조서강 趙瑞康
Early-Joseon civil official who served as Minister of Personnel; pen name Gyeongeun
| Life | 미상 ~ 1444 |
| Era | 조선 초기 |
| Clan | 배천 조씨 |
Life & career
Jo Seo-gang (d. 1444) was an early-Joseon civil official of the Baecheon Jo clan with the pen name Gyeongeun. He is recorded as a son of Jo Ban, Lord Bokheung and second-class founding merit subject, with brothers Jo Seo-ro and Jo Seo-an. His birth year is not known, but he passed the civil examination in 1414 (14th year of Taejong) and in 1431 took part in compiling the Veritable Records of Taejong, a state project that required a trusted hand for composition.
In 1443 he became Minister of Personnel, the head of the ministry that handled civil appointments, one of the key posts among the six ministries. After that he asked to retire and is said to have withdrawn to Gajeong, where his father had a villa. His pen name Gyeongeun, roughly "plowing in seclusion", suits that later life.
The scenery of Gajeong drew the interest of King Sejong, who is said to have sent a court painter to depict it, and many scholars then wrote poems on the theme; Prince Anpyeong is said to have gathered them into the painting-and-poetry collection Seokho Gajeong Byeoreopdo. He died in 1444, and his tomb at Seoknam-dong, Incheon was designated Incheon Monument No. 6 in 1990 and is owned by the Baecheon Jo clan association.
Official Career
After passing the civil examination in 1414 he joined the compilation of the Veritable Records of Taejong in 1431 and became Minister of Personnel in 1443, an example of a civil official growing on the base his father Jo Ban laid as a founding merit subject.
Retreat at Gajeong and the Seokho Gajeong Byeoreopdo
After serving as Minister of Personnel he resigned and retired to Gajeong, where his father had a villa. Sejong is said to have sent a court painter to depict it and scholars wrote poems, which Prince Anpyeong gathered into the Seokho Gajeong Byeoreopdo.
The Tomb
The tomb at Seoknam-dong, Incheon was designated Incheon Monument No. 6 in 1990. It has a mound with a stone border, a monument and a civil-official stone figure, but details of size and style could not be confirmed.
Grave
Tomb of Jo Seo-gang at San 119-2, Seoknam-dong, Incheon (Incheon Monument No. 6, designated 1990; 2,660 square meters), with a mound ringed by stone, a monument and a civil-official stone figure that appear to date from the early Joseon period; owned by the Baecheon Jo clan association.