Pyeongsan Shin clan
Encyclopedia
The Pyeongsan Shin clan is an aristocratic yangban
clan which originates from Korea
. The clan was key in helping the foundation of the Goryeo
Kingdom in the 10th century. Although the clan gained its initial power in the military history, it converted into a more political aristocracy during the later Joseon Dynasty
and the Korean Empire
.
Not all Koreans with the family name Shin
today belong to the Pyeongsan Shin clan. The majority descend from commoners who took the name in the first half of the twentieth century, during the Japanese occupation of Korea. Others belong to other unrelated clans, such as the Goryeong Shin clan.
Descendants of the original Pyeongsan Shin clan are divided into different branches. One of the most famous branches is the Sagangong branch. Certain Sagangong branch descendants achieved high political positions within Korea
. Nowadays, some Sagangong descendants can be found outside Korea
, most notably in Europe
.
(aristocratic) family, which takes its root during the 10th century Goryeo dynasty. At the beginning of the Goryeo period, the country was divided in several kingdoms fighting for supremacy over the Korean peninsula.
The founder of the clan is generally accepted to be General Shin Sung-gyeom
, who helped King Wang Geon found the Goryeo Kingdom by dethroning the tyrant Gung Ye
, alongside Hyeon Gyeong, Hong Yu and Bok Ji-geom in 918.
As described on an official description plate at his memorial shrine in the province of Gangwon-do , Shin Sung-gyeom
died around 927 in a battle in modern-day Daegu
, fighting bravely in the king's clothes to save King Wang Geon (also referred to as King Taejo), who formally founded the Goryeo Kingdom in the same year. After his death, the King bestowed upon Shin's son and Shin's brother the high aristocratic title of Jangjolgong.
According to the legend, the clan name of Pyeongsan Shin was given to Shin Sung-gyeom before his death, during a hunting trip with King Wang Geon. A skillful archer, Shin successfully hit "the left wing of the third goose among the flying geese over there." Wang Geon was impressed and bestowed Shin with the land area, Pyeongsan, where the geese were flying over, and that is how the family line of Shin of Pyeongsan originated. The land of Pyeongsan is currently situated in the North Korean province of Hwanghae
.
, the Pyeongsan Shin family developed into one of the most influential yangban families. As other yangbans of the time, members of the Pyeongsan Shin clan successfully passed the gwageo
, or national civil service examinations. Preferential clan member positions started within the mugwa (military positions), most notably during the Hideyoshi Japanese invasions of Korea (1592-1598). Later, the clan choices tipped towards the mungwa (literary positions) when the balance of power shifted from the military to the bureaucrats.
dynasty, but gradually spread to the commoners during the later Goryeo
and Joseon
periods. To dissociate themselves from commoners, yangbans devised a complex system of names, also driven by Confucian customs imported from China
. Clan members however always kept their land origin (e.g. Pyeongsan) and their main branch division name (also called pa in Korean). The pa often referred to an aristocratic or authority title bestowed upon the branch founder, and served to denote the origin of the clan member. One such powerful clan branch is the Sagangong pa, which originated by Shin Ho during the Joseon
dynasty.
It is however only after the Japanese occupation that the concept of family names was enforced to the whole population, through the Japonification of family names (see Korean name
).
During the japonification, the most popular names were chosen by many Koreans (Kim and Lee), as they were associated with the most powerful families at the time. The family name of Shin (Korean name)
was comparatively chosen by fewer Koreans, though a large portion of the current Korean population with the surname Shin most likely do not belong to the original Pyeongsan Shin branches.
. The later part of the branch is described below, based on documents issued by the Korean Embassy in Belgium.
One notable and direct descendant of Shin Ho was the military commander Lord Shin Seok-Yeong (b.~1730), son of Lord Shin Sae-Gwan (b.~1700). Lord Shin O-Seon (b.~1755), son of Seok-Yeong, was a Government legislator, later rewarded for his work with the position of Director of the Royal Orchestra. Lord Shin Gi-Jae (b.~1780), son of Shin O-Seon, served as Vice-Minister of the Interior.
Shin Gi-Jae had a son, Lord Shin Gwang-Hyun (b.~1805), who held several high-ranking positions in the Government at the time. After a successful military career, first as General of the Royal Guard, then as Vice-Supreme Commander of the Army, Shin Gi-Jae held successful positions in the civil service as Minister of the Interior and Attorney-General.
