Chief State Councillor under King Sejo; Jeokgae merit subject who put down Yi Si-ae's rebellion; Prince Changnyeong
| Life | 1413 ~ 1477 |
| Era | 조선 전기 |
| Clan | 창녕 조씨 |
Jo Seok-mun (曺錫文, 1413–1477) was an early-Joseon civil official of the Changnyeong Cho clan. His birth name was Seok-mun (碩門), his courtesy name Sunbo (順甫) and his posthumous title Chung-gan (忠簡). Son of the provincial governor Jo Hang, he passed the civil examination under King Sejong and served in posts such as Assistant Fellow of the Jiphyeonjeon.
In 1455, as Dongbu Seungji, he helped Sejo's accession; in 1467 he put down Yi Si-ae's rebellion as deputy commander of the cavalry and became a first-class Jeokgae merit subject, then rose to Left State Councillor and Chief State Councillor. He was made an Ikdae merit subject for handling the Nam I case and, retiring through illness in 1476, was enfeoffed as Prince Changnyeong. He died in August 1477, aged 65.
After passing the civil examination under King Sejong he served as Crown Prince's Jwajeongja, Assistant Fellow of the Jiphyeonjeon and Jeongeon of the Office of Remonstrance. He then passed through posts as Jeongnang and Jwarang in various Boards and served as magistrate of Ansan and in other posts. In 1455, as Dongbu Seungji, he helped Sejo's accession, later becoming Dosungji, and after serving as vice-minister he was Right and Left Chancellor and minister of the Boards of Taxation, Rites, War and Works.
In 1467 he suppressed Yi Si-ae's rebellion as deputy commander of the cavalry and was named a first-class Jeokgae merit subject. He then became Left State Councillor and soon after Chief State Councillor. He was also named an Ikdae merit subject for handling the case of Nam I.
In the summer of 1476 he was again appointed Left State Councillor, but that autumn he resigned through illness and was enfeoffed as Prince Changnyeong. He moved to Yeongjungchubu-sa in the spring of 1477 and died in August that year, aged 65. A court historian in the Seongjong Sillok judged him as crafty and flattering by nature; this is one historian's view and other assessments may exist.
His great-grandfather was Jo U-hui, his grandfather Jo Gyeong-su and his father Jo Hang, and his mother was a daughter of Min Seol. His wives are recorded as daughters of An Sung-seon and Chae Ha-jeong. He had an elder brother, Jo Hyo-mun, and a younger brother, Jo Gye-mun. A later member of the same clan is Jo Gye-sang, great-grandson of Jo Sang-chi. His descendants and grave have not been confirmed.
His grave has not been confirmed.