Gwon Je

Gwon Je(權踶, 1387 – 1445) was a civil official and scholar of the early Joseon period. His family seat was Andong (安東), his birth name was Do (蹈), his courtesy names were Jungui (仲義) and Jungan (仲安), his pen name was Jijae (止齋), and his posthumous name was Munkyeong (文景).¹

Life

He was born in 1387 as the son of Gwon Geun, also known as Yangchon. Early on, as the son of a founding meritorious subject, he entered office through the eumseo system, was assigned as Chief Secretary of the Gyeongseung Office (敬承府主簿), and after several transfers became an Inspector of the Board of Inspectors (司憲府 監察). He was later dismissed after his views clashed with the Grand Minister of the Board of Inspectors of the time. Afterward, he passed the royal examination (親試) for the civil service examination in first place and was appointed Right Remonstrance Officer of the Office of Remonstrance (司諫院右獻納).

He then served as Junior Secretary of the Ministry of War (兵曹正郎) and Responding Scholar of the Hall of Worthies (藝文館 應教), and was appointed Instructor of the Royal Academy (成均司藝). In 1418, when Taejong deposed Grand Prince Yangnyeong and appointed Sejong as crown prince, he was serving as a Secretary (舍人) of the State Council, and was then appointed Vice Minister of Ceremonies (典祀少尹) concurrently as Left Literary Attendant to the Crown Prince (世子左文學), in charge of tutoring the crown prince.

After Sejong's accession, in 1419 he was appointed Director of the Board of Inspectors. Later, when a special envoy was dispatched to the Ming dynasty to express gratitude, he served as Recording Secretary (書狀官) to Prince Gyeongnyeong Yi Bi and went to Beijing. After returning home, he was appointed Deputy Royal Secretary (同副代言) of the Royal Secretariat, then rose to Left Royal Secretary (左代言). He then resigned upon the death of his mother. After completing the three-year mourning period, he was appointed Vice Director of the Hall of Worthies (集賢殿 副提學), then was suddenly appointed Vice Minister of Rites (禮曹參判); in summer he was moved to Grand Minister of the Board of Inspectors, and in winter he went out as Governor of Hamgil Province (咸吉道 都觀察使), but was then sent out as magistrate of Jincheon (鎭川) due to an incident.

He later returned to office and became Governor of Pyeongan Province (平安道 都觀察使), but the following year he was dismissed due to illness. In 1430 he was appointed Magistrate of Gyeongchang (慶昌府尹), then was demoted to Baecheon (白川) due to an incident. In 1432 he became Governor of , but in autumn of the same year he resigned due to illness. In spring 1433 he was again appointed Minister of Rites, and in 1435 Minister of Personnel (吏曹判書). From then on he was in charge of literary affairs (文翰). In 1437, by royal command of Sejong, he took part in compiling the (高麗史) together with , , , and others, and then moved to Minister of Rites. In 1438, when a special envoy (計稟使) was dispatched to the Ming dynasty, he was appointed Deputy Envoy (副使) under ; he went to Beijing as Deputy Envoy, received the imperial edict and returned, and was granted land and servants, and then moved to Grand Academician of the Hall of Worthies (藝文館 大提學) and Commissioner of the Central Secretariat (中樞院 使).