Seong Sammun
Encyclopedia
Seong Sammun was a scholar-official of early Joseon
who rose to prominence in the court of King Sejong the Great (ruled 1418 - 1450). He was executed after being implicated in a plot to dethrone King Sejo
(r. 1455 - 1468) and restore his predecessor King Danjong
(r. 1452 - 1455), and is known as one of the sayuksin (사육신, the six martyred ministers
) with reference to this plot.
Seong Sammun was born in Hongseong (then Hongju), South Chungcheong province to a yangban
family of the Changnyeong Seong
lineage. He passed the lower examination
at the regular triennial administration in 1438. He soon gained the favor of King Sejong
, and was appointed to the Hall of Worthies
. From 1442 to 1446, he cooperated with other members of that body to compose the Hunmin Jeongeum
, in which the hangul
alphabet was first presented to the world. The level of his involvement in the creation of the Korean alphabet Hangul
(and that of other Hall of Worthies scholars) is disputed, although he and other scholars were sent on trips to consult with a Ming Chinese
phoneticist several times, presumably because one of the first uses the new alphabet was put to was to transcribe the sounds of hanja
, or Sino-Korean characters. In 1447, Seong achieved the highest score on the higher literary examination.
In 1455, Prince Suyang (one of Sejong's sons) forced the young King Danjong
, his nephew, to abdicate, taking the throne instead as King Sejo
. Following secret orders from his father Seong Seung, Seong Sammun along with Bak Jungrim, Bak Paengnyeon and others plotted to assassinate the new king and restore King Danjong to the throne. The plot was exposed and the plotters all arrested. Seong Sammun and his father were executed along with other plotters. Before his execution, Seong Sammun condemned the king as a pretender. The sayuksin and the saengyuksin (생육신, the six retainers who lived), who refused to accept King Sejo as the legitimate king, were praised by later generations for holding fast to the Confucian value of staying loyal to the true king.
.
擊鼓催人命 (격고최인명) -둥둥 북소리는 내 생명을 재촉하고,
西風日欲斜 (회두 일욕사) -머리를 돌여 보니 해는 서산으로 넘어 가려고 하는구나
黃泉無客店 (황천무객점) -황천으로 가는 길에는 주막조차 없다는데,
今夜宿誰家 (금야숙수가) -오늘밤은 뉘 집에서 잠을 자고 갈거나
As the sound of drum calls for my life,
I turn my head where the sun is about to set.
There is no inn on the way to underworld, they say.
Where shall I sleep tonight?
Another poem in prison written in sijo
format
Another poem (using 7 words in each line)
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...
who rose to prominence in the court of King Sejong the Great (ruled 1418 - 1450). He was executed after being implicated in a plot to dethrone King Sejo
Sejo of Joseon
Sejo of Joseon was the seventh king of the Joseon Dynasty of Korea. He produced a coup d'etat and became king himself in 1455.-Reign:...
(r. 1455 - 1468) and restore his predecessor King Danjong
Danjong of Joseon
Danjong of Joseon was the sixth king of the Joseon Dynasty.Danjong succeeded his father, Munjong of Joseon, at the age of 12...
(r. 1452 - 1455), and is known as one of the sayuksin (사육신, the six martyred ministers
Six martyred ministers
The six martyred ministers or Sayuksin were six ministers of the Joseon Dynasty who were executed by King Sejo in 1456 for plotting to assassinate him and restore the former king Danjong to the throne....
) with reference to this plot.
Biography
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...
family of the Changnyeong Seong
Seong
Seong may refer to:* Seong Han Myeong, a fictional Korean character* Seong Mi-na, a fictional Korean characterPeople named Seong:* Bang Seong Joon, Korean voice actor* Choi Seong Woo, Korean voice actor* Kim Ho Seong, Korean voice actor...
lineage. He passed the lower examination
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...
at the regular triennial administration in 1438. He soon gained the favor of King Sejong
Sejong the Great of Joseon
Sejong the Great was the fourth king of the Joseon Dynasty of Korea. During his regency, he reinforced Korean Confucian policies and executed major legal amendments . He also used the creation of Hangul and the advancement of technology to expand his territory...
, and was appointed to the Hall of Worthies
Hall of Worthies
The Hall of Worthies or Jiphyeonjeon ' was set up by Sejong the Great of the Korean Joseon Dynasty in 1420. It consisted of scholars selected by the king....
. From 1442 to 1446, he cooperated with other members of that body to compose the Hunmin Jeongeum
Hunmin Jeongeum
Hunminjeongeum 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...
, in which the hangul
Hangul
Hangul,Pronounced or ; Korean: 한글 Hangeul/Han'gŭl or 조선글 Chosŏn'gŭl/Joseongeul the Korean alphabet, is the native alphabet of the Korean language. It is a separate script from Hanja, the logographic Chinese characters which are also sometimes used to write Korean...
alphabet was first presented to the world. The level of his involvement in the creation of the Korean alphabet Hangul
Hangul
Hangul,Pronounced or ; Korean: 한글 Hangeul/Han'gŭl or 조선글 Chosŏn'gŭl/Joseongeul the Korean alphabet, is the native alphabet of the Korean language. It is a separate script from Hanja, the logographic Chinese characters which are also sometimes used to write Korean...
