Baekho, one of Honam's leading poets and authors of classical-Chinese fiction such as Wonsaeng Mongyurok and Suseongji
| Life | 1549 ~ 1587 |
| Era | 조선 중기 |
| Clan | 나주 임씨 |
Im Je (1549-1587) was a mid-Joseon man of letters from Naju, courtesy name Jasun (子順), pen names Baekho (白湖), Punggang, Sochi, Byeoksan and Gyeomjae. He was the eldest son of the army commander Im Jin, born at Hoejin, and a grandson of Im Bung.
Around 1570 he studied under Seong Un, passed the licentiate examinations in 1576 and the Alseong examination in 1577. After serving as magistrate of Heungyang, military aide in the northwest, and section chief of the Ministry of Rites, he became a royal edict drafter at the Hongmungwan, but, disillusioned by factional strife, spent his later years wandering famous mountains. He died at Hoejin at 39 and is said to have told his children not to wail for him.
He left classical-Chinese fiction such as Wonsaeng Mongyurok and Suseongji, sijo and Chinese poems, and a collected works, Im Baekho-jip. He is also remembered for visiting Hwang Jin-i's grave, composing a sijo and making an offering.
Born at Hoejin, he studied under Seong Un and passed the 1577 Alseong exam. Free-spirited and averse to restraint, he lost heart for office amid factional disputes and wandered. He associated with Yi Dal, Baek Gwang-hun, Heo Gyun, Seong Hon, Yi I, Jeong Cheol and Sin Heum.
Wonsaeng Mongyurok tells of the scholar Won meeting King Danjong and the loyal ministers in a dream, speaking of loyalty; Suseongji personifies the mind to set out a theory of human nature. Hwasa was long attributed to him, but the Encyclopedia of Korean Culture now treats it as the work of Nam Seong-jung. Three sijo survive and his Chinese poems are mostly love poems. He also compiled Yongseong Suchang-jip from a 1578 poetry gathering at Gwanghallu in Namwon.
He is famous for visiting Hwang Jin-i's grave to compose a sijo and make an offering, and for exchanging sijo with the entertainer Hanu. A story says he forbade wailing at his death, lamenting his country's status; whether it is factual cannot be settled.
Contemporaries saw him as eccentric or improper, yet his writing was highly regarded. At Hoejin the Baekho Literature Museum honors him, and Naju was reported to be planning a Baekho park.
His tomb was not confirmed here. He died at Hoejin, where the Baekho Literature Museum stands.
His younger brothers included Im Sun and Im Hwan; his descendants also live in Jinan, North Jeolla. He is introduced as maternal grandfather of Heo Mok.