Lord Shin Jeong-Gyoon (b.1839), son of Shin Gi-Jae, held as his father several successful military and civil positions in the Government. Shin Jeong-Gyoon served as Commander of Army and later as Attorney-General and County-Governor of Yesan.
Shin Jeong-Gyoon had a son, Prince Shin Tae-Yu (1865-1941), who married one of the younger nieces of King Gojong
of Korea. When presented to the King, Prince Tae-Yu bowed, as was customary at the time, and was offered to drink a bowl of Soju
(a strong Korean alcohol beverage). Amazed at the speed at which Tae-Yu drank, the King offered three consecutive bowls, all drank swiftly by Tae-Yu. Impressed, the King asked Tae-Yu to show his face closely and was pleased at Tae-Yu's appearance. The King later offered Tae-Yu the hand of Princess Ai-Ki, one of his young nieces. Tae-Yu worked as a high-ranking legislator and later became Minister of the Interior, where he personally headed the Bureau of Telegraphy (a novelty at the time in Korea).
Following Korean Confucian traditions, Tae-Yu decided to leave his office for several years, due to the consecutive deaths of his father (Shin Jeong-Kyun, 1839-?) and mother. During that time, Tae-Yu concentrated on his poetry. Tae-Yu was particularly known for his poetic talents and his unorthodox manner to dress in blue, while typical Korean gentlemen used to dress in white at the time.
Tae-Yu had one son, Prince Shin Yun (1892-1973), who became a prominent member of the Korean civil service. Interestingly, Yun was one of the first few Koreans to graduate from the Korea YMCA
in Seoul
, which influenced many members of the Korean independence movement at the time. During the Japanese occupation of Korea, Shin Yun was offered to collaborate with the occupants, in return for the lower Japanese aristocratic title of baron
. This practice was common at the time among yangban
families. However, pressured by his father Tae-Yu, Shin Yun refused the offer. This refusal later gained him the respect (and saved the family reputation), when the Japanese occupation finished in 1945. Shin Yun later climbed to the position of Vice-Minister of Finance.
Shin Yun had one son, Prince Shin Ki-Young (1914- ), who became a prominent civil servant. An intellectual man and Doctor in Law, Ki-Young was appointed President of the Donghwa public company, one of the largest chains of department stores at the time. Ki-Young retired after 1970 outside Seoul, where he still lives. Shin Ki-Young married Kwon Yeong-Ja (1926- ), a descendant of the Andong
Kwon clan.
in Seoul, Shin In-Sook emigrated to Brussels
, Belgium
, where she currently resides. Shin In-Sook had one son, Shin Ee-Sup (1975- ), also known as Jonathan Shin, who took the family name from his Korean side.
The Pyeongsan Shin family is one of the many foreign noble families officially residing in the Kingdom of Belgium, where the family name has been frenchified to Shin de Pyeongsan (see also Belgian nobility
).
Yangban
The yangban were part of the traditional ruling class or nobles of dynastic Korea during the Joseon Dynasty. The yangban were either landed or unlanded aristocracy who comprised the Korean Confucian idea of a "scholarly official." In reality, they were basically administrators and bureaucrats who...
clan which originates from Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
. The clan was key in helping the foundation of the Goryeo
Goryeo
The Goryeo Dynasty or Koryŏ was a Korean dynasty established in 918 by Emperor Taejo. Korea gets its name from this kingdom which came to be pronounced Korea. It united the Later Three Kingdoms in 936 and ruled most of the Korean peninsula until it was removed by the Joseon dynasty in 1392...
Kingdom in the 10th century. Although the clan gained its initial power in the military history, it converted into a more political aristocracy during the later Joseon Dynasty
Joseon Dynasty
Joseon , was a Korean state founded by Taejo Yi Seong-gye that lasted for approximately five centuries. It was founded in the aftermath of the overthrow of the Goryeo at what is today the city of Kaesong. Early on, Korea was retitled and the capital was relocated to modern-day Seoul...
and the Korean Empire
Korean Empire
The Greater Korean Empire was an empire of Korea that succeeded the Joseon Dynasty.In October 1897, Emperor Gojong proclaimed the new entity at Gyeongungung Palace and oversaw the partially successful modernization of the military, economy, land system, education system, and various industries...
.
