Jo Gwang-jo ( Korean : 조광조 , 23 August 1482 – 10 January 1520), also called by his art name Jeongam ( 정암 ), was a Korean Neo-Confucian scholar who pursued radical reforms during the reign of Jungjong of Joseon in the early 16th century.
110-521: He was framed with charges of factionalism by the power elite that opposed his reform measures and was sentenced to drink poison in the Third Literati Purge of 1519 . He has been widely venerated as a Confucian martyr and an embodiment of " seonbi spirit" by later generations in Korea. Some historians consider him one of the most influential figures in 16th century Korea. He is known as one of
220-490: A death poem declaring his loyalty and bowed four times toward the palace. Later when there was a severe drought in the country, people believed that it was heaven's punishment for killing an innocent seonbi . Kim Jung and three others were executed as well in 1520, and dozens of Sarim scholars were exiled. Many others left the central government in protest and retreated to rural provinces. In 1521, Ahn Dang's son allegedly plotted to assassinate Nam Gon and Shim Jung, for which
330-467: A bloody purge and entreated that he would not regret dying ten thousand times if only he could be granted an audience. However, he would never have a chance to see Jungjong again. Amid petitions for leniency, Jungjong commuted the death sentence to exile, and Jo Gwang-jo was exiled to Neung-ju. But less than a month later, Jungjong fired many ministers who entreated on Jo's behalf and reinstated Jo's death sentence by poison. Before drinking poison, Jo wrote
440-433: A blot on the king's reputation. Eighteen younger officials requested to the king to imprison them with Jo Gwang-jo. Even Hong Sook, who became Justice Minister overnight and interrogated Jo, reported to the king that he was "deeply moved" by Jo's loyalty. New Inspector General Yu Eun protested in even stronger terms: "If Jo Gwang-jo is guilty of crime, he should be punished in open and just manner ... Instead, Your Majesty
550-458: A byword for reform in Korea, and his example is often raised when there is a controversy about a reform. Korean literati purges Literati purges is a translation of the Korean term sahwa ( Korean : 사화 士禍 ), whose literal meaning is "scholars' calamity." It refers to a series of political purges in the late 15th and the 16th centuries in which Sarim scholars suffered persecution at
660-447: A collection of official and unofficial history books compiled by Yi Geung-ik in late Joseon Dynasty. (It is said that King Injong , Jungjong's successor who admired his tutor j, listed the "tanner" as Chief State Councillor for his future cabinet for he was greatly admired by Jo.) According to famous Korean philosopher Yi I , Jo was admired so much by populace that when he appeared on streets people gathered before him saying, "Our master
770-622: A complete confidence of Jungjong that Jungjong abandoned a planned war at the sole opposition by Jo. With Jungjong's support, Jo rose to become an Inspector General only four years after entering politics in a series of unprecedented promotions and brought in many like-minded, young Sarim scholars from rural provinces to Jungjong's court. Under his leadership, the Sarim faction pushed forth a series of reforms as they established local self-government system called Hyang'yak , pursued land reforms to distribute land more equally and limit amount of land owned by
880-441: A despot like Yeonsangun. Jungjong began to feel hounded by his subjects and resented it. The Hungu faction, which sensed Jungjong's irritation with Jo, found an opportunity to strike Sarim faction when Jo decided to go after the "heroes" of the 1506 coup that brought Jungjong to power. According to Jo, many officials who were awarded with special privileges including tax exemptions and huge stipends did not actually contribute much to
990-461: A dozen people including Ahn Dang were executed. In all, 225 officials were affected by the purge. Most of Jo's reforms were rescinded with his fall. In the end, Jungjong abruptly abandoned his reformist agenda because he either lost confidence in Jo Gwango-jo's programs or feared that he would become too powerful in the future. While Jungjong and Jo Gwang-jo shared the reformist agenda, Jungjong
1100-545: A government official.) According to Annals of the Joseon Dynasty , no official dared to receive a bribe or exploit the populace or local provinces during this time because of strict enforcement by Inspector General's Office. He was admired so much by populace that when he appeared on streets people gathered before him saying, "Our master is coming," according to famous Korean philosopher Yi I . However, these radical reforms generated fierce hostility and resistance of
1210-592: A new character "yi"(李), which happens to be the family name of Yi Seong-gye , who deposed the last king of Goryeo and founded Joseon dynasty. These phrases helped Yi Seong-gye win popular support for the new dynasty as heaven's will.] Now feeling certain that Jungjong was sufficiently estranged from Jo, Hong Kyung-ju secretly entered the palace to warn King Jungjong that the court was filled with Jo's supporters and that no one could dare oppose him openly. When Jo petitioned Jungjong to revoke special privileges of people who falsely contributed to 1506 coup, Jungjong's suspicion
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#17327873886421320-435: A new system of government recruitment via recommendations that were based on the candidates' moral character as well as scholarship. He argued that existing officer examination were too philosophical and placed too much emphasis on literary skills, detached from the practical needs of the government. The supplementary examination that Jo introduced was called an "examination for the learned and the virtuous" ( hyeollanggwa ). This
1430-409: A petty Hungu official. Ten years after the purge, King Jungjong again began to advance Sarim scholars by recalling them from exile and reappointing them to the royal court. Nevertheless, Jungjong did not rehabilitate Jo's name to the end despite endless petitions, saying at one time that what happened in 1519 was "neither right nor wrong." There is speculation as to what Jungjong really believed about
