허균 許筠
Official regarded as the author of the Hangul novel Hong Gil-dong jeon; pen names Gyosan and Seongso
| Life | 1569 ~ 1618 |
| Era | 조선 중기 |
| Clan | 양천 허씨 |
Life & career
Heo Gyun (1569-1618) was a mid-Joseon official and man of letters of the Yangcheon Heo clan, with courtesy name Danbo and pen names Gyosan, Seongso and Haksan. Born at Chodang-dong, Gangneung, he was the son of the Easterner leader Heo Yeop and a lady of the Gangneung Kim clan; his half-brother was Heo Seong, his full brother Heo Bong and his full sister Heo Nanseolheon. He lost his father at twelve in 1580 and is said to have studied poetry under Yi Dal and writing under Yu Seong-ryong.
He passed the civil examination in 1594 and took first place in the mid-career examination of 1597, but was repeatedly dismissed and restored; in 1598 he was impeached as Hwanghae-do inspector over a courtesan. In 1606, while receiving the Ming envoy Zhu Zhifan, he passed on his sister's poems, which contributed to the printing of the Nanseolheon-jip in China, and he made several trips to Ming China and brought back many books. In 1610 he was exiled to Hamyeol over a charge concerning examination grading, in 1613 he joined the Great Northerners and became a Ministry of Rites counselor, in 1616 Minister of Punishments, and in 1617 Left Deputy Chief Councillor and Minister of Rites. Merit-subject honors for the Imjin War are recorded, though the year and grade differ somewhat between sources.
In 1618, after Gi Jun-gyeok's memorial raised a charge of treason and a placard appeared on the South Gate in August, he was arrested and executed in Hanseong on 24 August. A testimony that he refused to sign his confession leaves doubts, and the method of execution is written variously as dismemberment or slow slicing. Because of his Northerner affiliation he was never rehabilitated; discussions in the reigns of Jeongjo and Gojong came to nothing against Noron opposition.
He left the Seongso bubugo (64 volumes), Haksan chodam, Gukjo sisan, Hanjeongnok, the food-review Domun daejak and biographical tales such as the Life of Master Namgung. Hong Gil-dong jeon is an unsigned Hangul novel known as his through Yu Mong-in's record. He is praised for progressive ideas, such as people-centered government, ending status discrimination and strengthening defense, while negative judgments call him frivolous or eccentric.
Writings
His collected works include the Seongso bubugo and the poetry criticism Hakan chodam, plus short tales and the food review Domun daejak. Note that Hong Gil-dong jeon does not name its author and came to be known as his through Yu Mong-in's record.
Bringing His Sister's Poems to the World
Heo Gyun collected and preserved his sister Heo Nanseolheon's poems and passed them to a Ming envoy in 1606. The Nanseolheon-jip was afterwards printed in China and Joseon.
Family and Rehabilitation
His line is said to have been entered in the 1995 Yangcheon Heo genealogy as the Gyosan-gong line. Heo Jun, Heo Mok and Heo Jeok are mentioned as distant kin.
Grave
His body is said not to have been recovered; a cenotaph was made near the family burial ground in the early 20th century. The exact location was not confirmed.