성수침 成守琛
Neo-Confucian scholar and calligrapher, disciple of Jo Gwang-jo who gave up office and taught in Paju; father of Seong Hon; pen name Cheongsong, posthumous title Munjeong
| Life | 1493 ~ 1564 |
| Era | 조선 전기 |
| Clan | 창녕 성씨 |
Life & career
Seong Su-chim (1493-1564) was an early-Joseon Neo-Confucian scholar whose seat was Changnyeong; his courtesy name was Jungok (仲玉), pen names Cheongsong (聽松), Jugudang, Pasan Cheongeun and Uigye Hanmin, and posthumous title Munjeong (文貞). The son of Seong Se-sun, inspector-general, and a daughter of Gim Geuk-ni, he was the grandson of Seong Chung-dal. He studied under Jo Gwang-jo with his younger brother Seong Su-jong; his wife was of the Papyeong Yun clan and his son was Seong Hon.
In 1519 he was recommended in the Hyeollyang examination, but the Literati Purge broke out at once, and seeing his teacher Jo Gwang-jo and his disciples executed or exiled he gave up any thought of office. He built the Cheongsong study at the foot of Mount Baegak, read the Great Learning and the Analects and devoted himself to teaching, and after declining the post of keeper of Hureung in 1541 he cared for his mother at Uigye in Paju, where his wife's family lived. In 1552 he was appointed to posts such as chief of the Office of Inner Supply and magistrate of Yesan, Tosan and Jeokseong, but declined all, and in 1564 he declined a court post again, citing his age.
Learning that he was too poor to pay for a funeral, the Office of Remonstrances petitioned and the state sent a coffin and rice; he was posthumously made an inspector of the Office of the Inspector-General and later Left State Councillor. He is honored at Pasan Seowon in Paju and the Sedeoksa shrine at Mulgye in Changnyeong, and left Cheongsongjip. His calligraphy survives, and the Letters of Seong Su-chim is Korean Treasure No. 1623. Besides his son Seong Hon, disciples such as Jeong Hui-maeng, Gim Haeng and Choe An came from his school, and he was a friend of Song Sun of Myeonangjeong. The line of learning from Jo Gwang-jo through Seong Su-chim to Seong Hon is regarded as one stream of the later Westerner school.
His handwriting and the Cheongsongseo album are on Wikimedia Commons, so the calligraphy can be seen directly. His son Seong Hon's script was also judged gentle yet strong, following his father's, which shows that calligraphy was handed down in this family along with learning.
From Jo Gwang-jo to Seong Hon
Seong Su-chim was a disciple of Jo Gwang-jo and gave up office after the Literati Purge; his learning passed to his son Seong Hon and his students. Besides his father, Seong Hon studied under Baek In-geol and debated the Four Beginnings and Seven Emotions with Yi I.
Grave
The location of his tomb could not be confirmed here. He is honored at Pasan Seowon in Paju and the Sedeoksa of Mulgye Seowon in Changnyeong.
Descendants
His son Seong Hon and grandsons Seong Mun-yeong and Seong Mun-jun are recorded; a granddaughter married Yun Hwang.