Civil official under Seongjong–Jungjong who served as Vice-Director of the Hongmungwan, Inspector-General and Vice-Minister of War; pen name Wolheon, founder of the Wolheon-gong branch
| Life | 1454 ~ 1527 |
| Era | 조선 전기 |
| Clan | 나주 정씨 |
Jeong Su-gang (丁壽崗, 1454-1527) was an early Joseon civil official from Naju (formerly Aphae), with courtesy name Bulbung and pen name Wolheon. He belongs to the 12th generation from founder Jeong Yun-jong, and was the second son of Jeong Ja-geup, a Director of the Sogyeokseo, and the younger brother of Jeong Su-gon, founder of the Gyori-gong branch. The Naju Jeong central clan association relates that their father named the sons Sugon and Sugang after an old man who appeared in a dream, and says all three of father and sons served in the Hongmungwan (Okdang). The association records that he was born in Baekcheon, Hwanghae.
He passed the licentiate examination in 1474 (5th year of Seongjong) and the regular civil examination in 1477 in the second class (eulgwa), starting as a probationary proofreader. He then served as an erudite, an inspector, and in 1482 went to Ming China as recording secretary of the New Year embassy. He held posts such as military judge of Pyeong-an Province, remonstrator, Inspector, and Sasung of the Seonggyungwan. In 1503 he rose from Jikjehak to Vice-Director (Bujehak) of the Hongmungwan, but was dismissed in 1504 in the Gapja purge. The association also says he declined to serve under Yeonsangun's misrule.
After the 1506 Jungjong restoration he was reinstated, became Governor of Gangwon in 1507, and after posts as Pangyeolsa, Grand Remonstrator, Byeongjo Chamji and Hyeongjo Chamui, became Dae Saseong (head of the Seonggyungwan) in 1517 and Inspector-General (Daesaheon) in 1518. After resigning for illness he became Vice-Minister of War and in 1519 Dongji Jungchubusa. He died in 1527 aged 74. The Encyclopedia of Korean Culture describes him as a civil official who served as Vice-Minister of War, Dongji Jungchubusa and Binggo Jejo, and credits him with the allegorical bamboo tale Pojeolgun-jeon.
Jeong Su-gang was the second generation of the family known as the 'Nine Generations of Okdang', laying the foundation for the line of his son Jeong Ok-hyeong, grandson Jeong Eung-du, and great-grandsons Jeong Yun-hui and Jeong Yun-bok. The central clan association also says he compiled the Wolheopcheop around 1520, the earliest family record of the lineage.
Jeong Su-gang is said to have served in the Hongmungwan along with his father Jeong Ja-geup and his brother Jeong Su-gon. The central clan association stresses that Okdang posts passed down without skipping a generation, and the line continues through his son Jeong Ok-hyeong, grandson Jeong Eung-du and great-grandsons Jeong Yun-hui and Jeong Yun-bok.
He was dismissed in 1504, the year after reaching Vice-Director, in the Gapja purge and recalled after the 1506 restoration of Jungjong. The association says he became a Jeongguk Wonjong merit subject, but this was not cross-checked against another source.
Pojeolgun-jeon personifies bamboo as 'Lord Pojeol', criticising the drunken Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove and praising integrity, according to the Encyclopedia of Korean Culture. The encyclopedia says it is in vol. 5 of the Wolheonjip, published in 1542, while the clan association describes the collection as three volumes, so sources differ on the volume count.
The central clan association treats the Wolheopcheop of about 1520 as the lineage's first family record, in which the founder is given as Jeong Yun-jong, a Goryeo general. Wikipedia reports the same, and later scholars Jeong Beom-jo and Jeong Yak-yong argued that the Tang-dynasty ancestor Jeong Deok-seong had no basis.
He was first buried at the foot of Dodangsan in Todang-ri, Goyang, and was moved in 1988 to the clan graveyard at Jeil-ri, Yangji-myeon, Yongin, according to the central clan association. A spirit-way stele also stands at that site.
His sons included Jeong Ok-gyeong (licentiate, magistrate of Munhwa), Jeong Ok-hyeong (Left Consultant) and Jeong Ok-jeong (licentiate, magistrate of Geumseong, Senior Assistant of the Armory Office). Grandson Jeong Eung-du and great-grandsons Jeong Yun-hui and Jeong Yun-bok are best known. His descendants form the Wolheon-gong branch.