정약전 丁若銓
Practical-learning scholar who wrote the Jasan Eobo while exiled on Heuksando; Jeong Yak-yong's second-oldest brother; pen name Sonam
| Life | 1758 ~ 1816 |
| Era | 조선 후기 |
| Clan | 나주 정씨 |
Life & career
Jeong Yak-jeon (丁若銓, 1758-1816) was a late Joseon official, practical-learning scholar and writer from Naju, with courtesy name Cheonjeon and pen names Sonam, Ilseong and Maesim. The second son of Jinju Magistrate Jeong Jae-won, he was born at Majae in Gwangju-bu (now Neungnae-ri, Joan-myeon, Namyangju). He had a half-brother Jeong Yak-hyeon, and his full younger brothers were Jeong Yak-jong and Jeong Yak-yong. His mother was a fifth-generation descendant of Yun Seon-do of the Haenam Yun, and because she dreamed of bearing three sons, his childhood name was Samung.
In 1776 his father became a Taxation Section Secretary and the family moved to Seoul, where he studied under Gwon Cheol-sin, who carried on Yi Ik's learning, and met Yi Yun-ha, Yi Seung-hun and others who introduced him to Western learning. In 1779 he joined Yi Byeok and others at a lecture gathering at Jueosa in Yeoju where Catholic doctrine was discussed, passed the licentiate examination in 1783, and passed the special 1790 examination in the third class, serving as proofreader and Military Section Secretary. He also joined his brothers at the early gathering at Kim Beom-u's house in 1784.
Implicated in the 1801 Sinyu persecution, he was exiled to Sinjido in Jeolla and then moved to Heuksando after the silk-letter affair of his nephew-in-law Hwang Sa-yeong. In exile he opened a village school and observed the fish of the Heuksando coast himself to write the Jasan Eobo, Korea's first full study of marine life. His other works include 'Songjeong Saui', criticising the court's pine policy, and 'Pyohae Simal', an account of the drifting voyage of the Heuksando skate trader Mun Sun-deuk.
He died on Uido in 1816 (Wikipedia's text also gives 1817), sixteen years into exile. Jeong Yak-yong left an epitaph for his second brother in the Yeoyudang Jeonseo. The 2021 film 'The Book of Fish' (Jasan Eobo) and Kim Hoon's novel 'Heuksan' (2011) brought him to wider audiences.
Brothers and Family
He was a brother of Jeong Yak-hyeon (half), Jeong Yak-jong and Jeong Yak-yong in a Southerner family. Wikipedia lists his sisters as married to Yi Seung-hun, Chae Hong-geun and Yi Jung-sik.
The Sinyu Persecution and Two Exiles
Implicated in the 1801 persecution, he was exiled to Sinjido and moved to Heuksando after the silk-letter affair of his nephew-in-law Hwang Sa-yeong, while his brother Jeong Yak-yong was sent to Gangjin.
Jasan Eobo
A specialist study of marine life written from his own observation of fish off Heuksando; Wikipedia calls it Korea's first work of marine biology. A story links the title to a preface in which the word 'heuk' (dark) was replaced with the same-meaning 'ja', but the original text was not checked here.
In Popular Culture
He appears in the 2000 KBS drama 'Novel Mokmin Simseo', Kim Hoon's 2011 novel 'Heuksan' and the 2021 film 'The Book of Fish' (played by Sol Kyung-gu). These portrayals mix in invention, so read them apart from the historical record.
Grave
He died in exile in the Heuksan islands (Uido). The present location of his grave was not confirmed here.
Descendants
Recorded children include eldest son Jeong Hak-cho (1791-1807), second son Jeong Hak-mu, and Jeong Hak-seung (adopted by his uncle Jeong Yak-hwang); a grandson, Jeong Dae-bin (1836-1859), is noted.