조식 曺植
Mid-Joseon Neo-Confucian scholar and retired scholar (cheosa); pen name Nammyeong; master of the 'gyeong-ui' learning; posthumous title Munjeong
| Life | 1501 ~ 1572 |
| Era | 조선 중기 |
| Clan | 창녕 조씨 |
Life & career
Jo Sik (曺植, 1501–1572) was a mid-Joseon Neo-Confucian scholar of the Changnyeong Cho clan. His courtesy name was Geonjung (楗仲), his pen name Nammyeong (南冥) and his posthumous title Munjeong (文貞). He never took office, living instead as a retired scholar (cheosa), and made 'gyeong' (敬, reverence that clarifies the mind) and 'ui' (義, practising what is right) the core of his learning, known as the gyeong-ui school.
According to Korean Wikipedia he was born in 1501 at Togol in Samga County, Gyeongsang Province (today Oe-to-ri, Samga-myeon, Hapcheon), to Jo Eon-hyeong and a mother of the Incheon Yi clan. He built the Sancheonjae (山天齋) at Deoksan in Sancheong, at the foot of Jirisan, and trained students there; among his pupils were Gwak Jae-u and Jeong Gu. Together with Toegye Yi Hwang he is counted as a leading scholar of the Yeongnam Sarim.
Early Years and the Start of His Studies
It is said that he followed his father to his posts as a boy and studied the classics, astronomy, geography and military arts. At 18 he moved to Jangui-dong and befriended the brothers Seong Un and Seong Su-chim, and in 1525, at 25, he read the Seongni daejeon and devoted himself to Neo-Confucianism.
After the Literati Purge of 1519 brought down the Jo Gwang-jo circle and his father was dismissed and died, he returned to his home region. He kept a three-year mourning hut for his father from 1527, and in 1531 built the Sanhaejeong at Tan-dong in Gimhae, where his wife's family lived, and taught pupils there.
Giving Up the Examinations and Declining Office
At 37 he sat the civil service examination at his mother's urging, failed, and gave up the examinations from then on. Offices were offered, among them a post at Heonneung Tomb (recorded as 1538 or 1539) and the magistracy of Danseong in 1555, but he declined almost all of them, including recommendations from figures such as Yi Hwang and Yi Eon-jeok.
Gyebudang, Noeryongsa and the Danseong Memorial
From 1548 he lectured at the Gyebudang and Noeryongsa he built near his home in Samga, Hapcheon. The memorial he submitted in 1555 when declining the Danseong magistracy is known as the Danseongso (Eulmyo Resignation Memorial). Its sharp criticism of politics caused a stir at court, yet most ministers and the court historians defended him as acting out of concern for the state.
Retreat at the Sancheonjae and His Pupils
In 1561 he moved to Deoksan-dong at Jirisan, built the Sancheonjae and devoted himself to study and teaching. His pupils included Gwak Jae-u and Jeong Gu as well as Jeong In-hong and Kim U-ong, and the Northerner (Bugin) faction is said to have formed later from this circle. Because he valued practice over theoretical debate, he is described as having had disputes with Yi Hwang over differences of approach.
In 1567 he answered King Myeongjong's summons, offered counsel on governing and went home; in 1568 he submitted the 'Mujin memorial' and the 'Seori mangguk-ron' (on clerks ruining the state). In 1571 he sent a memorial of thanks when King Seonjo granted him food and fields.
Death, Posthumous Honors and Academies
In 1572 the Gyeongsang provincial office reported his illness and the king sent a physician, but he died before the physician arrived. On his deathbed he reportedly stressed 'gyeong' and 'ui' to his pupils. Under King Seonjo he was posthumously made Grand Remonstrator, and under Gwanghaegun he was granted the rank of Chief State Councillor and the title Munjeong; Korean Wikipedia gives the year of the Chief State Councillor honor as both 1613 and 1615.
He was enshrined at Deokcheon Seowon in 1576, and Hoehyeon Seowon in his home Samga and Sinsan Seowon in Gimhae were also founded, all three receiving royal charters under Gwanghaegun. His reputation fell after the Northerners declined, and was reassessed after Heungseon Daewongun came to power in 1874.
Assessment
Korean Wikipedia cites Yi Man-gyu, who in the Joseon gyoyuk-sa called him the most successful educator in Korean educational history, and Yi Ik, who called him the 'summit of spirit and integrity in our country'. In 2002 scholars of Eastern philosophy included him among ten representative Korean thinkers. Within the same clan, see the founder Jo Gye-ryong and the branch founder Jo Ik-cheong.
Grave
The exact location of his grave was not confirmed here. The Sancheonjae and Deokcheon Seowon belong to the 'Sancheong Jo Sik Relics' (Historic Site No. 305).