Uiseong scholar who joined the volunteer army in the Imjin War and compiled Nanjung Sajeok; pen name Seongeun; posthumously made Left Royal Secretary
| Life | 1550 ~ 1614 |
| Era | 조선 중기 |
| Clan | 아주 신씨 |
Shin Heul (申仡, 1550-1614) was a mid-Joseon scholar of the Aju Shin clan, courtesy name Guji and pen name Seongeun. He was born on 9 September 1550 in the village in front of the Uiseong local school to Shin Won-rok (Shin Won-rok), a disciple of Yi Hwang, and a Byeokjin Yi mother. His grandfather was Shin Su.
When the Imjin War began in 1592 he took his mother to flee to Mt. Hwanghak, then helped his brother Shin Sim raise several hundred volunteers and met Kim Hae, Ryu Jong-gae, Jeong Se-a and others at a pavilion in Ilji county, joining the left and right wings of volunteers against the Japanese. In 1603 he compiled Nanjung Sajeok by royal order.
In 1608, as leader of the Gyeongsang-left students, he submitted with his cousin Shin Hong-do the 'Hoetoe Byeonmuso', and when Jeong In-hong sought to remove Yi Hwang and Yi Eon-jeok from the Confucian shrine he petitioned in 1611 to impeach Jeong. Though appointed professor at Andong he declined and lived in seclusion devoted to study, urging his children not to study for the examinations. He died on 27 June 1614 at 65 and was posthumously made Left Royal Secretary.
With his brother Shin Sim he gathered several hundred volunteers and joined other leaders at Ilji. After the war he compiled Nanjung Sajeok by royal order, leaving a record of the volunteer movement.
When Jeong In-hong urged removing Yi Hwang and others from the Confucian shrine, he led the rebuttal as a man from a disciple's family, representing the Gyeongsang-left Confucian community.
His mother, a daughter of Yi Ji-won of the Byeokjin Yi, died in 1593 and was titled Lady Sukbuin, and his wife of the Suncheon Park clan, a daughter of Bak Ryun, died two months before him, on 16 April. His three daughters married Kim Yu-yeop, Im Nae-jung and Bak Jong-gyeong. A descendant, Shin Don-sik, compiled his writings as Seongeun Seonsaeng Ilgo, and his father's filial conduct and scholarship are seen as passed on to the next generation.
He is said to be buried jointly with his wife, of the Suncheon Park clan, on a hillside facing west on Mt. Oto south of Uiseong.
His eldest son Shin Jeok-do served as a royal tomb attendant and was posthumously made councillor of personnel; the second son Shin Dal-do, a Hongmungwan fellow, was named a Yeongsa merit subject and posthumously made Chief Royal Secretary; the third son Shin Yeol-do served as a Censorate remonstrance officer and was enshrined with Dal-do at Dangu Academy. A descendant, Shin Don-sik (1848-1932), compiled his writings as Seongeun Seonsaeng Ilgo.