1540-399: A phrase "Ju cho will become the king" (주초위왕, 走肖爲王)" with honey or sugary water on mulberry leaves so that caterpillars left behind such phrase on leaves. When two Hanja (Chinese) characters "ju"(走) and "cho"(肖) are put together, they form a new Hanja character "jo"(趙), which happens to be Jo Gwang-jo's family name. Consort Hong or Consort Park showed the leaf to Jungjong and claimed that this
1650-458: A secret letter to Hong Gyeong-ju, expressing his fear that Jo would next go after Hungu officials who did contribute to the coup by questioning legitimacy of the coup and then turn against the king himself. Jungjong instructed Hungu leaders to kill Jo and then inform him. On November 15, 1519, Hungu leaders entered the palace secretly at night to bypass Royal Secretariat and present to the king written charges against Jo: he and his supporters "deceived
1760-535: A secret message?... If there is a crime, it should be dealt with clearly and justly, but Your Majesty appeared to trust and be friendly with them on the outside while thinking of eliminating them in mind." He was finally dismissed after asking Jungjong to "cut my head to please the wicked people." Meanwhile, 150 Seonggyungwan students stormed the palace to protest Jo's arrest and filled the palace with shouts of entreaties, and later 240 students petitioned to claim Jo's innocence and requested to be imprisoned together. There
1870-706: A series of radical reforms as they established local self-government system called Hyang'yak to strengthen local autonomy and communal spirit among people. In this system, deference was placed according to seniority of villagers rather than their social status. The Sarim faction also sought to reduce gap between the rich and poor with a land reform that would distribute land to farmers equally and limit amount of land and number of slaves that one could own. This measure also targeted Hungu faction's accumulation of land and wealth. Deeply influenced by Zhu Xi 's neo-Confucianism , j believed that ideal world of mythical Chinese Emperor Yao and Shun , could be achieved if all people from
1980-553: A specific pattern among the political purges that occurred in Joseon from 1453 to 1722 (whose traditional number is twelve for the period 1453-1722). While the Sarim faction lost each of the four confrontations, its moral influence continued to increase and finally eclipsed the former Hungu faction. The first and second literati purges took place during the reign of Yeonsangun , successor to Seongjong. The First Literati Purge of 1498, also called Muo Sahwa (무오사화, 戊午士禍/戊午史禍), began as
2090-409: A student at Royal Academy called Seonggyungwan . He was often recommended for a court position by high officials and fellow students at Seonggyngwan, but he delayed entering civil service to pursue further study until 1515, when he was recommended to King Jungjong by Minister of Personnel Ahn Dang and 200 Seonggyungwan students and was immediately appointed to a position of junior sixth rank. However, he
2200-578: Is coming." Jo's radical reforms were popular with the populace, who called him the "living Buddha", but he faced fierce opposition and hostility from the Hungu faction. In early 1519, several Hungu officials began a plot to assassinate Sarim officials, though they were discovered in time. Jo's power base was concentrated in four offices: Inspector General's Office (사헌부; whose main function was to impeach corrupt or unprincipled government officials in court and local administration), Office of Censors (사간원; whose role
2310-479: Is handing out such punishment after secret words by two people in the middle of night... What is so difficult about punishing few seonbis with authority of king that Your Majesty should do so secretly by sending a secret message?... If there is a crime, it should be dealt with clearly and justly, but Your Majesty appeared to trust and be friendly with your subjects on the outside while thinking of eliminating them in mind." Meanwhile, 150 Seonggyungwan students stormed
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#17327873886422420-582: The Annals of the Joseon Dynasty , it was said that no official dared to receive a bribe or exploit the populace during this time because of such strict enforcement. He also sought to trim the size of government by reducing the number of bureaucrats and their wages. Jo also believed that any talented people including slaves should be appointed as officials regardless of social status. He was said to judge people by moral character and did not greet superior officials if he considered them of unworthy characters while he
2530-1007: The Hương ước (鄉約) that governed the social relations within the village community, thousands of written regulations existed and the central administration often recognised them. The origins of these village conventions is unknown, according to jurist Lê Đức Tiết they may date back as far as the Trưng sisters period but were unwritten until the Trần dynasty period. Doctor of Oriental Studies Nguyễn Văn Vịnh divides these conventions into two categories "pre-written conventions" ( tiền hương ước ) and "officially written conventions" ( hương ước thành văn chính thức ). The Hương ước contained rules about various legal practices like land management, marriage, labour relations, arbitration of disputes, as well as local customs such as family relations, village relations, ghosts, ancestor worship , sacrifice, mourning, and longing. During
2640-581: The colonial period both the government-general of French Indochina and the government of the Nguyễn dynasty attempted reform these rules and regulations in their favour. To expand their power into Vietnamese hamlets and villages the French administration issued models for the villages to follow, but many Vietnamese villages still functioned independent of the French and Nguyễn administrations. The French reformed Vietnamese marriage and funeral laws in order to weaken
2750-537: The 18 Sages of Korea ( 동방18현 ) and honored as Munmyo Baehyang ( 문묘배향 ; 文廟配享 ). Jo Gwang-jo was the son of Jo Wongang ( 조원강 ; 趙元綱 ) and was from the Hanyang Jo clan [ ko ] . Jo studied under Neo-Confucian scholar Kim Koeng-pil [ ko ] , Kim Chong-jik 's disciple who was in exile at the time following the First Literati Purge of 1498 . When Kim Gwoeng-pil
2860-486: The East" along with Kim Gwing-pil, Jeong Yeo-chang, and Yi Eon-jeok and said that Jo showed the direction for all seonbis to aim and follow and unveiled the foundation of governing a country. Jo's emphasis on neo-Confucian ethics as practical philosophy has been very influential as the previous focus has been on more literary aspects of Confucianism. It was also during his time that Confucianism finally took roots deeply among
