문화 류씨(文化 柳氏) — The largest Ryu seat, taking Ryu Cha-dal, said to have become a Samhan merit subject by helping Goryeo's founder, as its founder and Ryu Gong-gwon as central ancestor. Fourteen branches split from Gong-gwon's two sons, Ryu Eon-chim (Sangseo-gong) and Ryu Taek (Bogya-gong); the house was called 'four generations and five lords' in Goryeo and produced Ryu Seong-won of the Six Martyred Ministers and the Silhak scholars Ryu Hyeong-won and Ryu Deuk-gong.
The largest Ryu seat, taking Ryu Cha-dal, said to have become a Samhan merit subject by helping Goryeo's founder, as its founder and Ryu Gong-gwon as central ancestor. Fourteen branches split from Gong-gwon's two sons, Ryu Eon-chim (Sangseo-gong) and Ryu Taek (Bogya-gong); the house was called 'four generations and five lords' in Goryeo and produced Ryu Seong-won of the Six Martyred Ministers and the Silhak scholars Ryu Hyeong-won and Ryu Deuk-gong. In the 2015 Census the 문화 류씨 clan numbered about 327,627 people, one of Korea's major surnames and clans. Even among people surnamed 류, a different clan seat (bon-gwan, 문화) means a different lineage. New to these terms? See the bon-gwan, pa & hangnyeol guide.
Sangseo-gong-pa, Bogya-gong-pa, Jihusa-gong-pa (Jungmun Jihusa-gong-pa), Hajeong-gong-pa, Chunggyeong-gong-pa, Jwasang-gong-pa, Geomhanseong-gong-pa, Jeongsuk-gong-pa, Pansa-gong-pa, Sirang-gong-pa, Munsuk-gong-pa
The Sangseo-gong branch descends from Ryu Eon-chim (柳彦琛), son of Ryu Gong-gwon (柳公權, posthumous name Mungan), who served as jeongdang munhak and chamji jeongsa under King Myeongjong of Goryeo. The descendants of Ryu Eon-chim and his younger brother Ryu Taek form the two great lines of today's Munhwa Ryu clan.
Under the Sangseo-gong branch are six sub-branches: the Sirang-gong, Munsuk-gong, Hajeong-gong, Jangnyeong-gong, Gonsan-gun and Munpyeong-gun branches. A 2008 count placed about 30% of the clan in this line.
The Bogya-gong branch descends from Ryu Taek (柳澤), son of Ryu Gong-gwon. His son Ryu Gyeong (柳璥, posthumous name Munjeong) led the 1258 Muo coup with Kim Jun and others that overthrew the Choe military regime. Ryu Seung, Ryu Don and others then received posthumous names in successive generations, so that the clan came to be called a house of 'four generations and five lords' (四世五公).
It contains eight sub-branches: the Jungmun Jihusa-gong, Jwasang-gong, Geomhanseong-gong, Jeongsuk-gong, Pansa-gong, Susa-gong, Buyun-gong and Chunggyeong-gong branches. A 2008 count placed about two-thirds of the clan in this line.
The Jihusa-gong branch of the Munhwa Ryu clan, officially called the Jungmun Jihusa-gong branch today, is one of the 14 branches that split from the line of Ryu Taek (柳澤), founder of the Bogya-gong line. It was formerly known simply as the Jihusa-gong branch.
Branch lines and generations may differ by lineage record; check your own family jokbo.
The Hajeong-gong branch, part of the Sangseo-gong line, descends from the early Joseon incorruptible official Ryu Gwan (柳寬). The son of Ryu An-taek (柳安澤), he passed the civil service examination in 1371, served as inspector-general and chief scholar of the Office of Royal Decrees, directed the compilation of the Annals of King Taejo, and became a state councillor under King Sejong (right, by some accounts left).
His pen name was Hajeong (夏亭) and his posthumous name Mungan (文簡); he was renowned for incorruptibility. Descendants include the chief state councillor Ryu Sang-un, the left state councillor Ryu Bong-hwi and the Silhak scholar Ryu Hyeong-won. In the 2008 count it was the second most populous sub-branch after Chunggyeong-gong (about 18.4%, 58,560).
The Chunggyeong-gong branch, part of the Bogya-gong line, descends from the early Joseon official Ryu Ryang (柳亮). The son of Ryu Gye-jo (柳繼祖), he became a founding-dynasty auxiliary merit subject, was enrolled as a fourth-rank jwamyeong merit subject in 1401, was later ennobled as Prince Munseong (文城府院君), and became right state councillor in 1415. One text lists him as a 14th-generation descendant of Ryu Cha-dal.
His posthumous name was Chunggyeong (忠景). In the 2008 count it was the most populous of the 14 sub-branches, at about 29.7% (94,355).
The Jwasang-gong branch of the Bogya-gong line takes Ryu Man-su (柳曼殊) as its founder; he is said to have joined the Wihwado withdrawal as a merit subject and served as munha sirang chanseongsa. One text calls him a 12th-generation descendant of Ryu Cha-dal, but generation counts differ between sources.
Ryu Sun (chief state councillor) and Ryu Jeon (who held all three top posts) are said to belong to it. It is one of the five largest branches, with about 15.75% (50,059) in the 2008 register.
The Geomhanseong-gong branch of the Bogya-gong line takes Ryu Won-hyeon (served as geom hanseong) as its founder. He is said to be the elder brother of Ryu Jeong-hyeon, who became chief state councillor.
With about 10.28% (32,662) in the 2008 register it is among the five largest branches, and its generational names are said to run relatively high.
