Second son of Jeong Yak-yong and literary man known as the author of the Nongga Wolryeong-ga; pen name Unpo
| Life | 1786 ~ 1855 |
| Era | 조선 후기 |
| Clan | 나주 정씨 |
Jeong Hak-yu (丁學游, 1786-1855) was a late Joseon man of letters from Naju, with the pen name Unpo. The second son of Jeong Yak-yong, he had an elder brother Jeong Hak-yeon; his mother was of the Pungsan Hong and his grandfather was Jinju Magistrate Jeong Jae-won. His uncles were Jeong Yak-hyeon, Jeong Yak-jeon and Jeong Yak-jong; the latter two were killed or exiled in the Sinyu persecution while his father was in exile in Gangjin.
He is best known for the Nongga Wolryeong-ga, a Hangul song of the farm year's work and customs month by month. Wikipedia says he composed it in 1816 (16th year of Sunjo), in 518 lines of mixed Korean and Chinese characters, stressing the farming seasons, care of tools and manure, and a wide range of farm topics: crops, orchards, sericulture, livestock, beekeeping, wild greens, herbs, kimchi-making, yeast and spinning.
The song also covers customs such as New Year bows, see-saw jumping, yut games, moon-greeting, heat-selling, grave visits, river fishing and first-fruit offerings, which helps folklore research. Written so farmers could sing it in rhythm through the seasons, it is significant for spreading farming know-how and as an early attempt at a song in Korean. However, other views on the authorship of the Nongga Wolryeong-ga have been raised, so reading attribution to Jeong Hak-yu as the widely accepted view is prudent.
The clan association's literary roll lists the 'Nongga Wolyeong-ga' as the work of Jeong Hak-yu (pen name Unpo, 1786-1855). His recorded sons are Jeong Dae-mu (a royal tomb attendant and magistrate), Jeong Dae-beon and Jeong Dae-cho.
He was a son of Jeong Yak-yong, with an elder brother Jeong Hak-yeon. His uncles Yak-jeon and Yak-jong were caught up in the Sinyu persecution and his father was exiled to Gangjin.
A gasa verse describing farm work and customs month by month from the first to the twelfth month, ranging from crops, orchards, sericulture, beekeeping, kimchi-making and spinning to customs such as New Year bows, see-saw jumping and yut.
Wikipedia and the clan association's literary roll attribute it to Jeong Hak-yu, but scholars have also raised other views on the author. It is better read as the widely known view than as a settled fact.
The grave location was not confirmed here.
Sons recorded are Jeong Dae-mu (born 1824, royal tomb attendant and magistrate), Jeong Dae-beon (born 1833) and Jeong Dae-cho (1835-1904).