Ryu Seong-ryong

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This article is about the 16th–17th century Korean scholar-official. For the South Korean navy ship, see ROKS Seoae Ryu Seong-ryong (DDG-993).
In this Korean name, the family name is Ryu.
Ryu Seong-ryong
류성룡
Chief State Councillor
In office
4 December 1592 – 6 November 1598
Preceded byChoe Heung-won
Succeeded byYi Won-ik
In office
10 June 1592 – 9 July 1592
Preceded byYi San-hae
Succeeded byChoe Heung-won
Left State Councillor
In office
24 February 1591 – 10 June 1592
Preceded byJeong Cheol
Succeeded byYi Yang-won
Right State Councillor
In office
4 April 1590 – 24 February 1591
Preceded bySim Su-gyeong
Succeeded byYi Yang-won
Personal details
Born(1542-11-07)7 November 1542
Gyeongsang Province, Korea
Died31 May 1607(1607-05-31) (aged 64)
Andong, Korea
OccupationScholar-official
Korean name
Hangul
류성룡
Hanja
柳成龍
Revised RomanizationRyu Seong-ryong
McCune–ReischauerRyu Sŏngryong
Art name
Hangul
서애
Hanja
西厓
Revised RomanizationSeoae
McCune–ReischauerSŏae
Courtesy name
Hangul
이현
Hanja
而見
Revised RomanizationIhyeon
McCune–ReischauerIhyŏn
Posthumous name
Hangul
문충
Hanja
文忠
Revised RomanizationMunchung
McCune–ReischauerMunch'ung

Ryu Seong-ryong (Korean: 류성룡; Hanja: 柳成龍; November 1542 – May 1607), was a scholar-official of the Joseon period of Korea. He held many responsibilities including the Chief State Councillor position in 1592. He was a member of the "Eastern faction", and a follower of Yi Hwang.

Early life and education[edit]

Ryu was born in Hahoe Maeul, Andong, Gyeongsang province (today a UNESCO World Heritage Site), to a yangban family of the P'ungsan Ryu clan.

Ryu is said to have been so precocious that he absorbed the teachings of Confucius 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).[1] He held various other positions and in 1569 he joined the imperial birthday mission to Ming as a Seojanggwan (서장관, 書狀官, n°3 of the mission), returning to Korea the following year.[1]

Career[edit]

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).[1] Subsequently, he held posts including Gyori (교리, ranked 5a) and Eunggyo (응교, 應敎, ranked 4a). He was appointed Jikjehak (직제학; 直提學) in 1575 and Bujehak (부제학; 副提學) in 1576.[1] Continually he held posts including Doseongji (都承旨), Daesaheon (대사헌; 大司憲) and Daejehak (대제학; 大提學).[1]

In 1590, he was appointed Uuijeong (Third State Councillor), honored with the third rank of Gwanguk Gongsin (광국공신; 光國功臣), and appointed as Pungwon Buwongun (풍원부원군; 豊原府院君).[1] In 1591, he was promoted to Jwauijeong (Second State Councillor) and Ijo Panseo (이조판서, Minister of Personnel, the first ranked of the six Ministries). However, the Easterners faction split into the Southerners and the Northerners. Ryu Seong-ryong was a Southerner (claiming exile, instead of death, for Jeong Cheol, the leader of the Westerners rival faction).

He was in the rank of provincial Dochechalsa (도체찰사; 都體察使) when the Imjin War broke out. In 1592 he was appointed Yeonguijeong, the Chief State Councillor.[1] Ryu Seongryong accompanied the royal family from Hanseong to Uiju.[1] 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.[1] He suggested of establishment the Hunnyeon Dogam (훈련도감, 訓鍊都監, Military Training Agency).[1]

In 1598, he was ousted by the Northerners faction. But King Seonjo rehabilitated him. However, he refused to take office as a minister in 1600. Nevertheless, in 1602, he was honored with the second rank of Hoseong Gongsin (호성공신; 扈聖功臣), and appointed again as Pungwon Buwongun.[1]

Later life and death[edit]

After which he spent his time on political writing until his death in 1607.[1]

Legacy[edit]

Ryu's major writings are preserved in the Seoaejip (The Anthology of Seoae, 서애집, 西厓集), Jingbirok (The Book of Corrections, 징비록, 懲毖錄), and minor writings as Hwanghwajip (황화집; 皇華集), Jeongchungrok (정충록; 精忠錄).[1] Ryu Seong-ryong was enshrined in the Byeongsan Seowon and Hogye Seowon in Andong, North Gyeongsang.[1]

Popular culture[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n (in Korean) 유성룡 Naver Encyclopedia
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