The Jeongsuk-gong branch of the Bogya-gong line takes the chief state councillor Ryu Jeong-hyeon (柳廷顯, posthumous name Jeongsuk) as its founder. He was active in the Goryeo-Joseon transition, and one text lists him as a 13th-generation descendant of Ryu Cha-dal.
It counted about 2.63% (8,366) in the 2008 register.
The Pansa-gong branch of the Bogya-gong line takes Ryu Jeong-mu (served as pansa) as its founder, said to be a younger brother of Ryu Jeong-hyeon. It counted about 1.37% (4,357) in the 2008 register.
The Sirang-gong branch of the Sangseo-gong line takes Ryu Dang (served as sirang) as its founder, said to have fought the Red Turbans under King Gongmin. It counted about 2.94% (9,348) in the 2008 register.
The Munsuk-gong branch of the Sangseo-gong line takes Ryu Sa-nul (柳思訥, 1375-1440, posthumous name Munsuk), chief scholar of the Office of Royal Decrees, as its founder. It counted about 1.94% (6,163) in the 2008 register.
Branch divisions vary by lineage and jokbo; confirm your own branch in your family's records.
Ryu Gyeong, Ryu Gwan, Ryu Seong-won, Ryu Hyeong-won, Ryu Deuk-gong
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The founder is Ryu Cha-dal (柳車達), said to have held the rank of daeseung and the title of Samhan merit subject, and to have come from Yuju in the North-South States period. He is said to have supplied provisions and carts to Wang Geon during the Later Three Kingdoms, and the genealogy dates his grain supply to the 903 battle of Naju. A legend that his original name was Ryu Hae and that Taejo granted him the name 'Cha-dal' is also told, but it is reported to be disputed among historians.
The seat Munhwa (文化) is Munhwa-myeon in Sincheon, Hwanghae. The old Yuju was reportedly renamed and raised to 'Munhwa county' in 1259 (King Gojong, year 46) as the hometown of Ryu Gyeong (柳璥). The genealogy treats Ryu Gong-gwon, a jeongdang munhak under King Myeongjong, as the effective central ancestor.
The 2015 census is reported to have counted about 327,627 people, the largest Ryu seat. The 2008 clan register counted about 317,845.
Clan villages are reported in Baekhak-myeon of Yeoncheon (Gyeonggi), Yeongam and Hwasun (South Jeolla), Gimje and Namwon (North Jeolla), Seosan and Buyeo (South Chungcheong), Jecheon and Boeun (North Chungcheong), and Dong-gu in Daegu.
Ryu Gong-gwon (1132-1196) passed the exams in 1160 and rose to jeongdang munhak and chamji jeongsa, known for his prose and calligraphy; his posthumous name was Mungan. His two sons Ryu Taek (柳澤) and Ryu Eon-chim (柳彦琛) founded the Bogya-gong and Sangseo-gong lines. Ryu Taek's son Ryu Gyeong helped Kim Jun and others remove Choe Ui, the last ruler of the Choe military regime, in 1258 and received the name Munjeong; Ryu Seung (Jeongsin), Ryu Don (Janggyeong) and Ryu In-gi (Onjeong) received posthumous names in turn, and the family was called 'four generations and five lords'.
The clan is reported to have produced 134 high-civil-examination graduates, some 90 senior officials, one queen, seven state councillors, four incorruptible officials, 13 merit subjects and 22 posthumous names, with more than 80 people honored with memorial gates or tax exemptions. Ryu Gwan (Hajeong) was a renowned incorruptible minister, while Ryu Ryang and Ryu Jeong-hyeon became state councillors in the early dynasty. Ryu Seong-won was one of the Six Martyred Ministers, and Songam Ryu Gwan is known as a minister who suffered in the 1545 Eulsa purge. Ryu Sa-won became a Seonmu merit subject of the Imjin War, Ryu Sang-un chief state councillor and Ryu Bong-hwi left state councillor. Gwanghaegun's queen (Lady Ryu, Princess Consort Munseong) and her father Ryu Ja-sin also came from this family.
In late Joseon the clan produced the Silhak scholars Ryu Hyeong-won, author of Banggye Surok, and Ryu Deuk-gong, author of Balhaego.
The clan has two great lines, the Sangseo-gong line from Ryu Eon-chim and the Bogya-gong line from Ryu Taek, with 14 sub-branches in all. Under Sangseo-gong are the Sirang-gong, Munsuk-gong, Hajeong-gong, Jangnyeong-gong, Gonsan-gun and Munpyeong-gun branches; under Bogya-gong are the (Jungmun) Jihusa-gong, Jwasang-gong, Geomhanseong-gong, Jeongsuk-gong, Pansa-gong, Susa-gong, Buyun-gong and Chunggyeong-gong branches.
By the 2008 register, the five largest were Chunggyeong-gong (about 29.7%, 94,355), Hajeong-gong (18.4%, 58,560), Jwasang-gong (15.8%, 50,059), Geomhanseong-gong (10.3%, 32,662) and (Jungmun) Jihusa-gong (7.0%, 22,360). The smallest, Susa-gong, counted about 163 people.
The Yeongnak genealogy completed by Ryu Yeong in 1423 does not survive, and the 1562 Gajeong genealogy is presented as the second oldest surviving jokbo in Korea. The 2008 Munhwa Ryu register is the latest edition. Clan activity is reported to center on the Munhwa Ryu Grand Clan Association.
Modern figures presented as Munhwa Ryu include baseball figures Ryu Hyun-jin, Ryu Joong-il and Ryu Ji-hyun, the actor Ryu Jun-yeol, the politician Yoo Seong-yeop and the singer Yoo Hee-yeol.
The 문화 류씨 clan association can be found in the Korean E-Jokbo Library clan-association directory.
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