Ryu Gyeong (柳璥, 1211–1289) was a civil official of late Goryeo. His courtesy name was Cheonnyeon (天年) or Jangji (藏之), and his posthumous name was Munjeong. His family seat was Munhwa (文化). In 1258 he ended the sixty-two years of the Choe family regime and restored royal authority to King Gojong. Yuju in Hwanghae Province was elevated by Gojong from Mu, Ryu Gyeong's family seat, to Munhwa County, and was renamed Munhwa-hyeon. He was a teacher of Neo-Confucianism scholars such as An Hyang.
Life
Period of military rule
During the reign of King Gojong (高宗), he passed the civil service examination under Im Gyeong-suk (任景肅). After being promoted several times, he served as Minister (尙書) and Grand Master of the National Academy (國子監大司成) during the rule of Choe Hang (崔沆).
At that time, Ryu Gyeong served for a long time in the Jeongbang (政房), and together with Yu Cheon-u (兪千遇) he received favors from Choe Hang, the son of Choe Woo.
When the Mongol army invaded, Choe Hang tried to relocate the residents of Samcheok (三陟) to mountain fortresses. However, the people of that county offered Ryu Gyeong thirty silver bottles (銀甁) as a bribe and asked him to stop the relocation.
Ryu Gyeong refused and did not accept them, so the bribe was passed on to Yu Cheon-u. Yu accepted it and asked Choe Hang on their behalf, and as a result the relocation was not carried out.
Ryu Gyeong then protested to Choe Hang, saying:
Choe Hang, believing that Yu Cheon-u had sold him out and accepted bribes, confiscated what had been taken as bribes and exiled him to an island at sea. Because of this, Yu Cheon-u became estranged from Ryu Gyeong.
After Choe Hang's death in 1257 (Gojong 44), Choe Ui (崔竩), who succeeded him, handled all affairs as he pleased.
During this time, famine struck year after year, and bodies of people who had starved to death lay scattered everywhere, but Choe Ui did not open the granaries to relieve the people.
Because of this, Choe Ui lost the people's trust entirely, and Ryu Gyeong then plotted with Kim Jun (金俊) and others to kill Choe Ui.
One day Kim Jun and the others visited Ryu Gyeong to discuss the matter. Ryu Gyeong did not dare to state it openly, and instead had a servant offer a bowl of apricots.
Kim Jun and the others bowed and said they understood his meaning. This was because the Chinese character for apricot (杏) sounds close to the character for fortunate (幸).
On the day Choe Ui was killed and power was returned to the royal house, the king said to Ryu Gyeong, "You have rendered tremendous service to me," and, praising Gojong, shed tears like rain.
In the same year he was appointed Right Vice Minister of Administration (右副承宣), and shortly afterward he was promoted to Director of Affairs (知奏事) and General of the Left and Right Guard (左右衛上將軍).
However, Ryu Gyeong feared that recent holders of the post of Director of Affairs had nearly all been powerful ministers, and that the favor and salary he received would exceed his station. He therefore declined strongly. As a Senior General (上將軍), he retained only the post of Right Vice Minister of Administration, and received the title Meritorious Subject of Sincere Support (推誠衛社功臣). He was also granted 200 seok of rice, 100 bolts of colored silk (彩段), a luxurious residence, and land.
Later, on the recommendation of the senior officials (宰樞), the king granted his son Ryu Seung (柳陞) a sixth-rank title, 100 gyeol of fields, and twelve male and twelve female slaves. He also raised the Gamu (監務) of Yuju (儒州) in Hwanghae Province, his home, in honor of the restoration of royal authority, changing its name from Mu to Munhwa, the family seat of Ryu Gyeong, and renamed it Munhwa-hyeonryeong (文化懸令). The name Munhwa thus derives from Gojong's renaming of the place to honor Ryu Gyeong's restoration of royal authority, which ended the military rule of the Choe family.
After executing Choe Ui, Ryu Gyeong recommended to King Gojong that the Jeongbang be placed beside the Pyeonjeon (便殿), where it would handle the appointment of officials and decide all important state affairs.
Kim Seung-jun (金承俊), the younger brother of Kim Jun, considered that although his merit was great he had been given a low office, and he harbored constant resentment. When Ryu Gyeong heard this, he said curtly to Kim Seung-jun:
Kim Seung-jun then resented him even more.
Whenever Kim Jun entered the palace, he always went to Ryu Gyeong's office to pay his respects, but Kim Seung-jun did not do so. When Ryu Gyeong met Kim Jun, he jokingly asked, "How is Lieutenant (郞將) Kim Seung-jun getting along?"
As Ryu Gyeong lived in his luxurious residence and his power grew day by day, his house became so crowded with visitors that people likened it to a marketplace.
Kim Seung-jun, Im Yeon (林衍), and other meritorious subjects grew jealous, and they slandered him to Kim Jun, having the matter subtly reported to the king.
The king then, in order to strip Ryu Gyeong of power, dismissed him from the post of Seungseon (承宣) and appointed him Co-Signer of the Privy Council (簽書樞密院事). He also imprisoned General Woo Deuk-gyu (禹得圭) and Yang Hwa (梁和), Jiyu (指諭) Kim Deuk-ryong (金得龍), and Lieutenant Gyeong Won-rok (慶元祿), all of whom were close to Ryu Gyeong.
Ryu Gyeong scolded Kim Jun, saying:
Kim Jun was ashamed and apologized, and Kim Seung-jun and Im Yeon withdrew without a word.
