황신 黃愼
Disciple of Seong Hon and Yi I who went on the Japan mission, served as Governor of Jeolla and Minister of Taxation; Gonghui-gong branch, pen name Chupo
| Life | 1560 ~ 1617 |
| Era | 조선 중기 |
| Clan | 창원 황씨 |
Life & career
Hwang Sin (黃愼, 1560-1617) was a mid-Joseon civil official of the Changwon Hwang clan, with courtesy name Sasuk (思叔) and pen name Chupo (秋浦). A great-grandson of Hwang Hyeong of the Gonghui-gong line, he was the son of Hwang Dae-su; his mother is said to be from the Hyeonpung Gwak clan and his wife a daughter of Yi Hwi, Prince Wonchon, of the Jeonju Yi clan. He studied under Seong Hon and Yi I. The Encyclopedia of Korean Culture gives his birth year as 1560, while the Digital Buyeo Culture Encyclopedia gives 1562.
He passed the jinsa examination in 1582 and placed first in the 1588 special civil examination. During the 1589 Jeong Yeo-rip affair, as a censor he criticized ministers for avoiding plain speech and was demoted to magistrate of Gosan in 1590. In the Imjin War he served in the Crown Prince's (Gwanghaegun's) separate court. He travelled to Japan with the Ming envoys Yang Bang-hyeong and Shen Weijing; his Ilbon Wanghwan Ilgi diary and poem collection Makbu Samsa Suchangnok record this. Some sources describe him as chief envoy of a Korean mission, which may refer to the same trip. As Governor of Jeolla he helped restore war-ravaged Namwon, and in 1601 became Inspector-General but was dismissed after defending his teacher Seong Hon.
He served as Minister of Works and Minister of Taxation in 1609 and in 1612 was named a second-class Wiseong merit subject and enfeoffed as Hoewon Prince-Consort. In 1613, after the Gyechuk Incident, he was falsely accused by those allied with Yi I-cheom, banished to Ongjin and died there in 1617. He was posthumously made Right State Councillor and given the title Munmin, and his tomb and the Changgang Seowon stand in Buyeo, South Chungcheong. His Chupojip and the Neo-Confucian work Daehak Gangeo survive, and his adopted son was Hwang Il-ho.
At the head house of Hwang Sin in Buyeo, relics survive including a 1597 appointment letter naming him Governor of Jeolla and naval commander; their present heritage status could not be confirmed. Some interpretations say Yi I-cheom bore a grudge because Hwang Sin had blocked his appointment as Chief Remonstrator, but the explanation varies by source and cannot be reduced to a single cause.
Disciple of Seong Hon and Yi I
Hwang Sin studied under Seong Hon and Yi I and in 1601, as Inspector-General, was dismissed for defending Seong Hon. This shows his scholarly lineage among the Westerners. His link to Yi I is recorded in the Encyclopedia of Korean Culture.
Japan Mission and Jeolla
During the Imjin War he went to Japan with Ming envoys, and the Ilbon Wanghwan Ilgi records the trip. As governor of Jeolla he worked to restore Namwon.
Gyechuk Incident and Exile
Falsely accused in the 1613 Gyechuk Incident, he was banished to Ongjin and died in exile in 1617. Accounts of his enmity with the Yi I-cheom faction vary.
Grave
His tomb and Changgang Seowon are said to stand in Buyeo-eup, Buyeo County, South Chungcheong.
Descendants
His great-grandfather was Hwang Hyeong, and he adopted Hwang Il-ho, a nephew from his younger brother Hwang Cheok's line.