Yuan-era Hanlin academician who naturalized in Goryeo and became the founder of the Changwon Gong clan, today's Gokbu Gong clan
| Era | 고려 후기 |
| Clan | 곡부 공씨 |
Gong So (孔紹) was a Yuan-era figure who naturalized in late Goryeo and is revered as the mid-founder of today's Gokbu Gong clan (formerly the Changwon Gong). The Encyclopedia of Korean Culture describes him as a descendant of Confucius and a son of Gong Wan (孔浣); Wikipedia and others make him the second son of Confucius's 53rd-generation descendant Kong Huan, that is, a 54th-generation descendant. His original name was So (昭), changed to So (紹) to avoid the name of King Gwangjong.
He was appointed a Hanlin academician under Emperor Shun of Yuan and, in 1351, accompanied Princess Noguk when King Gongmin returned to take the Goryeo throne. He rose to Munha Sirang Pyeongjangsa, was enfeoffed as Lord of Changwon (also given as Hoewon-gun), received Changwon as his seat, and stayed in Goryeo as the founder of the Korean Gong line. Some genealogies give his years as 1304-1381, but the Encyclopedia lists them as unknown, so no dates are asserted here.
His descendants kept the Changwon Gong name through Goryeo and Joseon until 1794 (18th year of King Jeongjo), when the seat was changed to Qufu. Korean genealogical tables count him as the 54th generation, though generation numbers differ somewhat between sources. His son Gong Yeo served as a Jiphyeonjeon grand scholar, and his grandsons Gong Bu and Gong Eun became the founders of the Eochon and Gosan households. His tomb is said to lie in Yegok-dong, Masan-happo District, Changwon, with a rite held on the 1st day of the 10th lunar month.
Gong So is said to have been named a Hanlin academician under Emperor Shun of Yuan. When King Gongmin returned from Yuan to take the throne in 1351, he was among those escorting Princess Noguk into Goryeo. Goryeo and Yuan were bound by royal marriages, and it was not unusual for members of a princess's retinue to settle at the Goryeo court.
In Goryeo he rose to Munha Sirang Pyeongjangsa and was enfeoffed as Lord of Changwon (also given as Hoewon-gun). The grant of Changwon as his seat is the starting point of the Changwon Gong clan. The Encyclopedia of Korean Culture notes that he did not return to Yuan but remained to found the Korean Gong line.
His original name was So (昭), changed to 紹 to avoid King Gwangjong's name. The generation count from Confucius also varies: Wikipedia and others give the second son of Kong Huan, i.e. the 54th generation, and Korean tables reportedly count 54, whereas the Encyclopedia says only 'son of Gong Wan'. The Mogeun-jip essay 'Baekgong-seol' records a view that other Gong had entered earlier.
Below his son Gong Yeo the line splits into Gong Bu and Gong Eun, today's Eochon and Gosan households. In 1794 the descendants changed the seat to Gokbu in line with King Jeongjo's wishes. See Gong Bu and Gong Eun for the continuing lines.
His tomb is said to be in Yegok-dong, Masan-happo District, Changwon, where a rite is held each year on the 1st day of the 10th lunar month.
His line continues through his son Gong Yeo and grandsons Gong Bu (Eochon household) and Gong Eun (Gosan household), the root of today's Goryeo branch of the Gokbu Gong.