Early Goryeo official and calligrapher who died defending the king in Yi Ja-gyeom's revolt
| Life | 1126 |
| Era | 고려 전기 |
| Clan | 남양 홍씨 |
Hong Gwan (洪灌, ?–1126) was an early Goryeo civil official and calligrapher. His clan seat was Namyang, his courtesy name was Mudang, and he came from Dangseong county (around present-day Namyang, Hwaseong). His posthumous title was Chungpyeong. Hong Eon-bak, chancellor under King Gongmin, was his seventh-generation descendant.
Serving as a court historiographer under King Sukjong, he wrote the name board of the Jipsangjeon hall by royal order and copied the "Against Luxurious Ease" chapter of the Book of Documents onto a folding screen. He became Vice Censor in 1111, military commissioner of the northeastern frontier the next year, and went to the Liao court as an envoy with Kim Ui-won in 1113. He later held scholar posts in the Mundeokjeon, Cheongyeongak and Bomungak halls, helped compile a continuation of a chronicle under King Yejong, served as head of the National Academy and in 1123 co-supervised the civil examination.
He was famed for his calligraphy, said to follow the style of the Silla master Kim Saeng, and the Haedong Yeoksa credits him with the name boards of the Bomungak, Cheongyeongak and Bojeonhwaru halls.
When Yi Ja-gyeom rebelled in 1126, the elderly Hong Gwan entered the palace to guard King Injong and followed him when he was moved to the Yeondeokgung palace, but he was killed by Cheok Jun-gyeong's soldiers at the Seohwamun gate. He was honored posthumously for his loyalty, and his deed is recorded in the Goryeosa. The Namyang Hong clan later commemorated him at Yangcheon Seowon in Gunwi (added in 1798) and Gwangje Seowon in Jinju.
The Bomungak and Cheongyeongak, whose name boards he wrote, were scholarly institutions set up in the palace under King Yejong, where the king discussed the classics with his scholars. His career and calligraphy are recorded in the Goryeosa, the Goryeosa Jeoryo and O Se-chang's Geunyeok Seohwajing.