Hall of Worthies scholar who took part in creating Hunminjeongeum and rose to chief state councillor; Prince Yeongseong; pen name Taeheojeong
| Life | 1409 ~ 1474 |
| Era | 조선 초기 |
| Clan | 삭녕 최씨 |
Choe Hang (1409-1474) was an early Joseon official and scholar of the Sangnyeong Choe clan, styled Jeongbo, with pen names Taeheojeong and Dongnyang, son of Choe Sa-yu. A fifth-generation descendant of Choe Seon-bo, he belonged to the Nangjang-gong branch. He placed first in the 1434 special civil examination and worked about eighteen years at the Hall of Worthies.
He took part in creating Hunminjeongeum, worked on the Hunminjeongeum Haerye, Yongbieocheonga and Dongguk Jeongun, and later led compilation of the Gyeongguk daejeon. He joined the Gyeyu coup (first-class Jeongnan merit), received second-class Jwaik merit under Sejo and first-class Jwari merit under Seongjong, rose to Chief State Councillor and was made Prince Yeongseong. His posthumous title is given as Munchung or Munjeong depending on the source.
Choe Hang was a fifth-generation descendant of Choe Seon-bo in the Nangjang-gong branch (Seon-bo, Chung, Yun-mun, Sa-yu), and his father Choe Sa-yu passed the civil examination in 1402. His wife came from the Dalseong Seo clan and the scholar Seo Geo-jeong is described as his brother-in-law. Above him stand the founder Choe Cheon-ro and restorer Choe Yu-ga, but the generations between are lost.
After placing first in the 1434 examination he became a Jiphyeonjeon official, and around 1443 took part in creating Hunminjeongeum and later the Haerye, Yongbieocheonga and Dongguk Jeongun. He was also known as a writer who drafted most of the diplomatic memorials sent to Ming China.
He joined the 1453 Gyeyu coup and received first-class Jeongnan merit. Under Sejo he held ministerial posts and rose through Right and Left State Councillor to Chief State Councillor; sources differ on the year, so it is not fixed here. It is said that in forty-some years he was never impeached or sent to a provincial post.
In 1469 under Yejong he led compilation of the Gyeongguk daejeon as chief commissioner. He is also said to have worked on the Dongguk Tonggam, the revision of the Goryeosa and the Sejo and Yejong Annals; his collected works are the Taeheojeongjip.
His tomb in Doma-ri, Toechon-myeon, Gwangju was designated Gyeonggi-do Monument No. 33 on 27 August 1976. There is a tombstone, stone attendant and altar stone, and a spirit-way stele with text by Seo Geo-jeong and calligraphy by Seong Im, next to a 2003 replica. Yeongmojae lodge (195 Doma-ri) and a shrine (197-8) are reported. Sources differ on the stele location, so verify before visiting.
The line of his eldest son Choe Yeong-rin formed the Munjeong-gong main line, splitting into the Sajik-gong, Choe Su-ung's Tongnye-gong and Sajeong-gong branches, while Choe Yeong-ho founded the Chanseong-gong branch, whose grandson was Choe Heung-won. Choe Byeong-jik is described as his 16th-generation descendant and Choe Myeong-hui as a 17th-generation descendant of Choe Su-ung.
Doma-ri, Toechon-myeon, Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province (Tomb of Choe Hang, Gyeonggi-do Monument No. 33, designated 1976). The ritual lodge Yeongmojae (195 Doma-ri) and two spirit-way steles (old and a 2003 replacement) stand nearby.
His sons were Choe Yeong-rin (eldest, Seokpo) and Choe Yeong-ho (founder of the Chanseong-gong branch); his grandson was Choe Su-ung and his great-grandson Chief State Councillor Choe Heung-won.