Late-Goryeo official who attended King Gongmin during his stay in Yuan and became a merit subject; enfeoffed as Lord of Yongsan
| Era | 고려 후기 |
| Clan | 연안 차씨 |
Cha Po-on was a late-Goryeo official of the Yeonan Cha clan, said to be a son of the general Cha Deuk-gyu. His dates are unknown; the Encyclopedia of Korean Culture, drawing on the Goryeosa, lists posts such as head of the Saboksi, minister of military affairs, deputy of Mikjik, jido cheomui and governor of Donggyeong.
In 1352 (Gongmin 1) he became a first-class merit subject for serving King Gongmin during his stay in Yuan, then minister of military affairs. In 1354 he was enfeoffed as Lord of Yongsan and, returning from a mission to Yuan with garments and wine sent by the Yuan emperor, was promoted deputy of Mikjik. In 1356 he again visited Yuan as jido cheomui, and in 1357 became governor of Donggyeong.
The early years of King Gongmin saw reforms to escape Yuan interference, and ministers who had accompanied him in Yuan were favored as Yeonjeo sujong merit subjects. Cha Po-on appears to belong to this group, and he is enshrined with Cha Won-bu and Cha Un-hyeok as one of three ancestors of the Yeonan Cha at Deogwon Seowon in Hapcheon.
King Gongmin spent years in Yuan before taking the throne and, once king, honored the ministers who had been at his side. Cha Po-on became a first-class merit subject in 1352, suggesting he was a trusted aide. Clan materials say he was active in defense and diplomacy as minister of military affairs, but this is a family record.
Deogwon Seowon in Hapcheon was first founded in 1692 as Ocheon Seowon in Seungpyeong (Suncheon), moved to Hapcheon in 1806 and was renamed, and was restored by Confucians in 1960. It enshrines Cha Po-on, Cha Won-bu and Cha Un-hyeok and is Gyeongsangnam-do Cultural Heritage Material No. 138. Accounts of the founding date differ between sources.
His father is given as Cha Deuk-gyu, while the founder of the Songnimbaek-gong branch is Cha Deok-gyu (車德珪), a similar spelling. Whether they are the same person could not be confirmed here, so the two spellings are kept separate.
His grave and time of death are not recorded and could not be confirmed.