2970-478: The Fourth Literati Purge of 1545, in which the prince, Yoon Im, and nine of his supporters including Sarim scholars were executed. After this initial purge, Yoon Won-hyung continued to purge his rivals and Sarim scholars over next five years until the total death toll surpassed one hundred and many others including Yi Eonjeok were exiled. Yoon Won-hyung even killed his older brother Yoon Won-ro in
3080-401: The Hungu faction in late 15th and early 16th century. The later purges are instead called with various names such as oksa (meaning treason case), muok (false treason case), hwanguk (change of power), and bakhae (persecution, especially of those Catholic faith in the 19th century). One notable example of the later purges is Treason Case of 1589 , or Gichuk Oksa, which is sometimes called
3190-453: The Hungu faction. Jo also made many political enemies by impeaching many of the so-called heroes of 1506 coup. Especially when Jo argued that many of the alleged contributors to 1506 coup did not actually contribute to the coup and revoked their special privileges (including tax exemptions and huge stipends), the Hungu faction began to plot Jo's downfall. In early 1519, there was a plot by some Hungu officials to assassinate Sarim officials, which
3300-642: The Joseon Dynasty and much of what we know about these events were largely written by Sarim scholars even before they emerged as the eventual victor. Some historians have tried to reinterpret the literati purges as a result of struggle between the Joseon kings who wanted to establish absolute monarchy and the aristocrats who claimed that the true loyalty to king was to guide him to become a benevolent Confucian philosopher-king by pointing out his mistakes if necessary. The Sarim scholars tended to occupy key positions in Three Offices , which put them in conflict with
3410-421: The Joseon Dynasty. However, Sarim faction that venerated Jo's name did not attempt to carry out his reforms when they seized political power during Seonjo's reign and all the while they maintained power until the end of Joseon dynasty. Some people blame Jo for dogmatism of Korean Neo-Confucianism, which became very conservative and caused Korea to resist changes and new learnings from abroad. Today his name remains
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3520-521: The Miryang Park clan were later executed on a framed charge of cursing the crown prince in a plot concocted by their rival Kim Ahn-ro ( Queen Inmok ’s relative). Kim Ahn-ro was killed by rival Yun Won-hyeong ( Queen Munjeong ’s brother), who in turn was purged by King Myeongjong . Shim, Kim, and Yun are all considered some of the most corrupt officials in Joseon dynasty. Nam Gon, who was reportedly deeply saddened at Jo's death, regretted his role in
3630-532: The Office of Censors and Office of Inspector General. At the time, two Sarim officials had petitioned the king to restore status of the deposed queen, who was deposed by Hungu faction. Office of Inspector General and Office of Censors had them exiled for their impertinent petition. Jo argued that two offices violated their given function by suppressing free speech and petitioned the king to fire his superiors or accept his resignation since he could not work with them. To
3740-441: The Sarim continued to thrive in rural provinces through its seowons and Hyang'yak system. By the reign of King Seonjo , successor to Myeongjong, the Sarim faction gained the control of the central government and dominated Joseon politics ever since. The above account of literati purges is based on widely accepted traditional understanding of the subject, which largely stems from the Sarim faction's point of view. The Annals of
3850-529: The Sarim faction and again drove them to the rural villages, where they built schools (called seowon ). Yi Hwang , for example, left politics in the aftermath of the Fourth Literati Purge and did not return to the court despite repeated summons by Myeongjong. Other famous philosophers Jo Shik, Seo Gyeong-deok , and Seoung Soo-chim also turned away from politics after Jo Gwang-jo's death. Jo Shik turned down his appointment by writing to Myeongjong: "Under Your Majesty's reign, state of affairs has already gone awry and
3960-407: The Sarim faction, Injong's reign was also to be the shortest of Joseon kings. When Injong died eight months later and Myeongjong became the thirteenth king of Joseon at the age of twelve, his mother Queen Munjeong became the regent and her brother Yoon Won Hyung wielded enormous power. (Many in the Sarim faction believed that Injong was poisoned by Queen Munjeong, but there is no evidence that this
4070-532: The Yoon brothers' faction as ‘Lesser Yoon.’ By then, Jungjong promoted Sarim scholars again by recalling them from exile and reappointing to court positions to restrain Hungu faction's power. Many Sarim scholars joined the Greater Yoon since they had great hopes for the crown prince, who studied under Jo Gwang-jo and Yi Hwang and was greatly anticipated to become a benevolent ruler. These four purges decimated
4180-426: The behest of Hong Kyung-ju, Minister of Rites Nam Gon, and Shim Jung, and other Hungu leaders, they told Jungjong that people were saying that it was actually Jo Gwang-jo who ruled the country and that people wanted to make him their king. Even if Jo was not disloyal, he would not be able to stop his supporters from doing so, they said. According to Annals of Joseon Dynasty , Nam Gon now set out to slander Jo and wrote
4290-508: The common populace. Even though Confucianism was the official state religion since the founding of Joseon , Confucian practices were largely limited to aristocratic class. His dream of making neo-Confucianism the predominant philosophy of Joseon was soon accomplished by the reign of Seonjo, fifty years after his death. He was canonized and enshrined in the Seonggyungwan in 1610, one of only eighteen Korean Confucian scholars so honored by
4400-413: The country but could not possibly have private agenda. Chief State Councillor Jeong Gwang-pil said in tears: "I have frequently witnessed horrid calamities during the reign of deposed king ( Yeonsangun ), but how could I imagine to see such thing again even after meeting the wise king?" When Jungjong tried to leave, he even grasped the royal cloth to entreat further. He "could not understand on what charges
