A mid-Joseon Neo-Confucian scholar and retired scholar (art name Nammyeong)
| Life | 1501 ~ 1572 |
| Era | 조선 |
| Clan | 창녕 조씨 |
Jo Sik (曺植, 1501–1572) was a Neo-Confucian scholar of the mid-Joseon period, with the art name Nammyeong (南冥). Never taking office, he lived as a retired scholar (cheosa) and expounded a learning centered on practice, with reverence (gyeong, 敬) and righteousness (ui, 義) at its core.
As the leading master of the scholarly lineage of the Right Gyeongsang region, he built the Sancheonjae (山天齋) study hall in Deoksan, Sancheong, at the foot of Jirisan and raised his pupils there. From his tutelage came many righteous-army commanders who won fame during the Japanese invasions (Imjin War), such as Gwak Jae-u and Jeong In-hong. Together with Toegye Yi Hwang, he represents the Yeongnam Sarim.