Not all Koreans with the family name Shin
Shin (Korean name)
Shin is a Korean family name. According to the 2000 census in South Korea, there were 911,556 people carrying the Shin surname.-Clans:There are three Chinese characters for the Shin surname. Between these three characters, there are five different clans. Each Shin clan descends from a different...
today belong to the Pyeongsan Shin clan. The majority descend from commoners who took the name in the first half of the twentieth century, during the Japanese occupation of Korea. Others belong to other unrelated clans, such as the Goryeong Shin clan.
Descendants of the original Pyeongsan Shin clan are divided into different branches. One of the most famous branches is the Sagangong branch. Certain Sagangong branch descendants achieved high political positions within Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
. Nowadays, some Sagangong descendants can be found outside Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
, most notably in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
.
Clan history during the Goryeo period (918-1392)
The Pyeongsan Shin clan is a Korean yangbanYangban
The yangban were part of the traditional ruling class or nobles of dynastic Korea during the Joseon Dynasty. The yangban were either landed or unlanded aristocracy who comprised the Korean Confucian idea of a "scholarly official." In reality, they were basically administrators and bureaucrats who...
(aristocratic) family, which takes its root during the 10th century Goryeo dynasty. At the beginning of the Goryeo period, the country was divided in several kingdoms fighting for supremacy over the Korean peninsula.
The founder of the clan is generally accepted to be General Shin Sung-gyeom
Shin Sung-gyeom
Shin Sung-gyeom was a Korean general during the turbulent Later Three Kingdoms period in the early 10th century. Born in Gwanghaeju , he became a general in the kingdom of Taebong...
, who helped King Wang Geon found the Goryeo Kingdom by dethroning the tyrant Gung Ye
Gung Ye
Gung Ye was the king of the short-lived Hugoguryeo on the Korean peninsula. Although he was a member of the Silla royal family, he became a victim of the power struggle among the royal family members during the late 9th century...
, alongside Hyeon Gyeong, Hong Yu and Bok Ji-geom in 918.
As described on an official description plate at his memorial shrine in the province of Gangwon-do , Shin Sung-gyeom
Shin Sung-gyeom
Shin Sung-gyeom was a Korean general during the turbulent Later Three Kingdoms period in the early 10th century. Born in Gwanghaeju , he became a general in the kingdom of Taebong...
died around 927 in a battle in modern-day Daegu
Daegu
Daegu , also known as Taegu, and officially the Daegu Metropolitan City, is a city in South Korea, the fourth largest after Seoul, Busan, and Incheon, and the third largest metropolitan area in the country with over 2.5 million residents. The city is the capital and principal city of the...
, fighting bravely in the king's clothes to save King Wang Geon (also referred to as King Taejo), who formally founded the Goryeo Kingdom in the same year. After his death, the King bestowed upon Shin's son and Shin's brother the high aristocratic title of Jangjolgong.
According to the legend, the clan name of Pyeongsan Shin was given to Shin Sung-gyeom before his death, during a hunting trip with King Wang Geon. A skillful archer, Shin successfully hit "the left wing of the third goose among the flying geese over there." Wang Geon was impressed and bestowed Shin with the land area, Pyeongsan, where the geese were flying over, and that is how the family line of Shin of Pyeongsan originated. The land of Pyeongsan is currently situated in the North Korean province of Hwanghae
Hwanghae
Hwanghae was one of the Eight Provinces of Korea during the Joseon Dynasty. Hwanghae was located in the northwest of Korea. The provincial capital was Haeju.The regional name for the province was Haesŏ .-History:...
.
Clan history during the Joseon period (1392-1910)
During the Joseon DynastyJoseon Dynasty
Joseon , was a Korean state founded by Taejo Yi Seong-gye that lasted for approximately five centuries. It was founded in the aftermath of the overthrow of the Goryeo at what is today the city of Kaesong. Early on, Korea was retitled and the capital was relocated to modern-day Seoul...
, the Pyeongsan Shin family developed into one of the most influential yangban families. As other yangbans of the time, members of the Pyeongsan Shin clan successfully passed the gwageo
Gwageo
The gwageo were the national civil service examinations under the Goryeo and Joseon dynasties of Korea. Typically quite demanding, these tests measured candidates' knowledge of the Chinese classics, and sometimes also of technical subjects...
, or national civil service examinations. Preferential clan member positions started within the mugwa (military positions), most notably during the Hideyoshi Japanese invasions of Korea (1592-1598). Later, the clan choices tipped towards the mungwa (literary positions) when the balance of power shifted from the military to the bureaucrats.
