Yu Seong-ryong
Encyclopedia
Yu Seong-ryong also often spelled Ryu Seong-ryong, was a scholar-official and Prime minister
of the Joseon Dynasty
of Korea. He was a member of the "Eastern faction", and a follower of Yi Hwang
.
Yu was born in Uiseong, in Gyeongsang
province, to a yangban
family of the Pungsan Ryu clan.
and Mencius
at the age of 8. In 1564 the 19th year of Myeongjong
, he passed the Samasi examination, and in 1566 he passed the Mun-gwa
at a special examination, and then took the post of Gwonji bujeongja (권지부정사, 權知副正字). He held various other positions and in 1569 he joined the imperial birthday mission to Ming
as a Seojanggwan (서장관, 書狀官), returning to Korea the following year.
Thereafter he held posts including Inspector of Classics (경연검토관, 經筵檢討官) and devoted himself to editing, being granted a royal sabbatical (사가독서, 賜暇讀書). Subsequently he held posts including Gyori (교리, fifth jeong rank) and Eunggyo (응교, 應敎, fourth jeong rank). He was appointed Jikjehak (직제학, 直提學) in 1575 and Bujehak (부제학, 副提學) in 1576. Continually he held posts including Doseongji (都承旨), Daesaheon (대사헌, 大司憲) and Daejehak (대제학, 大提學).
In 1590, He was appointed Uuijeong (Third State Councillor) and Pungwon Buwongun (풍원부원군, 豊原府院君). In 1591, He was promoted to Jwauijeong
(Second State Councillor) and Ijo Panseo (이조판서, 吏曹判書). However, "Eastern faction" was split as "Southern faction" and "Northern faction". Because of "Western faction]"'s disciplinary punishment, which was led by Jeong Cheol
. He was a member of the "Southern faction".
He was in the rank of provincial Dochechalsa (도체찰사, 都體察使) when the Imjin War broke out in 1592 also he was appointed Yeonguijeong
, the Chief State Councillor or Prime Minister. Yu Seongryong accompanied the royal family at Hanseong to Uiju
. In this capacity, he oversaw all military units and called leaders like Yi Sun-sin
and Gwon Yul
to battle. He also fought on the Korean-Chinese allied forces side in the Siege of Pyongyang. He suggested of establishment the Hunnyeon Dogam (훈련도감, 訓鍊都監, Training capital garrisons).
In 1598, he was ousted by the "Northern faction". King Seonjo rehabilitated him, however, he refused to take office as a minister in 1600. In 1602, Joseon government bestowed honors upon him, as the second rank of Hoseong Gongsin (호성공신, 扈聖功臣), and appointed Pungwon Buwongun again.
After which he spent his time on political writing before died in 1607.
Yu's major writings are preserved in the Seoaejip (The anthology of Seoae ,서애집, 西厓集), Jingborok (The book of Correction, 징비록, 懲毖錄), and minor writings as Hwanghwajip (황화집, 皇華集), Jeongchungrok (정충록, 精忠錄). Yu Seong-ryong was enshrined in the Byeongsan Seowon
and Hogye Seowon in Andong
, North Gyeongsang.
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
of the 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...
of Korea. He was a member of the "Eastern faction", and a follower of Yi Hwang
Yi Hwang
Yi Hwang is one of the two most prominent Korean Confucian scholars of the Joseon Dynasty, the other being his younger contemporary Yi I . A key figure of the Neo-Confucian literati, he established the Yeongnam School and set up the Dosan Seowon, a private Confucian academy. Yi Hwang is often...
.
Yu was born in Uiseong, in Gyeongsang
Gyeongsang
Gyeongsang was one of the eight provinces of Korea during the Joseon Dynasty. Gyeongsang was located in the southeast of Korea....
province, to a 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...
family of the Pungsan Ryu clan.
Biography
Yu is said to have been so precocious that he absorbed the teachings of ConfuciusConfucius
Confucius , literally "Master Kong", was a Chinese thinker and social philosopher of the Spring and Autumn Period....
and Mencius
Mencius
Mencius was a Chinese philosopher who was arguably the most famous Confucian after Confucius himself.-Life:Mencius, also known by his birth name Meng Ke or Ko, was born in the State of Zou, now forming the territory of the county-level city of Zoucheng , Shandong province, only thirty kilometres ...
at the age of 8. In 1564 the 19th year of Myeongjong
Myeongjong of Joseon
King Myeongjong was the 13th king of the Joseon Dynasty of Korea. He was the second son of Jungjong, and his mother was Queen Munjeong, who was Jungjong's third queen....
, he passed the Samasi examination, and in 1566 he passed the Mun-gwa
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 a special examination, and then took the post of Gwonji bujeongja (권지부정사, 權知副正字). He held various other positions and in 1569 he joined the imperial birthday mission to Ming
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...
as a Seojanggwan (서장관, 書狀官), returning to Korea the following year.
