황의돈 黃義敦

Historian and educator who taught national history to foster national consciousness; pen name Haewon; professor at Dongguk University

Life & career

Hwang Ui-don (黃義敦, 1890-1964) was a historian and educator born in Seocheon, South Chungcheong, of the Jangsu Hwang clan; pen name Haewon. The Encyclopedia of Korean Culture gives his birth as 1890 and Wikipedia as 1887. His father was Hwang Gi-ju and he was a kinsman of Hwang Hyeon, described by Wikipedia as a distant nephew. He grew up in a Confucian family and studied classical Chinese under his grandfather.

After completing a course at Gunsan Public School in 1907 he studied modern subjects in Seoul and Japan, moved to northern Gando in 1909 and founded a school there, using national history to foster patriotism. In 1911 he taught at Daeseong School founded by Ahn Chang-ho; in 1916 he was arrested by Japanese police over a national history lecture at the YMCA and dismissed from Whimoon. From 1920 he taught history and classical Chinese at Boseong High School for some twenty years.

In 1938, when history and Korean were banned in schools, he resigned and worked on historic-site surveys at the Chosun Ilbo, retiring to his hometown when it was closed in 1940. After liberation he taught at Dongguk University. His works include Daedong Cheongsa, Joseon Sinsa and Jungdeung Joseon Yeoksa, plus biographies such as that of Seo Gyeong-deok. He received an honorary doctorate and a Culture Medal in 1962 and died in 1964.

A Career in National History Education

Most of Hwang Ui-don's career was spent teaching national history in schools, from the Gando school to Daeseong School and Boseong High School, always trying to awaken patriotism. He was arrested in 1916 over a YMCA lecture and left teaching in 1938 when wartime rule closed history education.

Later Scholarship

The Encyclopedia of Korean Culture says he changed direction three times, from Chinese literature to history and finally Seon Buddhism. In 1942 he turned to Buddhism and studied under Seon Master Bang Han-am at Odaesan, later trying to combine national history with Seon.

Chronology

Born in Seocheon in 1890 (or 1887); completed a course at Gunsan school 1907; founded the Myeongdong school in northern Gando 1909; teacher at Daeseong School in Pyongyang 1911; arrested over a YMCA lecture 1916; teacher at Boseong High School from 1920; joined the Chosun Ilbo 1938; retired home 1940; entered Odaesan 1942; professor at Dongguk after liberation; honorary doctorate and Culture Medal 1962; died 1964.

He left papers such as one on the Gabo Reform movement and Jeon Bong-jun, and biographies of An Jung-geun and Son Byeong-hui.

Grave

Not confirmed (not given in the sources consulted)

Descendants

Wikipedia says Hwang Yun-seok, known as the first female judge, was his daughter. See also the Jangsu Hwang clan page.

Other 장수 황씨 figures