Late-Goryeo general named a Wisa merit subject for removing Choe Ui; said to be the point from which four Yeonan Cha branches divide
| Life | 1268 |
| Era | 고려 후기 |
| Clan | 연안 차씨 |
Cha Song-u (d. 1268) was a late-Goryeo military officer of the Yeonan Cha clan. Clan tradition counts him as the 16th-generation descendant, and the four branches Munhak-gong, Jeonseo-gong, Wolpa-gong and Songnimbaek-gong are said to have split from his descendants (some sources add Sangjanggun-gong for five). He is thus one of the first names encountered when studying Yeonan Cha branches.
In 1258 (Gojong 45) he took part, as a byeoljang dongjeong, with Yu Gyeong, Kim In-jun (Kim Jun) and Im Yeon in removing Choe Ui, the last ruler of the military regime, and was named a Wisa merit subject. The incident led to the fall of the Choe military regime that had lasted four generations over six decades. In recognition, his home district Yeomju was raised in 1259 to the status of Bokju.
In 1262 when the Hall of Merit Subjects was rebuilt, General Cha Song-u's portrait was painted on its wall, and in 1266 he is said to have captured a Song pirate ship, killing more than 70 and capturing five. In 1268, however, together with senior generals such as Choe Hwi, Gang Bo-chung, Hyeon Su and Bak Seung-ik, he was branded an ally of Kim Jun and killed by Im Yeon.
The removal of Choe Ui, fourth ruler of the Choe military regime, in 1258 is known as the Muo coup. Cha Song-u is recorded among the officers who took part, and the title Wisa merit subject, meaning protector of the state, reflects how the deed was valued.
Yeonan was called Yeomju in Goryeo and was raised to Bokju in 1259 thanks to his merit. The clan honors him as a 16th-generation ancestor from whom later branches divided. See the Wolpa-gong and Munhak-gong cards for details.
In 1268, when Im Yeon eliminated Kim Jun, he was killed along with several generals classed as Kim's men. It reads as a merit subject sacrificed in a power struggle among military rulers, after which Goryeo entered a period of growing Yuan influence.
The location of his grave was not confirmed here.