Name concepts
At first, family names were limited to kings and aristocrats during the GoryeoGoryeo
The Goryeo Dynasty or Koryŏ was a Korean dynasty established in 918 by Emperor Taejo. Korea gets its name from this kingdom which came to be pronounced Korea. It united the Later Three Kingdoms in 936 and ruled most of the Korean peninsula until it was removed by the Joseon dynasty in 1392...
dynasty, but gradually spread to the commoners during the later Goryeo
Goryeo
The Goryeo Dynasty or Koryŏ was a Korean dynasty established in 918 by Emperor Taejo. Korea gets its name from this kingdom which came to be pronounced Korea. It united the Later Three Kingdoms in 936 and ruled most of the Korean peninsula until it was removed by the Joseon dynasty in 1392...
and Joseon
Joseon Dynasty
Joseon , was a Korean state founded by Taejo Yi Seong-gye that lasted for approximately five centuries. It was founded in the aftermath of the overthrow of the Goryeo at what is today the city of Kaesong. Early on, Korea was retitled and the capital was relocated to modern-day Seoul...
periods. To dissociate themselves from commoners, yangbans devised a complex system of names, also driven by Confucian customs imported from China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. Clan members however always kept their land origin (e.g. Pyeongsan) and their main branch division name (also called pa in Korean). The pa often referred to an aristocratic or authority title bestowed upon the branch founder, and served to denote the origin of the clan member. One such powerful clan branch is the Sagangong pa, which originated by Shin Ho during the Joseon
Joseon Dynasty
Joseon , was a Korean state founded by Taejo Yi Seong-gye that lasted for approximately five centuries. It was founded in the aftermath of the overthrow of the Goryeo at what is today the city of Kaesong. Early on, Korea was retitled and the capital was relocated to modern-day Seoul...
dynasty.
It is however only after the Japanese occupation that the concept of family names was enforced to the whole population, through the Japonification of family names (see Korean name
Korean name
A Korean name consists of a family name followed by a given name, as used by the Korean people in both North Korea and South Korea. In the Korean language, 'ireum' or 'seong-myeong' usually refers to the family name and given name together...
).
During the japonification, the most popular names were chosen by many Koreans (Kim and Lee), as they were associated with the most powerful families at the time. The family name of Shin (Korean name)
Shin (Korean name)
Shin is a Korean family name. According to the 2000 census in South Korea, there were 911,556 people carrying the Shin surname.-Clans:There are three Chinese characters for the Shin surname. Between these three characters, there are five different clans. Each Shin clan descends from a different...
was comparatively chosen by fewer Koreans, though a large portion of the current Korean population with the surname Shin most likely do not belong to the original Pyeongsan Shin branches.
Sagangong Branch of the Pyeongsan Shin Clan in Korea
A famous branch of the Pyeongsan Shin clan is the Sagangong branch, which originated with Shin Ho in the Joseon DynastyJoseon Dynasty
Joseon , was a Korean state founded by Taejo Yi Seong-gye that lasted for approximately five centuries. It was founded in the aftermath of the overthrow of the Goryeo at what is today the city of Kaesong. Early on, Korea was retitled and the capital was relocated to modern-day Seoul...
. The later part of the branch is described below, based on documents issued by the Korean Embassy in Belgium.
One notable and direct descendant of Shin Ho was the military commander Lord Shin Seok-Yeong (b.~1730), son of Lord Shin Sae-Gwan (b.~1700). Lord Shin O-Seon (b.~1755), son of Seok-Yeong, was a Government legislator, later rewarded for his work with the position of Director of the Royal Orchestra. Lord Shin Gi-Jae (b.~1780), son of Shin O-Seon, served as Vice-Minister of the Interior.
Shin Gi-Jae had a son, Lord Shin Gwang-Hyun (b.~1805), who held several high-ranking positions in the Government at the time. After a successful military career, first as General of the Royal Guard, then as Vice-Supreme Commander of the Army, Shin Gi-Jae held successful positions in the civil service as Minister of the Interior and Attorney-General.
Lord Shin Jeong-Gyoon (b.1839), son of Shin Gi-Jae, held as his father several successful military and civil positions in the Government. Shin Jeong-Gyoon served as Commander of Army and later as Attorney-General and County-Governor of Yesan.
