허엽 許曄
Disciple of Seo Gyeong-deok, leader of the Easterners, Governor of Gyeongsang; pen name Chodang; posthumous title Mungan
| Life | 1517 ~ 1580 |
| Era | 조선 중기 |
| Clan | 양천 허씨 |
Life & career
Heo Yeop (1517-1580) was a mid-Joseon official of the Yangcheon Heo clan, with courtesy name Taehwi, pen name Chodang and posthumous title Mungan. His father was Heo Han (a junior official of the Army Provisions office, later posthumously Vice Minister of Personnel) and his mother a lady of the Changnyeong Seong clan. He married ladies of the Cheongju Han and Gangneung Kim clans and fathered Heo Seong, Heo Bong, Heo Gyun and Heo Nanseolheon; his sons-in-law included U Seong-jeon and Kim Seong-rip.
He learned the Sohak and Geunsarok from Na Sik, mathematics and the Book of Changes from Yi Yeo, and studied under Seo Gyeong-deok, taking dictation when Seo dictated his Won-ligi while ill. After Seo's death he briefly studied under Yi Hwang and admired Yi Eon-jeok from afar. He passed the jinsa examination in 1540 and the regular civil examination in the top class in 1546.
His posts included assistant section chief, inspector, tutor to the Crown Prince, head of the Confucian academy, chief royal secretary, vice director of the Hongmungwan and chief censor, but his career was troubled: he was dismissed in 1553 on an accusation of greed and again in 1562-63 for defending Heo Ja, Gu Su-dam and others. In 1568 he went to Ming China as deputy envoy, and when the East-West split came in 1575 he was a leader of the Easterners, at the forefront of attacks on the Westerners. In 1579 he became Governor of Gyeongsang, supplemented and reprinted the Gyeongmin-pyeon and helped compile the Samgang iryun haengsil; he asked to resign for illness and died at the Sangju guesthouse the next year.
A story says he made tofu with spring water at his wife's home in Gangneung and began selling it, the origin of "Chodang tofu"; it is also said that news of a scholar engaging in trade reached the court and he was attacked. Judgment on him is mixed: he was named an honest official and, with his children, called one of the "five writers of the Heo family," while Yi I is said to have judged his theories contradictory. His works include the Chodang-jip and Jeoneon wanghaengnok.
His Children
His eldest son Heo Seong, second son Heo Bong, third son Heo Gyun and daughter Heo Nanseolheon were all noted for their writing.
Chodang Tofu
The story links the name of Chodang-dong in Gangneung to tofu, but it is close to oral tradition and is better read as a tale than as established fact.
Where Records Differ
Wikipedia gives different dates for his posts as governor of Gyeongju and Gyeongsang in its text and chronology. This entry follows the text, which dates the Gyeongsang governorship to 1579.
Grave
After his death in 1580 he was buried at Seocho-ri, Siheung County, and in 1968, because of the development of Gangnam, his tomb was moved to the family burial ground at Maeng-ri, Wonsam-myeon, Yongin.