Late Goryeo official exiled after an anti-Buddhist memorial who kept his loyalty after Joseon's founding; pen name Gosan, founder of the Gosan household
| Era | 고려 말 |
| Clan | 곡부 공씨 |
Gong Eun (孔㒚) was a late Goryeo official, courtesy name Baekryang, pen name Gosan. A grandson of Gong So and son of Gong Yeo, his mother was a daughter of Choe Su of the Gyeongju Choe and his wife was of the Hamyang Park. His elder brother Gong Bu served as Yejo Chongnang under King Gongyang and acted as an envoy to Ming after Joseon's founding. The genealogy and a tomb inscription by Gi U-man say he passed the 1380 examination and rose to Munha Sirang Pyeongjangsa, but the Encyclopedia notes his name cannot be found in the examination rolls and such a rapid rise to chief-councillor level in late Goryeo seems doubtful.
He is said to have studied under Yi Saek and Jeong Mong-ju. In late Goryeo he submitted a memorial against Buddhism and was exiled to Uigeumdo in Yean; Yi Saek is said to have written two poems for him on his way. The contents of the memorial are not transmitted. After Joseon was founded he declined repeated summonses and was exiled again for it.
Moved to Nakpo in Suncheon, he styled himself 'Gosan' and ended his life there. The Gosan Seonsaeng Silgi preserves a poem written in exile. Later generations enshrined him at Gyeonghyeonsa and Dumun Seowon as a scholar who kept faith with Goryeo. He had sons Gong Sin-goeng and Gong Sin-ju, the former serving as a Sinho-wi general; his line forms the Gosan household, splitting into the Jehak-gong, Hyojeol-gong, Champan-gong and Chungmin-gong branches. The Encyclopedia gives his seat as Changwon; his dates are unknown.
Gong Eun's story is read against the late Goryeo mood in which Neo-Confucian scholars criticised Buddhism and weighed their choices amid the change of dynasty. The content of his memorial and the year of his examination are not settled by the sources, so this site gives both the transmitted facts and the doubts.
His grandfather was Gong So, his father Gong Yeo and his elder brother Gong Bu. Sons Gong Sin-goeng and Gong Sin-ju are recorded.
The genealogy and tomb inscription speak of a 1380 pass and the post of Munha Sirang Pyeongjangsa, but the Encyclopedia says his name does not appear in the rolls, making it doubtful. Both views are given here.
He submitted a memorial against Buddhism in late Goryeo and was exiled to Uigeumdo in Yean; his teacher Yi Saek is said to have written two poems for him.
He refused Joseon's summons, was exiled again and lived at Nakpo in Suncheon calling himself 'Gosan'. He was enshrined at Gyeonghyeonsa and Dumun Seowon.
He is said to have ended his life at Nakpo in Suncheon, his place of exile; the tomb location was not confirmed here.
Sons Gong Sin-goeng and Gong Sin-ju are recorded; his line forms the Gosan household with the Jehak-gong, Hyojeol-gong, Champan-gong and Chungmin-gong branches.