Thereafter he held posts including Inspector of Classics (경연검토관, 經筵檢討官) and devoted himself to editing, being granted a royal sabbatical (사가독서, 賜暇讀書). Subsequently he held posts including Gyori (교리, fifth jeong rank) and Eunggyo (응교, 應敎, fourth jeong rank). He was appointed Jikjehak (직제학, 直提學) in 1575 and Bujehak (부제학, 副提學) in 1576. Continually he held posts including Doseongji (都承旨), Daesaheon (대사헌, 大司憲) and Daejehak (대제학, 大提學).
In 1590, He was appointed Uuijeong (Third State Councillor) and Pungwon Buwongun (풍원부원군, 豊原府院君). In 1591, He was promoted to Jwauijeong
Jwauijeong
Jwauijeong was the Second State Councillor of "Uijeongbu" which position was right below to Yeonguijeong during the Joseon Dynasty of Korea...
(Second State Councillor) and Ijo Panseo (이조판서, 吏曹判書). However, "Eastern faction" was split as "Southern faction" and "Northern faction". Because of "Western faction]"'s disciplinary punishment, which was led by Jeong Cheol
Jeong Cheol
Jeong Cheol was a Korean statesman and poet. He used the pen-names Gyeham and Songgang, and studied under Kim Yunjae at Hwanbyeokdang.-Literary works:...
. He was a member of the "Southern faction".
He was in the rank of provincial Dochechalsa (도체찰사, 都體察使) when the Imjin War broke out in 1592 also he was appointed Yeonguijeong
Yeonguijeong
Yeonguijeong was a title created in 1400, during the Joseon Dynasty of Korea and given to the Chief State Councillor as the highest government position of "Uijeongbu" . Existing for over 500 years, its function can be compared to that of a present day "Prime Minister of South Korea"...
, the Chief State Councillor or Prime Minister. Yu Seongryong accompanied the royal family at Hanseong to Uiju
Uiju
Ŭiju is a kun, or county, in North Pyongan Province, North Korea. The county has an area of 420 km², and a population of 110,018 .-Location:...
. In this capacity, he oversaw all military units and called leaders like Yi Sun-sin
Yi Sun-sin
Yi Sun-shin was a Korean naval commander, famed for his victories against the Japanese navy during the Imjin war in the Joseon Dynasty, and is well-respected for his exemplary conduct on and off the battlefield not only by Koreans, but by Japanese Admirals as well...
and Gwon Yul
Gwon Yul
Kwon Yul was a Korean Army General and the Commander-in-chief of the Joseon Dynasty, who successfully led the Korean forces against Japan during the Japanese invasions of Korea...
to battle. He also fought on the Korean-Chinese allied forces side in the Siege of Pyongyang. He suggested of establishment the Hunnyeon Dogam (훈련도감, 訓鍊都監, Training capital garrisons).
In 1598, he was ousted by the "Northern faction". King Seonjo rehabilitated him, however, he refused to take office as a minister in 1600. In 1602, Joseon government bestowed honors upon him, as the second rank of Hoseong Gongsin (호성공신, 扈聖功臣), and appointed Pungwon Buwongun again.
After which he spent his time on political writing before died in 1607.
Yu's major writings are preserved in the Seoaejip (The anthology of Seoae ,서애집, 西厓集), Jingborok (The book of Correction, 징비록, 懲毖錄), and minor writings as Hwanghwajip (황화집, 皇華集), Jeongchungrok (정충록, 精忠錄). Yu Seong-ryong was enshrined in the Byeongsan Seowon
Byeongsan Seowon
The Byeongsan Seowon is a seowon located in the neighborhood of Byeongsan-dong, Yecheon-myeon in the city of Andong, North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea. Seowon is a type of local academy during the Joseon Dynasty...
and Hogye Seowon in 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...
, North Gyeongsang.
See also
- Yi Sun-sinYi Sun-sinYi Sun-shin was a Korean naval commander, famed for his victories against the Japanese navy during the Imjin war in the Joseon Dynasty, and is well-respected for his exemplary conduct on and off the battlefield not only by Koreans, but by Japanese Admirals as well...
- Seonjo of JoseonSeonjo of JoseonKing Seonjo ruled in Korea between 1567 and 1608. He was the fourteenth king of the Joseon Dynasty. He is known for encouraging Confucianism and renovating state affairs at the beginning of his reign, although political chaos and his incompetent leadership during the Japanese invasions of Korea...
- Political factions in Joseon DynastyPolitical factions in Joseon DynastyThe Bungdang refers to political factionalism that was characteristic of Middle and Late Joseon Dynasty. Throughout the dynasty, various regional and ideological factions struggled for dominance in the political system...
- Japanese invasions of Korea (1592–1598)
- Ryu Shi-wonRyu Shi-wonRyu Shi-won is a South Korean actor and singer. After he made his debut in the KBS drama Feeling in 1994, Ryu pursued a singing career....
, an actor and singer, Yu Seong-ryeong's 14th-generation descendant