(and that of other Hall of Worthies scholars) is disputed, although he and other scholars were sent on trips to consult with a Ming Chinese
Ming Dynasty
The Ming Dynasty, also Empire of the Great Ming, was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty. The Ming, "one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history", was the last dynasty in China ruled by ethnic...
phoneticist several times, presumably because one of the first uses the new alphabet was put to was to transcribe the sounds of hanja
Hanja
Hanja is the Korean name for the Chinese characters hanzi. More specifically, it refers to those Chinese characters borrowed from Chinese and incorporated into the Korean language with Korean pronunciation...
, or Sino-Korean characters. In 1447, Seong achieved the highest score on the higher literary examination.
In 1455, Prince Suyang (one of Sejong's sons) forced the young King Danjong
Danjong of Joseon
Danjong of Joseon was the sixth king of the Joseon Dynasty.Danjong succeeded his father, Munjong of Joseon, at the age of 12...
, his nephew, to abdicate, taking the throne instead as King Sejo
Sejo of Joseon
Sejo of Joseon was the seventh king of the Joseon Dynasty of Korea. He produced a coup d'etat and became king himself in 1455.-Reign:...
. Following secret orders from his father Seong Seung, Seong Sammun along with Bak Jungrim, Bak Paengnyeon and others plotted to assassinate the new king and restore King Danjong to the throne. The plot was exposed and the plotters all arrested. Seong Sammun and his father were executed along with other plotters. Before his execution, Seong Sammun condemned the king as a pretender. The sayuksin and the saengyuksin (생육신, the six retainers who lived), who refused to accept King Sejo as the legitimate king, were praised by later generations for holding fast to the Confucian value of staying loyal to the true king.
Poems for his loyalty
He made several poems during imprisonment and before his execution. The following is his death poemDeath poem
A death poem is a poem written near the time of one's own death. It is a tradition for literate people to write one in a number of different cultures, especially in Joseon Korea and Japan.-History:...
.
擊鼓催人命 (격고최인명) -둥둥 북소리는 내 생명을 재촉하고,
西風日欲斜 (회두 일욕사) -머리를 돌여 보니 해는 서산으로 넘어 가려고 하는구나
黃泉無客店 (황천무객점) -황천으로 가는 길에는 주막조차 없다는데,
今夜宿誰家 (금야숙수가) -오늘밤은 뉘 집에서 잠을 자고 갈거나
As the sound of drum calls for my life,
I turn my head where the sun is about to set.
There is no inn on the way to underworld, they say.
Where shall I sleep tonight?
Another poem in prison written in sijo
Sijo
Sijo is a Korean poetic form. Bucolic, metaphysical and cosmological themes are often explored. The three lines average 14-16 syllables, for a total of 44-46: theme ; elaboration ; counter-theme and completion [Ibid., Rutt, pp. 10 ff]...
format
| Old Korean | Translation |
|---|---|
| 이 몸이 주거 가서 무어시 될고 하니, | What shall I become after death? |
| 봉래산(蓬萊山) 제일봉(第一峯)에 낙락장송(落落長松) 되야 이셔, | A tall, thick pine tree on the highest peak of Bongraesan, |
| 백설(白雪)이 만건곤(滿乾坤)할 제 독야청청(獨也靑靑) 하리라. | Evergreen alone when white snow covers the whole world. |
Another poem (using 7 words in each line)
| Hanja Hanja Hanja is the Korean name for the Chinese characters hanzi. More specifically, it refers to those Chinese characters borrowed from Chinese and incorporated into the Korean language with Korean pronunciation... |
Eumdok | Modern Korean | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 食人之食衣人衣 | 식인지식의인의 | 임의 밥 임의 옷을 먹고 입으며 | I've eaten food and worn clothes my lord has given, |
| 素志平生莫有違 | 소지평생막유위 | 일평생 먹은 마음 변할 줄이 있으랴 | How could there be change in the steadfast heart? |
| 一死固知忠義在 | 일사고지충의재 | 이 죽음이 충과 의를 위함이기에 | My death is for loyalty and righteousness. |
| 顯陵松栢夢依依 | 현릉송백몽의의 | 현릉 푸른 송백꿈 속에서도 못잊져라 | How could I forget even in a dream with the green pine tree by Heonreung |
See also
- Joseon Dynasty politicsJoseon Dynasty politicsThe politics of the Joseon Dynasty, which ruled Korea from 1392 to 1910, were governed by the reigning ideology of Korean Confucianism, a form of Neo-Confucianism. Political struggles were common between different factions of the scholar-officials...
- History of KoreaHistory of KoreaThe Korean Peninsula was inhabited from the Lower Paleolithic about 400,000-500,000 years ago. Archeological evidence indicates that the presence of modern humans in northeast Asia dates to 39,000 years ago. The earliest known Korean pottery dates to around 8000 BC, and the Neolithic period began...
- List of Korea-related topics
- List of Joseon Dynasty people
External links
- Shrine of Seong Sam-mun in Hongseong County Biography 신숙주가 본 ‘죽마고우’ 성삼문 from Dong-a IlboDong-a IlboThe Dong-a Ilbo is one of three major South Korean newspapers with over 2 million daily circulation...