4510-493: The country but could not possibly have private agenda. Chief State Councillor Jeong Gwang-pil, who often clashed with Jo and was even approached by Nam Gon for support, entreated in tears: "I have frequently witnessed horrid calamities during the reign of deposed king ( Yeonsangun ), but how could I imagine to see such thing again even after meeting the wise king?" Chief Council and Six Ministries jointly entreated that punishing Jo and others on such charge without evidence would be
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4620-667: The coup but gained their status through bribes or familial connections. He petitioned Jungjong to revoke such status from two thirds out of 110 people who received special status in connection with the coup. This move infuriated the Hungu faction, and they soon after proceeded to frame Jo with charges of disloyalty. At the behest of Hungu leaders including Hong Gyeong-ju, Nam Gon , and Shim Jung, Royal Noble Consort Gyeong of Miryang Park clan (Park Won-jong’s adoptive daughter) and Royal Noble Consort Hui of Namyang Hong clan (Hong Gyeong-ju's daughter) sought to estrange Jungjong and Jo by often questioning Jo's loyalty and claiming that popular support
4730-407: The coup mainly for personal revenge for his older sister who had rumors of adultery. Jo Gwang-jo came from a prominent family that belonged to Hungu faction but was called "crazy man" and "source of disaster" by people around him for studying neo-Confucianism under exiled Sarim scholar Kim Gwoeng-pil at the height of persecution of the Sarim faction. In 1510, Jo passed the gwageo exam and became
4840-461: The crown prince Injong 's maternal uncle Yoon Im and Queen Munjeong's brothers Yoon Won-ro and Yoon Won-hyung filled the power vacuum. (Yoon Im and Yoon Brothers were close relatives by that period's standards - Yoon Im's great-grandfather was older brother of Yoon Brothers' great-great-grandfather.) Many officials gathered around the two centers of power and developed into separate political factions. Yoon Im's faction became known as ‘Greater Yoon’ and
4950-483: The eleventh king of Joseon in 1506. The Third Literati Purge of 1519, also called Kimyo Sahwa or Gimyo Sahwa (기묘사화, 己卯士禍), is one of the most discussed literati purges in Joseon Dynasty because the Sarim faction held political power and was in the process of carrying out significant reforms at the time of their purge. Jungjong worked to remove excesses of Yeonsangun and return to Seongjong 's era, but his royal authority
5060-423: The ensuing power struggle. After Queen Munjeong's death in 1565, Myeongjong exiled Yoon Won-hyung, who died or committed suicide the same year, and attempted to govern well by recruiting talented people but died two years later. Along with Kim Anro, Yoon Won-hyung is considered one of the worst politicians of Joseon dynasty. Unlike other literati purges, the Fourth Literati Purge of 1545, or Ulsa Sahwa (을사사화, 乙巳士禍),
5170-476: The entire court officials to watch Kim's execution and even ordered that those who did not attend or turned face away be reported so that they might be punished. The Second Literati Purge of 1504, or Gapja Sahwa (갑자사화, 甲子士禍), followed when Yeonsangun eventually discovered that his real mother was not Queen Jung-hyeon but Deposed Queen Yun , who had been executed (by poison) in 1482 for poisoning one of Seongjong's concubines and scratching Seongjong's face. Yeonsangun
5280-409: The fifth literati purge even though both the instigators and victims were of Sarim faction. In these later purges, the victimized faction would call the event "literati purge (sahwa)" to signify their innocence and the rival faction's wrongs. The Korean literati purges are frequently depicted in Korean television dramas and movies. In Dae Jang Geum , main protagonist Jang Geum's father is a victim of
5390-467: The foundation of the country has already collapsed. Heaven's will has already left as did the support of people... The Queen Regent is thoughtful, but she is merely a widow deep inside palace, and Your Majesty is young and thus merely a lonely heir to the late king. Therefore, how would one handle thousands of natural disasters and billion pieces of people's heart?" (In Joseon Dynasty , natural disasters were thought to occur due to king's fault.) However,
5500-477: The hands of their political rivals. The politics of the Middle Joseon Dynasty were primarily marked by a power struggle between two social groups of the yangban aristocracy. People in place were the 'Meritorious Subjects', rewarded for helping the establishment of Joseon against the former Goryeo , and subsequent accomplishments. Referred as the Hungu faction ( Hungupa , 훈구파, 勳舊派), they held
5610-601: The improper actions and policies of the king and ministers; and the Office of Special Advisors ( Hongmungwan , 홍문관, 弘文館) who oversaw the royal library and served as research institute to study Confucian philosophy and answer the king's questions. Using the Samsa as a stronghold, the Sarim scholars challenged the power of the central government and the Hungu faction as a whole, impeaching them for alleged corruption or impropriety. The subsequent conflict between these two factions resulted in violent purges (1498, 1504, 1519, 1545), having
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#17327873886425720-690: The influence of the Hương ước . In 1954 the Hương ước system was abolished in North Vietnam as a part of its land reforms . The system was seen as "a remnant of a backward feudal system" by the North Vietnamese government and was replaced with a Socialist cooperative production model and a new social structure based on the system of the Soviet Union . During the 1980s in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam during
5830-545: The key positions in the State Council and the Six Ministries that carried out state affairs. The newcomers were the so-called Sarim (Sarimpa, 사림파, 士林派), who belonged to the neo-Confucian school of Kim Chong-jik and other thinkers. The Sarim scholars generally shunned the royal court and studied neo-Confucianism in rural provinces, especially after King Sejo 's usurpation of the throne in 1455 . During
5940-527: The king and high-ranking ministers. In this view, the distinction between Sarim and Hungu factions are thought to be largely artificial, and division within aristocracy was largely along the family connections rather than philosophical differences. Following the Fourth Literati Purge of 1545, there were a series of other similar purges out of political struggle between different factions, but they are not called "literati purges," or sahwa (사화) in Korean, which specifically refers to persecution of Sarim scholars by
