**Gwon Je**(權踶, 1387 – 1445) was a civil official and scholar of the early [[Joseon]] period. His family seat was [[Andong Gwon clan|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 [[Sejong|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|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 [[Gyeonggi Province]], 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 *[[Goryeosa]]* (高麗史) together with [[Kim Jong-seo (1383)|Kim Jong-seo]], [[Sin Suk-ju]], [[Jeong In-ji]], 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 [[Prince Hyeryeong|Prince Hyeryeong Yi Jeong]]; 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). In winter 1439, when his nephew Gwon Dam divided slaves among the daughter of his divorced former wife, he became an issue as a witness,[^2] and he was demoted to Magistrate (牧使) of Wonju (原州). Several months later he returned to a central post, and by Sejong's special order he continued to compile the *Goryeosa* in a散 (散秩) position. In spring 1440 he became Vice Commissioner of the Central Secretariat, then rose to Commissioner (院使) of the Central Secretariat. In 1443 he was appointed Left Councilor of the State Council concurrently as Acting Minister of Personnel (判吏曹事), and was promoted to Right State Councilor (右贊成). In March of that year he fell ill with swelling disease (瘇病), and the king ordered a physician to go to his home and supply medicine, and also sent royal physicians daily to visit him. When his illness became critical, he was specially granted an official post two ranks higher for his eldest son, Gwon Ji. After lying ill for a long time, he died in 1445 at the age of 59. Sejong suspended the markets for two days, and the government assisted with the funeral. His posthumous name was Munkyeong (文景): to hear widely and see much is *mun* (文), and to relieve through righteousness is *gyeong* (景). ## Works - *Jijaejip* (止齋集) - *Yeokdae Nyeonsega* (歷代年世歌) - *Yeongga Yeongoejip* (永嘉連魁集) ## Evaluation and Criticism According to the *Veritable Records*, he was intelligent and broadly learned, skilled at speaking and fond of discussing current affairs. However, he was fond of keeping company with courtesans, was infatuated with concubines and neglected his principal wife, and often quarreled with his wife, easily becoming angry over small matters; he even struck his son Gwon Nam, who tried to stop him, in a fit of anger.[^3] After divorcing his principal wife, his daughter and concubine died of serious illness not long after, yet he treated his wives and children very meanly, and his household was not upright, so people in the world disapproved of him. ## Family - Great-grandfather: Gwon Go (權皐) - Grandfather: Gwon Hui (權僖) - Father: [[Gwon Geun]] (權近) - Wife: [[Gyeongju Yi clan|Gyeongju Yi]] (慶州李氏), daughter of Yi Hyu (李携), Acting Magistrate of the Hanseong Court (檢校判漢城府事) - Son: Gwon Ji (權摯) - Son: [[Gwon Nam]] (權擥) - Son: Gwon Ban (權攀) - Son: Gwon Ma (權摩) - Son: Gwon Hyeol (權挈) - Son: Gwon Gyeong (權擎) - Illegitimate son: Gwon Chu (權揫) ## Notes [^1]: [Korean Biographical Database (한국역대인물 종합정보시스템)](http://people.aks.ac.kr/view.jsp?id=PPL_6JOa_A1387_1_0000933) [^2]: *Sejong Sillok*, year 21 (1439), 11th month, 22nd day, 3rd article [^3]: *Sejo Sillok*, vol. 35, year 11 (1465), 2nd month, 6th day, 2nd article