Founder of the Chanseong-gong branch who settled at Songjeong-ri, Gwangju; father of the Three Parks of the East
| Life | 1411 |
| Era | 조선 전기 |
| Clan | 충주 박씨 |
Park Ji-heung (朴智興, born 1411), founder of the Chanseong-gong branch of the Chungju Park, is presented as a great-grandson of Park Gwang-ri, deputy magistrate of Gaeseong in late Goryeo, and a son of Park So. Born into the family living around Daejeon, he passed the jinsa examination but took no further examinations, teaching and reading in his home region. Gwon Ram, an in-law and a merit subject under Sejo, recommended him several times, but he is said to have refused out of opposition to Sejo's usurpation and withdrew to the countryside.
After losing his first wife he married Lady Seo at fifty-six and moved to his in-laws' Songjeong-ri in Gwangju, where late in life he had three sons: Park Jeong (at 57), Park Sang (64) and Park U (66). All three made their names and, likened to the Su father and sons of Song China, were called the "Three Parks of the East"; the family produced a Grand Academician and a Chief State Councillor. Because of his grandson Park Sun he was posthumously named Vice Minister of War and Left Chanseong.
His settling in Gwangju began the Honam (Jeonnam) line of the Chungju Park, and Gwangju, together with the Haengju Gi and Jangheung Go, came to be called the land of "Gi-Go-Bak." His dates, generation count and the timing of the move differ by source and need checking against the genealogy.
Park Ji-heung is said to have left the family's Daejeon base around the time of Danjong's deposition and Sejo's accession, moving to his in-laws' Songjeong-ri in Gwangju. That he kept reading and held back from office despite Gwon Ram's repeated recommendations is handed down as a family tradition.
The Chungju Park settlement in Gwangju became the start of a core family of the Honam literati.
His eldest son Park Jeong was regarded as a model among the Honam literati but died young, having taught his younger brothers Park Sang and Park U to greatness. Sang was a prose master who stood up to the old merit ministers, and U an incorruptible official who served as Inspector-General and Gangwon governor.
Records note that their circle produced one Grand Academician and three first-place passers.
Raised posthumously to Left Chanseong thanks to his grandson Park Sun, Park Ji-heung became known as Chanseong-gong and the founder of the branch. The branch lived across Gwangju and South Jeolla, and later figures presented in this line include Park Sang's grandson Park Hui-su and Park Yong-ju, born in Gwangju in 1871, who passed the civil examination in 1888.
The tomb location was not confirmed in this survey.