6050-533: The king and put the state in disorder by forming a clique and abusing their positions to promote their supporters while excluding their opponents, and thereby misleading young people to make extremism into habit, causing the young to despise the old, the low-born to disrespect the high-born." Inspector General Jo, Justice Minister Kim Jung, and six others were immediately arrested, and they were about to be killed extra-judicially without trial or even investigation. The whole event had appearance of coup d'état except that it
6160-406: The king and put the state in disorder by forming a clique and abusing their positions to promote their supporters while excluding their opponents. Inspector Jo Gwang-jo, Justice Minister Kim Jung, and six others were immediately arrested, and they were about to be killed extrajudicially without trial or even investigation. The whole event had appearance of coup d'état except that it was sanctioned by
6270-477: The king down to low-born became morally refined and followed Confucius' teachings. The Sarim faction therefore promulgated Confucian writings among the populace by translating them in Korean hangul and distributing them widely. They also suppressed Buddhism and Taoism as superstitious religions by destroying the royal Taoist temple and confiscating properties of Buddhist temples. As Inspector General, he impeached many officials for corruption and bribery. According to
6380-467: The king intended to spare his neck by sending the poison and requested for another bowl of poison. He died at the age of 37. Later when there was a severe drought in the country, the populace blamed that it was heaven's punishment for killing an innocent seonbi . Many of remaining Sarim scholars left the central government in protest and retreated to rural provinces. Most of Jo's reforms were revoked with his fall. The Third Literati Purge of 1519 (기묘사화 己卯士禍)
6490-441: The king of his loyalty once he could face him in the interrogation. He wrote to Jungjong of his fear for this incident becoming a bloody purge and entreated that he would not regret dying ten thousand times if only he could be granted an audience. However, he would never have a chance to see Jungjong again. Amid petitions for leniency, Jungjong commuted the death sentence to exile, and Jo was exiled to Neung-ju. Nevertheless, Jungjong
6600-458: The king that he was "deeply moved" by Jo's loyalty. New Inspector General Yu Eun, who replaced Jo, protested in even stronger terms: "If Jo is guilty of crime, he should be punished in an open and just manner... Instead, Your Majesty is handing out such punishment according to secret words by two people in the middle of night... What is so difficult about punishing few seonbis with authority of king that Your Majesty should do so covertly by sending
6710-416: The king wanted to punish them" for "mere demotion of 2-3 ranks would be already excessive." Eighteen younger officials requested to the king to imprison them with Jo. State Council and Six Ministries jointly entreated that punishing Jo and others on such charges without evidence would become a blot on the king's reputation. Even Hong Suk, who became Justice Minister overnight and interrogated Jo, reported to
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#17327873886426820-494: The king, keeping a north door open each day during exile. Even when soldiers arrived with poison, he was suspicious that Hungu leaders might be trying to kill him without Jungjong's approval. But when he learned that Nam Gon and Shim Jung became Vice State Councillor and Minister of Personnel, he finally realized that Jungjong's change of heart was final. Before drinking the poison, Jo wrote a poem declaring his loyalty , asked his people not to make coffin too heavy, and apologized to
6930-540: The king. They would have been immediately killed except that War Minister Yi Jang-gon, who arrested Sarim officials, entreated that ministers should be consulted for such decision. The cabinet meeting on the following day regarding Jo's fate is described in detail in the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty . Most officials expressed their shock at Jo Gwang-jo's arrest and Jungjong's intention to execute him. They entreated that he may have been extreme in his youthful zeal to improve
7040-495: The king. Even when he disagreed with Jo, Jungjong almost always ended up adopting Jo's petition because Jo would refuse to bend his will and Three Offices would threaten to resign en masse. Furthermore, Jo and Hongmoongwan officials often instructed Jungjong on the ways of king in long lessons. Because Jungjong was not a crown prince, he had not received a thorough royal education expected of future king, and Sarim scholars sought to rectify this, believing that only learning could prevent
7150-433: The leaf incident since Jungjong never accused Jo of disloyalty or anything, but pure intentions after first few days of Jo's arrest. From very early on, Jungjong's official position has been that Jo intended well but caused a situation that could only be rectified with a purge. Jo was finally rehabilitated by his son, Injong of Joseon , and was posthumously honored as a chief state councillor by Seonjo of Joseon in 1568. Jo
7260-433: The new dynasty as heaven's will. When Jo petitioned Jungjong to revoke special privileges of people who falsely contributed to 1506 coup, Jungjong's suspicion was further heightened. Now feeling certain that Jungjong was sufficiently estranged from Jo, Hong Gyeong-ju secretly entered the palace to warn King Jungjong that the court was filled with Jo's supporters and that no one could dare oppose him openly. Jungjong dispatched
7370-433: The order of King Sejo.) When Yi Guk-don, Kim Il-son's superior, found this out, he sensed a chance of revenge. Kim Il-son and other followers of Kim Chong-jik were accused of treason by the Hungu faction, many of whom originally gained power from their support of Sejo. Because Yeonsangun's lineage came from Sejo, Sarim faction's view of Sejo's usurpation was considered to be treasonable. Yeonsangun - who disliked academia and