Shin Jeong-Gyoon had a son, Prince Shin Tae-Yu (1865-1941), who married one of the younger nieces of King Gojong
Gojong
Gojong is the temple name of several Korean kings. It can refer to:* Gojong of Goryeo * Gojong of the Korean Empire...
of Korea. When presented to the King, Prince Tae-Yu bowed, as was customary at the time, and was offered to drink a bowl of Soju
Soju
Soju is a distilled beverage native to Korea. Its taste is comparable to vodka, though often slightly sweeter due to sugars added in the manufacturing process, and more commonly consumed neat.Most brands of soju are made in South Korea...
(a strong Korean alcohol beverage). Amazed at the speed at which Tae-Yu drank, the King offered three consecutive bowls, all drank swiftly by Tae-Yu. Impressed, the King asked Tae-Yu to show his face closely and was pleased at Tae-Yu's appearance. The King later offered Tae-Yu the hand of Princess Ai-Ki, one of his young nieces. Tae-Yu worked as a high-ranking legislator and later became Minister of the Interior, where he personally headed the Bureau of Telegraphy (a novelty at the time in Korea).
Following Korean Confucian traditions, Tae-Yu decided to leave his office for several years, due to the consecutive deaths of his father (Shin Jeong-Kyun, 1839-?) and mother. During that time, Tae-Yu concentrated on his poetry. Tae-Yu was particularly known for his poetic talents and his unorthodox manner to dress in blue, while typical Korean gentlemen used to dress in white at the time.
Tae-Yu had one son, Prince Shin Yun (1892-1973), who became a prominent member of the Korean civil service. Interestingly, Yun was one of the first few Koreans to graduate from the Korea YMCA
YMCA
The Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
in Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
, which influenced many members of the Korean independence movement at the time. During the Japanese occupation of Korea, Shin Yun was offered to collaborate with the occupants, in return for the lower Japanese aristocratic title of baron
Baron
Baron is a title of nobility. The word baron comes from Old French baron, itself from Old High German and Latin baro meaning " man, warrior"; it merged with cognate Old English beorn meaning "nobleman"...
. This practice was common at the time among yangban
Yangban
The yangban were part of the traditional ruling class or nobles of dynastic Korea during the Joseon Dynasty. The yangban were either landed or unlanded aristocracy who comprised the Korean Confucian idea of a "scholarly official." In reality, they were basically administrators and bureaucrats who...
families. However, pressured by his father Tae-Yu, Shin Yun refused the offer. This refusal later gained him the respect (and saved the family reputation), when the Japanese occupation finished in 1945. Shin Yun later climbed to the position of Vice-Minister of Finance.
Shin Yun had one son, Prince Shin Ki-Young (1914- ), who became a prominent civil servant. An intellectual man and Doctor in Law, Ki-Young was appointed President of the Donghwa public company, one of the largest chains of department stores at the time. Ki-Young retired after 1970 outside Seoul, where he still lives. Shin Ki-Young married Kwon Yeong-Ja (1926- ), a descendant of the Andong
Andong
Andong is a city in Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, South Korea. It is the largest city in the northern part of the province with a population of 167,821 in October 2010. The Nakdong River flows through the city...
Kwon clan.
Sagangong Branch of the Pyeongsan Shin Clan in Europe
Shin Ki-Young had four children : Shin In-Sook (1949- ), Shin Won-Sik (1952- ), Shin Jung-Sik (1954- ) and Shin Hyo-Sook (1957- ). In 1974, upon completing her education at the Yonsei UniversityYonsei University
Yonsei University is a Christian private research university, located in Seoul, South Korea. Established in 1885, it is one of the oldest universities in South Korea, the top private comprehensive universities in South Korea, and is widely regarded as one of the top three comprehensive...
in Seoul, Shin In-Sook emigrated to Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, where she currently resides. Shin In-Sook had one son, Shin Ee-Sup (1975- ), also known as Jonathan Shin, who took the family name from his Korean side.
The Pyeongsan Shin family is one of the many foreign noble families officially residing in the Kingdom of Belgium, where the family name has been frenchified to Shin de Pyeongsan (see also Belgian nobility
Belgian nobility
In the Kingdom of Belgium there are at the moment approximately 1,300 noble families. Some 20,000 individuals are titled. The noble lineage of only ca. 400 families dates back to the 17th century. As Belgium is a democratic constitutional monarchy there are no legal privileges attached to bearing a...
).