Goryeo official who rose to chancellery deputy; founder of the Jungam-gong branch, pen name Jungam
| Life | 1262 ~ 1340 |
| Era | 고려 후기 |
| Clan | 평강 채씨 |
Chae Hong-cheol (1262-1340) was a late Goryeo official of the Pyeonggang seat, courtesy name Mumin and pen name Jungam. He passed the examination under King Chungnyeol, served as magistrate of Jangheung, and after leaving office is said to have studied Buddhism and music. Wikipedia's Pyeonggang Chae entry gives 1283 for his success and a career through registrar posts to deputy commissioner of the Privy Council in 1308, in 1314 and 1315 higher privy posts, then chancellery deputy.
He was enfeoffed as Pyeonggang-gun in 1320 and, returning as chancellery deputy in 1332, as Suncheon-gun with the highest honorary rank. His son Chae Ha-jung later became right chancellor and Pyeonggang Prince-Consort. North of his house he built Jeondan-won where monks stayed and gave medicine to the sick, and he built Junghwa-dang for a banquet of eight former chancellors where he composed Jahadong sin-gok, preserved in the Goryeo akbu.
Criticism also survives that, during the land and tax reforms of 1314 under King Chungsuk, he took commoners' land unlawfully and amassed great wealth. He is honored as founder of the Jungam-gong branch, and his tomb is said to be in Suncheon.
He passed the examination under Chungnyeol, served as magistrate of Jangheung and rose through Privy Council posts to chancellery deputy. The years follow Wikipedia's Pyeonggang Chae entry (1283, 1308, 1314, 1315) and may differ in other sources.
After retiring he devoted himself to Buddhism and music, founded Jeondan-won to help monks and the sick, and is said to have composed Jahadong sin-gok at the Junghwa-dang banquet.
He is seen as a cultural patron, but also criticized for taking commoners' land. His son Chae Ha-jung became chancellor but met a tragic end.
Said to be in Suncheon, South Jeolla; the exact location was not confirmed here.
His son Chae Ha-jung became right chancellor; his descendants form the Jungam-gong branch.