7480-518: The owner and servant of the house for not paying his debt and instead showing them terrible sight and desecrating their house. He then bowed four times toward the north in the direction of palace. (It was customary to pay respect to the king in gratitude for granting poison, which was not an official method of execution and was considered more honorable form of death, instead of beheading or hanging.) When he drank poison, he did not die immediately and soldiers tried to strangle him. Jo rebuked them saying that
7590-489: The palace to protest Jo's arrest and filled the palace with shouts of entreaties, and later 240 students petitioned to claim Jo's innocence and requested to be imprisoned together. Such outpouring in Jo's support may have increased Jungjong's suspicion and anger. Later Chief State Councillor Jeong, Deputy State Councillor Ahn Dang and even War Minister Yi Jang-gon were removed from office for opposing Jo's execution. Jo Gwang-jo
7700-458: The palace. When two hanja (Chinese) characters "ju"(走) and "cho"(肖) are put together, they form a new Hanja character "jo"(趙), which happen to be Jo's family name. Consort Hong or Consort Park showed the leaf to Jungjong and claimed that this was the heaven's warning that Jo would take the throne himself after eliminating Hungu faction. Jungjong, who himself rose to the throne through a coup d'état, began to distrust Jo. When Goryeo dynasty fell and
7810-472: The personal grudge of Yi Guk-don against Kim Il-son, who once impeached him. Both were assigned to compile records related to King Seongjong's reign for Annals of Joseon Dynasty , and Kim Il-son , a disciple of Kim Chong-jik , included the latter's writing that was critical of King Sejo's usurpation in the compilation. (Kim Chong-jik wrote a lamentation of Xiang Yu 's murder of Emperor Yi of Chu in early Chinese history after he heard of Danjong 's death at
7920-454: The power of the king and the ministers and also served as organ of press that influenced general opinion of the court. However, the Sarim faction did not control any army nor had financial base. Sarim's power was solely dependent on the king's support, which Jo believed to be steadfast in their mutual pursuit of reforms. However, Jo's unbending character and his frequent remonstrations to Jungjong to support his radical programs began to irritate
8030-406: The purge and willed that all his writings be burnt, saying that he "deceived the world with vain name," so no writing of his remains except for one short poem although he was one of the most famous writers of his time. Nam Gon, initially of Sarim faction as a disciple of Kim Chong-jik, was a moderate supporter of reforms and supposedly sought Jo's friendship but was rebuffed by Jo and his supporters as
8140-423: The purge late in his life and willed that all his writings be burnt. No writing of his remains except for one short poem although he was a famous writer. When Jungjong died in 1544 and the crown prince Injong became the twelfth king, Sarim's hopes proved to be true. He appointed Yi Eonjeok and other famous Sarim scholars to high positions and rehabilitated Jo Gwang-jo and other purge victims. Unfortunately for
8250-413: The reign of King Seongjong , Sarim scholars started to occupy key positions in what was known as the " Three Offices " (Samsa, 삼사), the collective name for three government watchdog organizations : the Office of Inspector General ( Saheonbu , 사헌부, 司憲府), whose main role was to impeach government officials for corrupt or improper actions; the Office of Censors (Saganwon, 사간원, 司諫院), whose function to criticize
8360-433: The reign of King Seongjong in the late 15th century but suffered two bloody purges under his successor Yeonsangun . When Yeonsangun was eventually deposed in 1506, Jungjong was placed on the throne as the eleventh king of Joseon by the Hungu leaders who led the coup. For first ten years of his reign, Jungjong could not truly rule the country with regal authority (he was forced to depose his faithful queen because her father
8470-406: The remains of eight deceased officials were mutilated. The actual death toll was much greater than 36, because the victims' families and relatives were punished as well - male members being killed and the female members enslaved. A total of 239 officials were either executed, exiled, or dismissed. Yeonsangun was eventually deposed by the remaining Hungu officials, and his half-brother Jungjong became
8580-420: The rich, promulgated Confucian beliefs widely among the public with vernacular translations, and sought to reduce the number of slaves. Jo believed that any talented people including slaves should be appointed as officials regardless of social status. (For instance, he met a nameless butcher/tanner of lowest class and admired his learning so much that he discussed state affairs with him and wanted to appoint him as
8690-407: The royal family. Later its victims, called Gimyo Sarim or "Wise men of Gimyo," were venerated as Confucian martyrs while instigators became symbols of wickedness for many generations (For instance, fermented fish of lowest quality is still called Gonjangyi , combined word from Nam Gon and Shim Jung's given names). Nam Gon, one of main instigators who fabricated the conspiracy, regretted his role in
8800-441: The same intensity as when he favored him. He reinstated death sentence by poison for Jo less than a month after their exile. He fired many ministers who entreated on Jo's behalf including Chief State Councillor Jeong Gwang-pil, Deputy State Councillor Ahn Dang, and even War Minister Yi Jang-gon, who took part in arresting Sarim officials. Jo still could not believe Jungjong's heart really turned against him and hoped to be recalled by
8910-584: The second literati purge is dramatized through the movie, "The Treacherous" (2015). The third and fourth literati purges also constitute main plot lines of the 2001 television drama " Ladies of the Palace ". The first and second literati purges are depicted in television dramas " King and Queen " (1998–2000) " The King and I " (2007–2008), " Queen Insoo " (2011) " and 2005 film The King and the Clown . Hyang%27yak The hyangyak ( Korean : 향약 )
9020-497: The second literati purge. Jang Geum herself and her mentor Lady Han are framed in connection with the third literati purge while the male protagonist Min Jeong-Ho is portrayed as a follower of Jo Gwang-jo. In television drama Immortal Admiral Yi Sun-sin (2004-5), Yi Sun-shin 's grandfather is depicted as a victim of third literati purge and Yi's father is arrested while paying respect to Jo Gwang-jo's spirit at Jo's abandoned house.
