Early Joseon official of the Hojang-gong branch who served as minister of Taxation, Rites and Personnel and rose to Right Assistant State Councillor under Jungjong
| Life | 1486 ~ 1536 |
| Era | 조선 전기 |
| Clan | 창원 황씨 |
Hwang Sa-u (黃士祐, 1486-1536) was an official under King Jungjong, a member of the Changwon Hwang clan and the highest-ranking figure of its Hojang-gong line, which descends from Hwang Yang-chung, the Goryeo-era headman of Changwon. His courtesy name is given as Gukbo (國寶). Wikipedia says he passed the special civil examination at top grade, while the commentary on the Hoesan Sego says he became a jinsa in 1507 and passed the civil examination in 1514, so sources differ.
According to that commentary he became an inspector in 1520, then held key posts such as literary scholar, remonstrator, tutor to the Crown Prince and Hongmungwan fellow, and became Chief Remonstrator in 1529. He served as Vice-Minister of Punishments in 1534 and was promoted to Minister of Taxation, then in the following year Minister of Rites and Minister of Personnel before rising to Right Assistant State Councillor. He died in 1536. He was active in the politics after the Kimyo purge, but his specific political stance could not be confirmed here.
Within the clan he marks the point when the Hojang-gong line gained fame. His son Hwang Eung-gyu (黃應奎) studied under Ju Se-bung and Yi Hwang and became a senior councillor of the Royal Kinship Office; his grandson Hwang Seom (黃暹) rose to Inspector-General, and another grandson Hwang Si (黃是) passed the civil examination and served as royal secretary. Their poems are collected together in the Hoesan Sego. His pen name could not be read from the available sources.
The Hojang-gong line began with a Goryeo-era local headman of Changwon and produced ministers and a Right Assistant State Councillor in Joseon. Hwang Sa-u's case shows how a native provincial family rose into central politics through the examinations. The material checked here on his detailed career and writings is limited, so the Hoesan Sego and the Veritable Records of Jungjong should be consulted directly.
Wikipedia records a special-examination top-grade pass, while the Hoesan Sego commentary gives a jinsa degree in 1507 and a civil pass in 1514. The two may not conflict, but whether they describe the same event could not be confirmed.
After serving as Chief Remonstrator in 1529 and Vice-Minister of Punishments in 1534, he rose to Minister of Taxation, then Minister of Rites and of Personnel, and Right Assistant State Councillor. Holding several ministries in quick succession is notable.
The Hoesan Sego gathers poems and prose by Hwang Sa-u, Hwang Seom, Hwang Si, Hwang Yu-jung and other Changwon Hwang descendants, showing the family's scholarly tradition.
The location of his tomb was not confirmed.
His son Hwang Eung-gyu and grandsons Hwang Seom and Hwang Si are known; their poems are in the Hoesan Sego.