허목 許穆

Leader of the Southerners, Right State Councillor, master of seal script; pen name Misu; posthumous title Munjeong

Life & career

Heo Mok (1595-1682) was a late-Joseon official and scholar of the Yangcheon Heo clan, with courtesy name Munbo, pen name Misu and posthumous title Munjeong. His father was Heo Gyo and his mother a lady of the Naju Im clan (daughter of Im Je); he studied under Jeong Gu, Mun Wi and Jang Hyeon-gwang and married a granddaughter of Yi Won-ik. His birth is given as December 1595 by the lunar calendar (1596 in the solar one) in one account and 1593 in another, and his age at death as 86 or 88.

He lived for a long time without office, retiring to Mount Jabong in Gwangju to practice seal script, and is said to have been punished for opposing the move to honor King Injo's birth father. Recommended for office in 1655, he became a lecturer to the king, in 1659 submitted a text opposing the northern-expedition policy, and in the first ritual dispute of 1660 over King Hyojong's death argued for three years of mourning; losing, he was sent in October as magistrate of Samcheok. There he is said to have written the Cheokju-ji and raised the Cheokju East Sea monument, then retired to Yeoncheon.

In the second dispute of 1674 over Queen Inseon's death, the one-year view was adopted, the Westerners fell and the Southerners took power. Heo Mok served as inspector-general and Minister of Personnel in 1675 and became Right State Councillor in 1676, when King Sukjong is said to have granted him the Eun-geodang. He was criticized for urging punishment of Song Si-yeol and worsening factional strife, and the Westerners called him a sniper. He was dismissed in 1678 in the aftermath of Heo Gyeon's case, restored in 1689, and posthumously made Chief State Councillor in 1692.

As a scholar he was a disciple of Jeong Gu who helped shape the Gungi Southerner tradition and is seen as a bridge between Neo-Confucianism and Silhak. He advocated "ancient learning" (gohak) stressing ancient classics and rites, and was versed in astronomy, geography and Daoism. Famous for seal script (the "Misu style"), he left works including Gyeongseol, Dongsa, Cheongsa yeoljeon and Jeongche jeonjungseol. He is counted a rare man who reached the top ministry without passing the examinations, and was known for living simply.

The Ritual Disputes

He lost the first ritual dispute of 1660, arguing for three years of mourning, and was sent to Samcheok; in the second dispute of 1674 his one-year view was adopted and the Southerners took power. The question of punishing Song Si-yeol became a major issue at that time.

Scholarship and Calligraphy

Continuing the tradition of his teacher Jeong Gu, he opened the Gungi Southerner line of learning and developed the distinctive Misu style in seal script. His marriage ties to the family of his wife's grandfather Yi Won-ik are also recorded.

Family

The head association places Heo Mok in the Hapcheon-gong line of the Pandojwarang-gong branch. He is said to be a twelfth cousin of Heo Jeok.

Grave

He is said to have died at the Eun-geodang in Yeoncheon; the exact location of his tomb was not confirmed here.

Other 양천 허씨 figures