9130-401: The surprise of everyone, Jungjong replaced everyone in two offices except Jo. This event reflected Jungjong's complete trust and confidence in Jo, who rose in a series of unprecedented promotions from rank of junior sixth rank to junior second rank in only three years. King Jungjong wanted to bring new talents to the royal court that was dominated by Hungu faction, and Jo complied by introducing
9240-412: The throne instead of crown prince. Later he framed Shim Jung and Consort Park on the charge of cursing the crown prince (A dead rat whose mouth, eyes, and ears were burnt with hot iron to make it look like a pig was discovered hanging from a tree in the crown prince's palace on his birthday. There also phrases cursing the crown prince, whose Chinese zodiac sign was Pig . Consort Park was suspected for she
9350-424: Was a contractual arrangement that allowed for a degree of local government in the history of Korea and Vietnam . During the rule of Jungjong (1506–1544), the contract was enforced by the local level officials. Specific details were circulated in text and operated as an informal common law . The hyangyak became the core of Korea's social law and the vehicle of a degree of local autonomy for its villages. It
9460-537: Was a stepping stone for the Joseon Dynasty in implementing government at the local level. Local yangban , or Korean scholar-officials were lifted in importance because of the role that they played. The implementation of the hyangyak opened the way for schools and shrines and tied the yangban to the community as instrumental in strengthening the government at all levels. Throughout Vietnam thousands of villages had their own independent legal codes known as
9570-504: Was already known to be plotting to put her son on the throne instead. It was later found out to be Kim Anro's doing after his fall.) Consort Park, her son Prince Buksong, and Shim Jung were executed. Kim Anro now unleashed the reign of terror against his political enemies in the name of protecting the crown prince. He even attempted to depose Queen Munjeong , who gave birth to a son who was later to become Myeongjong , but this led to his downfall and execution in 1537. After Kim Anro's fall,
9680-447: Was also chiefly interested in solidifying royal authority whereas the latter was more concerned with neo-Confucian ideology, in which the king must be governed and restricted by teachings of Confucius and Mencius . The Third Literati Purge of 1519 was widely viewed as a missed opportunity to fulfill ideal neo-Confucian society by later generations because Joseon politics soon degenerated into power struggle among in-laws and relatives of
9790-461: Was an abbreviated examination for candidates recommended by local magistrates as men of highest integrity in the presence of the king, who chose the winning candidates. This system allowed Jo to recruit many talented Sarim scholars who had been living secluded life in rural provinces. However, it also left him open to Hungu faction's attack that Jo formed a clique of his supporters by placing them in key positions. Jo and his supporters then pushed forth
9900-411: Was ashamed to take office with others' help and took Al-seung-si exam, and his essay caught Jungjong's attention. By then, Jo was already known for unbending and outspoken character as he soon emerged as the leader of Sarim faction. For instance, when he became a jung-un, lowest position at Office of Censors, the first thing he did on the following day was to petition the king to fire all his superiors at
10010-461: Was completely caught off guard by the turn of the event. The Sarim faction had scored its biggest victory just four days earlier when Jungjong granted their petition to revoke special status for 70 Hungu officials. He continued to believe that Jungjong was misled by wicked Hungu ministers and was confident that he could persuade the king of his loyalty once he could face him in the interrogation. He wrote to Jungjong of his fear of this incident becoming
10120-405: Was courteous even to his servants. For instance, he formed a friendship with a butcher/tanner of lowest class ( baekjeong ) who did not even have a name and admired his learning so much that he discussed state affairs with him and wanted to appoint him as a court official. But the tanner repeatedly refused Jo's offer and then disappeared without a trace according to Records of Yeonryeoshil ( 연려실기술 ),
10230-452: Was determined to put Jo to death. In the Annals , there was no official demand for Jo's death, not even by Hong Gyeong-ju, Nam Gon, and Shim Jung, except for a petition by three Seunggyungwan students (as opposed to 300 who petitioned for his release). Nam Gon rather urged against executing Jo multiple times even as he was adding more and more names to the list of people to be purged through exile or dismissal. Yet Jungjong turned against Jo with
10340-418: Was discovered in time. Jo's uncompromising character and his frequent remonstrations to Jungjong to support his radical programs also began to irritate the king. Furthermore, Consort Gyeong of Park clan and Consort Hui of Hong clan (Hungu faction leader Hong Kyung-ju's daughter) sought to estrange Jungjong and Jo Gwang-jo by often questioning Jo's loyalty and claiming that popular support was shifting to Jo. At
10450-454: Was further heightened. Jungjong dispatched a secret letter to Hong Kyung-ju, expressing his fear that Jo Gwang-jo would next go on to question legitimacy of the coup and then turn against him. Jungjong instructed Hungu leaders to kill Jo Gwang-jo and then inform him. On November 15, 1519, Hungu leaders entered the palace secretly at night to bypass Royal Secretariat and present to the king written charges against Jo: he and his supporters deceived
10560-517: Was greatly venerated by later generations of Korean neo-Confucianists as their spiritual head, but was also criticized for mistakes that led to the failure of his reforms. Yi Hwang and Yi Yi (son of Shin Saimdang ), often considered Joseon's two greatest Confucian philosophers, lamented that he entered politics too early before his scholarship was completed and pursued his reforms too rapidly. Nevertheless, Yi Hwang praised him as one of "Four Wise of
