박동형 朴東亨
Official who informed on Park Pil-hyeon and his son in the 1728 Yi In-jwa rebellion and became a Bunmu merit subject (pen name Sowadang)
| Life | 1695 ~ 1739 |
| Era | 조선 후기 |
| Clan | 충주 박씨 |
Life & career
Park Dong-hyeong (朴東亨, 1695-1739), presented as founder of the Chungwon-gun line of the Champan-gong branch of the Chungju Park, was a late Joseon military official with courtesy name Subu, pen names Sowadang or Manchon and title Prince Chungwon. He was born on 3 July (lunar) 1695 at Gongseong, Sangju, to Park Se-ryang and Lady Cha of Gaeseong, and was adopted by his uncle Park Se-hwa. He is known as the 19th-generation descendant.
When the Yi In-jwa rebellion broke out in March 1728 (Yeongjo 4), he was a commander at the Sangju garrison and, suspicious of Park Pil-hyeon and his son hiding in Sangju, reported them to the garrison head, leading to their arrest. For this he was named a third-class Bunmu merit subject in April that year and made Prince Chungwon, with the title "Suchung Galseong Gyeolgi Hyoryeok Bunmu Gongsin." Some sources write "Yangmu" merit subject, so the title is rendered differently by source.
He later served as Gaseon Daebu and Deputy and Associate Recorder of the State Council Office and as a Five-Guard commander; appointed magistrate of Gwangyang in 1733, he was arrested over land-tax matters but spared flogging at the recommendation of Chief State Councillor Sim Su-hyeon. He died aged forty-three in February 1739 and was posthumously made Minister of Works. His merit-subject portrait is Treasure No. 1927. Some sources, including the Seungjeongwon Diary, write his name as Park Dong-hyeon.
The Rebellion and the Report
In March-April 1728 at Sangju, Park Dong-hyeong, as a commander, is said to have noticed that Park Pil-hyeon and his son Park Sa-je were in hiding. Suspicious of traces of hat ornaments on them, he informed the garrison head Han Nal, and an arrest soon followed.
Namu Wiki points out that folklore and the Annals differ and rebuts the folklore on the basis of the Annals.
Merit Subject and After
Between 26 and 29 April 1728 he was named a third-class Bunmu merit subject and Prince Chungwon, and in May he was appointed Gaseon Daebu Deputy Recorder and Associate Recorder. In September he concurrently became a Five-Guard commander, but after returning home in December for his parents' illness and overstaying, his replacement was discussed.
In 1729 his hard livelihood was raised at court, and supplying goods and distributing rebels' lands and slaves to merit subjects were discussed.
Portrait and Descendants
His merit-subject portrait, a full-length seated figure, is Treasure No. 1927. His eldest son Park Wan-sin (1722-1789) and adopted grandson Park Jung-mok (1740-1831) appear in the genealogy, though their office records are not proven by edicts or merit rolls. His descendants are presented as the Gongju (Sangju) line around Gongseong and Cheongri in Sangju.
Grave
The tomb location was not confirmed in this survey.