Early-Joseon Chief State Councillor, Prince Changnyeong; pen name Dokgok, posthumous title Mungyeong; founder of the Dokgok-gong branch
| Life | 1338 ~ 1423 |
| Era | 고려 말~조선 초 |
| Clan | 창녕 성씨 |
Seong Seok-rin (1338-1423) was an official of late Goryeo and early Joseon whose seat was Changnyeong; his courtesy name was Jasu (自修), pen name Dokgok (獨谷) and posthumous title Mungyeong (文景). He was the eldest son of Seong Yeo-wan, Prince Changnyeong, and a daughter of Na Cheon-bu. His younger brothers were Seok-yong and Seok-in. He married a daughter of An Won-sung of the Sunheung An clan and had two sons, Seong Ji-do and Seong Bal-do, and two daughters.
He passed the examination in 1357 (the sixth year of King Gongmin) and served as a section chief, but was demoted to governor of Haeju after Sin Don slandered him. After King U took the throne he joined the fight against Japanese pirates and was made a merit subject, though he was exiled to Haman over the Yang Baek-yeon case before returning. When a great famine struck while he was governor of Yanggwang Province, he set up relief granaries (uichang), and the method is said to have spread to other provinces. In 1389 he joined Yi Seong-gye in placing King Gongyang on the throne and was counted among the nine merit subjects.
After Joseon began he was named the first magistrate of Hanseong in 1395, served as right and left state councillor, and in 1415 (the fifteenth year of King Taejong) became Chief State Councillor and Prince Changnyeong. The Gukjo myeongsin-nok has a story that, as an old friend of Yi Seong-gye, he volunteered to go as an envoy to Hamhung to bring the retired Taejo back; it is best read as an anecdote handed down later. He excelled at poetry and at standard and cursive script, and died in 1423. Seong Sam-mun and Seong Dam-su came from his brother Seok-yong's line and Seong Hyeon from Seok-in's, so he is counted a central figure of the house together with his brothers.
The Dokgok-gong branch is also called the Mungyeong-gong branch after his posthumous title, and its members count him as generation one and use their own generation names from 22 to 32. The line after his sons Ji-do and Bal-do could not be confirmed here, so descendants should consult their clan genealogy.
His best-known achievement is setting up relief granaries during a famine as governor of Yanggwang Province. He was also skilled in both standard and cursive script, and his Dokgokjip survives. His ties with Yi Seong-gye led to his role among the founding-era merit subjects.
His tomb is in Goil-ri, Sinbuk-myeon, Pocheon, designated Pocheon Local Heritage No. 22 in 1986. His collected works Dokgokjip are Seoul Tangible Cultural Heritage No. 395.
His sons Seong Ji-do and Seong Bal-do are recorded, and his descendants form the Dokgok-gong (Mungyeong-gong) branch.