by Kim Cheol-ki in the 2014

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, ...

TV series ''

Jeong Do-jeon Jeong Dojeon ( Korean: 정도전, Hanja: 鄭道傳, 1342 – October 6, 1398), also known by his pen name Sambong ( Korean: 삼봉), was a prominent Korean scholar-official during the late Goryeo to the early Joseon periods. He served as the firs ...

''.

Notes

External links

History of Seoul Metropolitan site (in Korean)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gwon, Geun 15th-century Korean writers Korean Confucianists 1352 births 1409 deaths Neo-Confucian scholars 14th-century Korean philosophers