천만리 千萬里
Ming officer who fought in the Imjin War and naturalized in Joseon; mid-founder of the Yeongyang Cheon; pen name Saam; posthumous title Chungjang
| Life | 1543 |
| Era | 명·조선 선조 |
| Clan | 영양 천씨 |
Life & career
Cheon Man-ri (千萬里, b. 1543) was a Ming military officer and the mid-founder of the Yeongyang Cheon clan. His courtesy name is given as Wonji, his pen name Saam, and his posthumous title Chungjang. Clan materials say he topped the military examination in 1571.
When the Imjin War broke out in 1592 he came to Joseon with the Ming general Li Rusong in charge of army provisions and took part in the Pyongyang campaign and the advance toward Dongnae. Clan introductions say that with his two sons Cheon Sang and Cheon Hui he won victories at Pyongyang, Gwaksan and Dongnae. In the 1597 renewed invasion he fought at Jiksan under Ma Gui and pursued Japanese forces down to Ulsan.
He stayed in Joseon after the Ming envoys left in 1600 and naturalized. He is said to have toured Mt. Geumgang and Mt. Jiri and written poems of longing for home, which Wikipedia reads as a warning to descendants against living under alien rule. King Seonjo reportedly granted him the rank of Jaheon Daebu, the title Lord of Hwasan and land. About 44 poems and two prose pieces survive in Saam seonsaeng munjip.
In the Imjin War
Cheon Man-ri came to Joseon with Li Rusong and took part in provisioning and battles. The victories at Pyongyang, Gwaksan and Dongnae are clan accounts, and even Wikipedia notes that specific battle figures lack sources, so this is best read as "it is said".
Naturalization and Life in Joseon
After the war he settled in Joseon with his two sons. By King Seonjo's favor he is said to have received the rank and title of Lord of Hwasan and land, while his elder son became deputy mayor of Hanseong and his younger son post-station superintendent of Pyeonggu. A story says he toured Mt. Geumgang and Mt. Jiri and wrote poems.
Honors and Discrepancies in Sources
Wikipedia says Sukjong ordered him honored at Daebodan, Sunjo in 1827 ordered his tablet kept permanently and Sunjong in 1910 gave a posthumous title. The account, however, has internal inconsistencies in dates (1571 and 1575) and in the spelling of the title, and some claims lack sources. Rites are said to continue at Hoamseowon and Hwanbongsa.
Grave
His tomb is said to be at Bangchon-ri, Geumji-myeon, Namwon, North Jeolla. Rites are held at Hoamseowon in Donghae-myeon, Goseong on the first day of the eighth lunar month, and his tablet is kept at Hwanbongsa in Namwon.
Descendants
His sons Cheon Sang (deputy mayor of Hanseong) and Cheon Hui (post-station superintendent of Pyeonggu) founded the Jwayun-gong and Chalbang-gong branches; descendants divide into ten branches.