Early-Joseon general who placed first in Joseon's first military examination; governor of Pyongan Province, Minister of Works; noted calligrapher; courtesy name Hyobaek, posthumous title Yanghye
| Life | 1376 ~ 1444 |
| Era | 조선 전기 |
| Clan | 창녕 성씨 |
Seong Dal-saeng (1376-1444) was an early-Joseon military official whose seat was Changnyeong; his courtesy name was Hyobaek (孝伯, written 孝白 in some sources) and his posthumous title Yanghye (襄惠). The eldest son of Seong Seok-yong and grandson of Seong Yeo-wan, he was the father of Seong Seung and grandfather of the martyr Seong Sam-mun. He passed the licentiate examination in 1390 and entered office through his father's rank, serving as a najang, and was promoted to hogun in 1400.
He placed first in the first military examination of Joseon in 1402 and became daehogun, and in 1407 drove off Japanese pirates as commander of Heungdeok garrison. In 1410 he passed the military re-examination in second place and was promoted to head of the Office of Hospitality, and in 1415 as commander of Gyeongseong he worked to pacify the Jurchen. In 1417 he became governor of Jeolla Province, but in 1418, in the year of King Sejong's accession, he was dismissed after being rebuked for standing sword in hand beside the king as a guard commander. He was restored as commander in Hamgil Province, was implicated in the Gang Sang-in case and confined before a quick pardon, and in 1419 was appointed naval commander, then punished for landing without orders and exiled to Yeonsan before being released.
He nonetheless went to Ming China as envoy of thanks in 1420, served as governor of Pyongan Province in 1422 and as its military commander in 1425, and in 1427 became Minister of Works and went to China a second time. He later served as grand commander, commander in Hamgil Province, and rose to head of the Privy Council. The Encyclopedia of Korean Culture says he excelled not only in martial skill but in calligraphy. He died suddenly in 1444 while accompanying King Sejong to the springs at Choesu-ri in Chungcheong to treat the king's eye trouble. After his son and grandson were executed for the plot to restore King Danjong, his tomb is said to have been desecrated by the law of collective guilt.
Seong Dal-saeng was dismissed after a royal rebuke, confined after being implicated in a case, and exiled, and each time he was restored. Even so he rose to Minister of Works and head of the Privy Council late in life, showing King Sejong's trust. Reading his story with those of his son Seong Seung and grandson Seong Sam-mun shows the course of the house.
The exact location of his tomb could not be confirmed here. It is said to have been desecrated after his son and grandson were executed in Sejo's reign.
His son Seong Seung, grandsons Seong Sam-mun, Sam-bing, Sam-go and Sam-seong, and son-in-law Jo Sung-mun are recorded.