Kwŏn Kŭn

Kwŏn Kŭn (1352 – 14 February 1409) was a Korean Neo-Confucian scholar at the dawn of the Joseon period, and a student of Yi Saek. 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

Kwŏn Kŭn was a Korean Neo-Confucian scholar at the time of the change from the Goryeo dynasty (during which Buddhism was a prominent philosophy) to Joseon. He was a member of the Andong Kwon clan that was very influential in the Goryeo court. He was a student of Yi Saek, 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 Goryeo loyalist minister Yi Sung-in (1349–1392). While in exile he got involved in the faction's attempt to prevent the rise of Yi Sŏng-gye, by alerting the Ming dynasty. 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 Chŏng To-jŏn's faction kept his role minimal, but Chŏng To-jŏn and many of his colleagues were wiped out during the succession straggle of 1398. From that point until his death, Kwŏn Kŭn became the most important scholar in the government. During this time Kwŏn Kŭn directed the education system back toward literary accomplishments.

Importance

Kwŏn Kŭn 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 – 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. Kwŏn Kŭn developed a theory of ritual and emphasized the role of ritual in social order. He rearranged the Classic of Music, taking the first part as the original and the second part as a commentary.

Kwŏn Kŭn was a prolific writer, and he is also known for his contributions to several anti Buddhist texts, including his preface to Chŏng To-jŏn's Pulssi Chappyŏn (An Array of Critiques of Buddhism), as well as a contribution to the standardization of the sacrifices to pacify restless spirits.Boudewijn Walraven, "Popular Religion in a Confucianized Society," in Culture and The State in Late Choson Korea, ed. Jahyun Kim Haboush and Martina Deuchler (Cambridge: Harvard University Asia Center, 1999), 164.

Family

* Grandfather
** Kwŏn Ko ()
* Father
** Kwŏn Hŭi (; 1319–1405)
* Mother
** Lady Han of the Hanyang Han clan (; 1315–1398)
* Wife and children
** Princess Sukgyeong, Lady Yi of the Gyeongju Yi clan (; 1367–1423); Daughter of Yi Chun-o (; 1341–1371)
*** Son - Kwŏn Che (1387–1445)
**** Daughter-in-law - Lady Yi of the Gyeongju Yi clan (경주 이씨; 慶州李氏; 1385–1468); daughter of Yi Hyu (검교판한성부사 이휴; 李携)
*** Son - Kwŏn Kyu (; 1393–1421)
**** Daughter-in-law - Princess Gyeongan (; 1393 – 22 April 1415)
*** Daughter - Lady Kwŏn
**** Son-in-law - Yi Chong-sŏn ()
*** Daughter - Lady Kwŏn
**** Son-in-law - Sŏ Mi-sŏng ()

Works

*Iphak doseol - Diagrams and Explanations upon Entering Learning ()
*Ogyeong cheongyeonnok - Superficial Reflections on the Five Classics ()
*Saseo ogyeong gugyeol - Mnemonics for the Four Book and the Five Classics ()
*Gwonhaksaui paljo - Eight Articles on Recommendations for Learning ()
*Dongguk ssaryak - Concise History of the Eastern State ()
*Daeganjik imsamok - Admonition to the Appointment of Officials ()
*Yegi Cheon'gyeonnok - Comments on the Book of Rites ()
*Sangdae byeolgok ()
*Yangchonjip - Collected Works of Yangchon ()

Popular culture

* Portrayed by Kim Cheol-ki in the 2014 KBS1 TV series '' Jeong Do-jeon''.

Further reading

*Ralston, Michael K. "Ideas of Self and Self Cultivation in Korean Neo-Confucianism." PhD diss., University of British Columbia, 2001.
*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.
*Kalton, Michael C. "Early Yi Dynasty Neo-Confucianism: An Integrated Vision." In Laurel Kendall and Griffin Dix, eds. Religion and Ritual in Korean Society. Berkeley: Center for Korean Studies, Institute of East Asian Studies, University of California, Berkeley, 1987.

See also

* List of Korean philosophers

Notes

External links

History of Seoul Metropolitan site (in Korean)

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kwŏn, Kŭn
15th-century Korean writers
Goryeo Confucianists
1352 births
1409 deaths
Neo-Confucian scholars
14th-century Korean philosophers