남구만 南九萬
Chief State Councillor under Sukjong and leader of the Soron; pen name Yakcheon; posthumous title Munchung; sijo poet
| Life | 1629 ~ 1711 |
| Era | 조선 후기 |
| Clan | 의령 남씨 |
Life & career
Nam Gu-man (1629-1711) was a late Joseon official of Uiryeong with the courtesy name Unro, pen names Yakcheon and Mijae, and posthumous title Munchung. His great-grandfather was Nam Ta, grandfather Nam Sik and father Nam Il-seong. His younger sister married Bak Se-dang and bore Bak Tae-bo; his principal wife was of the Dongnae Jeong, his eldest son Nam Hak-myeong and his grandson Nam Geuk-gwan. His sijo poems appear in the Cheonggu yeongeon.
Made remonstrator in 1657, he was dismissed in 1664 after impeaching Kim Jwa-myeong, restored as royal secretary in 1667, and served as vice-minister of Personnel, minister of Punishments, chief royal secretary and vice-director of the Office of Special Advisers. In 1679, as Left Magistrate of Hanseong, he petitioned against the Southerners' abuses and was exiled to Geoje and Namhae; the next year, after the 1680 Gyeongsin realignment, he returned and rose through chief royal secretary, Director of Royal Decrees and minister of War to Right, Left and Chief State Councillor (given as 1687 for the last). When the Westerners split in 1683 he became leader of the Soron.
In the 1694 Gapsul realignment he defended Consort Jang and helped save Jang Hui-jae's life; implicated in the 1701 witchcraft case he was dismissed and lived quietly at home until his death aged 83. His collected works are the Yakcheonjip, and the Gongju Ssangsujeong stele (South Chungcheong Tangible Cultural Heritage No. 35) is associated with him. Padam village in Galdam-ri, Mohyeon-eup, Yongin, became his descendants' home after he retired there and was buried nearby at Chobu-ri.
The Era of Realignments
He went through exile in 1679 and a return after the 1680 Gyeongsin realignment, and in 1683 became leader of the Soron when the Westerners split.
Writings and Sijo
His collected works Yakcheonjip survive, and he is widely known for sijo included in the Cheonggu yeongeon. The text of the poem is not reproduced here; please see the Cheonggu yeongeon.
Descendants and Padam
Padam village in Mohyeon-eup, Yongin, is where his descendants gathered after he retired there. His fifth-generation descendant Nam Gye-u became known for butterfly paintings. He is introduced as belonging to the Gangseong-gong line under the Chunggan-gong branch, but branch details vary by source.
Grave
His grave is introduced as being near Chobu-ri, Mohyeon-eup, Yongin (Yongin Culture Encyclopedia).
Descendants
His fifth-generation descendant is the painter Nam Gye-u, known for butterfly paintings.