10670-514: Was killed by the coup leaders, and they feared that the queen might take revenge.) However, three main coup leaders died of natural causes by then, and Jungjong began to welcome Sarim scholars to his court to check Hungu faction's power. The Sarim faction considered Hungu faction as a whole as greedy and corrupt men unworthy of respect and sought to establish ideal neo-Confucian society. Indeed, many of coup leaders had enjoyed Yeonsangun's favor during most of his reign, and their leader Park Won-jong led
10780-468: Was largely a result of power struggle between relatives of the competing princes. After Jo Gwang-jo's fall, Nam Gon and Shim Jung's faction and Kim Anro's faction vied for power after Kim Anro's son married Jungjong's eldest daughter. Kim Anro was exiled by Nam Gon and Shim Jung for abusing power, but he returned from exile after Nam Gon's death and successfully drove out Shim Jung, who was accused of accepting bribes from Consort Park to help her put her son on
10890-634: Was later executed (by poison) following the Second Literati Purge of 1504, Jo was exiled for being Kim's disciple. At this time, Joseon Dynasty politics were primarily marked by the power struggle between two aristocratic yangban factions - the established " Hungu " power elites who were generally conservative and the upstart Sarim scholars called seonbis , who belonged to the Neo-Confucian school of Kim Chong-jik and other thinkers. The Sarim faction had entered court politics during
11000-486: Was limited due to powerful presence of coup leaders who put him on the throne. Only when the three main leaders of coup died of old age and natural causes eight years later, Jungjong began to assert his authority and look for ways to restrain Hungu faction's power. He soon found an answer in Jo Gwang-jo , a young and energetic leader of the Sarim faction, who soon became Jungjong's most trusted official. He enjoyed such
11110-415: Was notorious for turning the Seonggyungwan , royal study hall, into his personal brothel - found an opportunity to purge the Sarim scholars and weaken the Three Offices . Kim Il-son and two others (Kwon Obok and Kwon Kyungyoo) received the death sentence by Lingchi while three were beheaded. Kim Chong-jik's remains were excavated and then beheaded, and at least 18 others were exiled. Yeonsangun ordered
11220-404: Was replaced by Joseon dynasty, there was popular saying "Son of wood will gain the country" ( 목자득국 ; 木子得國 ). When two Hanja characters meaning wood (木) and son (子) are combined, they form a new character "Yi" (李), which happens to be the family name of Yi Seong-gye , who deposed the last king of Goryeo and founded the Joseon dynasty. These phrases helped Yi Seong-gye win popular support for
11330-493: Was sanctioned by the king. They would have been immediately killed except that War Minister Yi Jang-gon, who arrested Sarim officials, entreated that ministers should be consulted for such decision. The cabinet meeting on the following day regarding Jo's fate is described in detail in the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty . Most officials expressed their shock at Jo's arrest and Jungjong's intention to kill him. They entreated that he may have been extreme in his youthful zeal to improve
11440-510: Was shifting to Jo. They told Jungjong that people were saying that it was actually Jo who ruled the country and that populace wanted to make him their king. Even if Jo was not disloyal, he would not be able to stop his supporters from doing so, they said. According to Annals of Joseon Dynasty , Nam Gon now set out to slander Jo and wrote a phrase "Ju cho will become the king" ( 주초위왕 ; 走肖爲王 )" with honey or sugary water on mulberry leaves so that caterpillars left behind such phrase on leaves in
11550-425: Was such popular outpouring for Jo's release that it may have increased Jungjong's suspicion and anger. Jo was completely caught off guard with this turn of events. The Sarim faction had scored its biggest victory just four days ago when Jungjong granted their petition to revoke special status for 70 Hungu officials. He continued to believe that Jungjong was misled by his enemies and was confident that he could persuade
11660-517: Was the case.) Lesser Yoon faction was not persecuted by Greater Yoon faction during Injong's reign, but Injong dismissed Yoon Won-hyung and Yoon Won-ro from their positions after they were impeached by the Greater Yoon faction. Now that he was reinstated, Yoon Wong-hyung accused Yoon Im and his supporters of plotting to put another prince instead of Myeongjong on the throne after Injong's death. This ploy at first backfired and led to his exile, but continued accusations and rumors of Yoon Im's treason led to
11770-407: Was the heaven's warning that Jo would take the throne himself after eliminating Hungu faction. Jungjong, who himself rose to the throne through a coup d'état, began to distrust Jo Gwang-jo. [When Goryeo dynasty fell and was replaced by Joseon dynasty, there was popular saying "Son of wood will gain the country" (목자득국 木子得國). When two Hanja characters meaning wood(木) and son(子) are combined, they form
11880-403: Was to criticize wrong policies of the king or ministers), Hongmoongwan (홍문관; an advisory council that answered the king's questions and educated the king with history and Confucian philosophy), and Royal Secretariat (승정원; which served as liaison between the king and ministries). The first three offices were collectively called Three Offices , or Samsa ( 삼사 ), as they provided checks and balance on
11990-435: Was told about his mother's death and presented with a piece of clothing purportedly stained with her vomited blood. He responded by killing two of Seongjong's concubines, and ordering the execution of officials who had supported Yun's death. This event struck both the Hungu and the remnants of Sarim factions indiscriminately, including the instigators of the first purge. At least 36 officials were executed (by drinking poison) and
12100-648: Was widely viewed as a missed opportunity to reform Joseon Dynasty by later generations because Joseon politics soon degenerated into power struggle among in-laws and relatives of the royal family. A year after the purge, a histographer wrote that bribery and corruption became widespread in the court and local administrations. Later, purge victims were venerated as "Wise Men of Gimyo" (Gimyo is the Korean calendar name for year 1519) while three main instigators (Hong Gyeong-ju, Nam Gon, and Shim Jung) were collectively called "Evil Three of Gimyo". Hong Gyeong-ju died two years later of natural causes, but Shim Jung and Consort Gyeong of
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