평강 채씨(平康 蔡氏) — Regarded as the principal line of the Chae clan whose ancestral seat is Pyeonggang.
Regarded as the principal line of the Chae clan whose ancestral seat is Pyeonggang. In the 2015 Census the 평강 채씨 clan numbered about 84,877 people, one of Korea's major surnames and clans. Even among people surnamed 채, a different clan seat (bon-gwan, 평강) means a different lineage. New to these terms? See the bon-gwan, pa & hangnyeol guide.
Jeongseon-gong-pa, Donnyeong-gong-pa, Sogam-gong-pa, Eosa-gong-pa, Panseo-gong-pa, Moksa-gong-pa, Saengwon-gong-pa, Jungam-gong-pa
The Jeongseon-gong branch descends from Chae Jeong (蔡楨), eldest son of the clan's revered ancestor Chae Song-nyeon (蔡松年). Having accompanied King Wonjong to the Mongol court, he became a chancellery councillor, retired in 1271 as chancellery minister, and was enfeoffed as Pyeonggang-gun. His son Chae In-gyu (蔡仁揆) became chief chancellor (docheomui jungchan).
Modern members include the painter Chae Yong-sin (蔡龍臣) and the actress Chae Si-ra.
The Donnyeong-gong branch descends from Chae Mun-gwi (蔡文貴), son of Chae Jong-rin (蔡宗璘), of the line running from Chae Song-nyeon's second son through Chae Mo (蔡謨).
Its members lived mainly in what is now North Korea, in Gangwon and North and South Pyeongan provinces; the independence activists Chae Won-gae (蔡元凱) and Chae Su-ban (蔡洙般) came from this branch.
The Sogam-gong branch descends from Chae Yang-saeng (蔡陽生), son of Chae Mun-so (蔡文紹) and grandson of Chae Jong-rin. When Goryeo fell he moved to Impi county in Jeolla (today's Gunsan), and the Pyeonggang Chae villages around Gunsan grew from his settlement.
Chae Je-gong (蔡濟恭), chief state councillor under King Jeongjo, and Chae Mong-in (蔡夢印), founder of the Aekyung Group, and his son Chae Hyung-seok belong to this branch.
The Eosa-gong branch descends from Chae Mun-bin (蔡文彬), a son of Chae Jong-rin and brother of Chae Mun-gwi of the Donnyeong-gong branch. It had a lineage group in Hongwon, South Hamgyong, and the independence activists Chae Gyu-hang (蔡奎恒) and Chae Gyu-yeon (蔡奎淵) came from this branch.
The Panseo-gong branch descends from Chae Chung-gyeong (蔡忠敬), of the line running from Chae Mo's son Chae Jong-seo (蔡宗瑞) through Chae Mun-pil (蔡文弼) and Chae Su (蔡琇). His tomb is in Buan, North Jeolla, and his descendants lived around Gunsan, Buan and Jeonju.
The composer Chae Dong-seon (蔡東鮮) and the independence activist Chae Bok-man (蔡福萬) belong to this branch.
The Moksa-gong branch descends from Chae Ji-saeng (蔡智生), a son of Chae Su and brother of Chae Chung-gyeong of the Panseo-gong branch. His tomb is in Doam-ri, Seongsan-myeon, in today's Gunsan, and many descendants live around Impi in Gunsan and in Buan.
The novelist Chae Man-sik (蔡萬植) and former prosecutor general Chae Dong-wook (蔡東旭) come from this branch's Impi lineage group.
The Saengwon-gong branch descends from Chae Chung-jeong (蔡忠正), another son of Chae Su; his descendants lived mainly around Jeonju, North Jeolla. Chae Yeong-cheol (蔡榮喆), a member of the 9th and 10th National Assemblies, belongs to this branch.
The Jungam-gong branch descends from Chae Hong-cheol (蔡洪哲, 1262-1340), known as the recluse Jungam. He passed the examination under King Chungnyeol, served as deputy commissioner of the Privy Council and chancellery deputy, and was enfeoffed as Suncheon-gun; his son Chae Ha-jung (蔡河中) became right chancellor and Pyeonggang Prince-Consort.
His tomb is in Suncheon, South Jeolla, and the former National Assembly member Chae Su-chan (蔡秀澯) belongs to this branch.
Branch divisions vary by lineage and jokbo; confirm your own branch in your family's records.
Chae Je-gong, Chae Man-sik, Chae Dong-wook
Tap a name for the full profile (life, career, grave, descendants).
For other branch associations, see the Korean E-Jokbo Library clan-association directory.
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