Late-Goryeo chief state councillor who took part in compiling the Gogeumnok; posthumous title Mungyeong; enshrined in King Chungnyeol's shrine
| Life | 1233 ~ 1291 |
| Era | 고려 후기 |
| Clan | 양천 허씨 |
Heo Gong (1233-1291) was a late-Goryeo official whose early name was Heo Ui, courtesy name Ongwe and posthumous title Mungyeong. The Encyclopedia of Korean Culture gives his seat as Gongam (today's Yangcheon-gu, Seoul), the name that later became Yangcheon. His father was Heo Su, a deputy of the Privy Council, and his mother Lady Jang, Lady of Sinjeong County (daughter of Jang Geuk-u); he is described as a sixth-generation maternal descendant of Prince Wang Chung, a son of King Hyeonjong. As the tenth generation of the Yangcheon Heo, he stands at the point where, in his sons' generation, the clan divided into the Dongjusa-gong, Pandojwarang-gong and Daejehak-gong branches.
He passed the Seonggyun examination at nineteen in 1251 and the civil examination in 1258 under Choe Ja. Recommended by Yu Gyeong, he was appointed a palace attendant with Choe Ryeong and Won Gong-sik, the three being called the "three heroes of the Jeongbang." In 1267, as vice minister of revenue, he took part in compiling the veritable records of Sinjong, Huijong and Gangjong, and in 1269 he offended the powerful minister Im Yeon by refusing a marriage proposal for Im's son. When Im deposed the king that year and killed many courtiers, he was at Yangcheon for his wife's funeral and escaped harm.
He became assistant of the Privy Council in 1272, and in 1279, in King Chungnyeol's reign, as vice councillor he was put in charge of building warships for the Yuan invasion of Japan as military commander of Gyeongsang. In 1281 he went to Yuan China as envoy, in 1282 served as examiner and selected 33 jinsa including Yi Ik-bang, in 1284 became head of the state history office and took part in compiling the Gogeumnok (the Yangcheon Heo sources write that he "authored" it), and in 1287, after accompanying the king during Nayan's revolt, was appointed chief state councillor.
In 1290, while the king was in Yuan, he defended the capital with Hong Ja-beon when Qadan's forces invaded, and alone is said to have opposed courtiers urging flight to Ganghwa Island. The next year he led Goryeo troops alongside the Yuan expedition and died at home in August 1291 aged 59. In 1310 (King Chungseon, year 2) he was enshrined in King Chungnyeol's shrine and given the title Mungyeong. His third son Heo Gwan served as an assistant section chief, and King Chungnyeol, hearing of Heo Gong's death, is said to have granted Heo Gwan an eighth-rank post.
The head association lists his first son Heo Jeong as founder of the Dongjusa-gong branch, third son Heo Gwan of the Pandojwarang-gong branch and fifth son Heo Bu of the Daejehak-gong branch. The lines of his second son Heo Sung and fourth son Heo Chong are said to have died out.
The clan sources write the seat as Yangcheon and the Encyclopedia of Korean Culture as Gongam, and describe the Gogeumnok as "authored" versus "compiled with others." These are differences in notation for the same person.
He is said to have been buried at the foot of the western hill of Bohyeonwon. The head association gives the tomb as Eoyong-ri, Jinseo-myeon, Paju (also written Eoryong-ri, Jangdan), so the notation is inconsistent.