In the end, Woo Deuk-gyu, Yang Hwa, and Kim Deuk-ryong were executed, and Gyeong Won-rok was exiled to a distant island.
In 1262 (Wonjong 3), while serving as Privy Councilor (樞密院事), Wonjong had his portrait hung in the Hall of Meritorious Subjects (公臣閣). In the same year he was promoted to Senior Grand Protector (守司徒), Vice Chief of the Chancellery (知門下省事), and Crown Prince's Junior Tutor (太子少傅).
The following year, together with Chief Councilor Yi Jang-yong (李藏用), he recommended Kim Gu (金坵) as Vice Minister of Personnel (吏部侍郞), and the king appointed Kim Gu as Right Remonstrance Grand Master (右諫議大夫). In the same year he was promoted to Senior Grand Guardian (守太保), Participant in State Affairs (叅知政事), and Crown Prince's Senior Tutor (太子太保).
In 1267 (Wonjong 8), as Co-Compiler of National History (同修國史), together with Yi Jang-yong as Supervising Compiler, and Kim Gu and Heo Gong (許珙) as compilers, he compiled the veritable records of the three reigns of Sinjong (神宗), Huijong (熙宗), and Kangjong (康宗). He was subsequently promoted to Grand Secretary of the Chancellery (門下侍郞門下平章事).
The following year, Im Yeon killed Kim Jun and received the title Meritorious Subject of Defense of the State (衛社功臣). Ryu Gyeong was on close terms with Kim Gu, Grand Master of the National Academy (大司成), Ju Yeol (朱悅), Vice Minister of Rites (禮部侍郞), and General Kim Jeong (金珽), and met them often.
In 1269 (Wonjong 10), Ryu Gyeong said to Kim Gu and the others, "Lately I suffered the loss of my wife and was unable to attend to affairs for a long time. Now that I have heard of the meritorious subjects who guarded the state, and having met them, I find they are all petty men." In this way he criticized the meritorious subjects of the defense of the state.
He also spoke of past history and mentioned the harm done by the eunuchs of that time. The eunuch Kim Gyeong (金鏡), having heard these words, bore a grudge and reported them to the king.
The king then said:
He summoned Kim Gu and scolded him severely, saying:
He then exiled Ryu Gyeong to Heuksan Island (黑山島) and confiscated his property. At this time, Ryu Gyeong's only son, Haengsu (行首) Ryu Seung, as well as Kim Jeong and Ju Yeol, were also exiled to islands.
Shortly afterward Im Yeon had Ryu Gyeong released and brought back, but before he could reach Gaegyeong he was exiled again to another island.
In the following year, 1270 (Wonjong 11), when the Sambyeolcho (三別抄) rebelled, Ryu Gyeong was in Ganghwa (江華京). While returning by boat with his family to the former capital, he was captured by the enemy.
Ryu Gyeong placed his wife and children in a small boat and loaded his goods onto a large boat. He stayed with the enemy for a long time, and then, feigning seasickness as if from the heat, vomited and asked to be taken to the small boat to get some cool breeze.
When the enemy agreed, Ryu Gyeong cut the mooring rope and fled. The enemy pursued him but could not catch up.
When the king heard that Ryu Gyeong had been captured by the enemy, he worried that he might lead a rebellion. But when Ryu Gyeong came on his own and had an audience with the king, the king was greatly pleased, rewarded him generously, and reappointed him Chief Councilor of the Chancellery and Minister of War (判兵部事).
In the same year, Mokdong (木同), a Najang (螺匠), mistook a free commoner for a slave and sold him to the Darugachi (達魯花赤). The senior officials requested that his crime be punished, but the king did not permit it.
Ryu Gyeong, together with Yu Cheon-u, Chief Secretary of the Jeongdang Munhak (政堂文學), sent an official notice to the relevant office to free the man from slavery and return him to commoner status. The Darugachi, bearing a grudge, reported this to the king.
The king, angered that they had acted on their own authority, dismissed Ryu Gyeong and exiled Yu Cheon-u. In the following year, Yu Cheon-u's mother appealed to the Darugachi, saying that her son had committed the same offense as Ryu Gyeong, yet only her son had been exiled to an island, and asked that he be released. The Darugachi became angry and exiled Ryu Gyeong to Aedo (哀島), but soon recalled him.
Period of Mongol interference
In the second year of King Chungnyeol (1276), he was reinstated as Assistant Chief Councilor of the Chancellery (僉議侍郎贊成事), Director of National History (監修國史), and Supervisor of the Office of Military Records (判版圖司事).
A year before this, the government system had been changed. Won Bu (元傅), a junior of Ryu Gyeong, had been appointed Assistant Chief Councilor of the Chancellery, Supervisor of the Military Register Office (判軍簿司事), and Compiler of National History (修國史). When Ryu Gyeong returned to a ministerial position, his rank was lower than Won Bu's, so Won Bu, saying that he was in the same position as a disciple of Ryu Gyeong and could not sit above him, tried to resign his post.
However, Ryu Gyeong said, "That the Supervisor of the Military Register Office is the second minister and the Supervisor of the Office of Military Records is the third minister has a long tradition," and the two yielded to each other for a long time.
When King Chungnyeol asked Heo Gong (許珙), he said:
The king then handled it accordingly.
In the same year, someone anonymously sent a petition to the residence of the Darugachi, Seokmal Cheongu (石抹天衢), which read:
As a result, Princess Jeguk Daejang (齊國大長公主) imprisoned Jeonghwa Gungju (貞和宮主), and Seokmal Cheongu also imprisoned Wang Suk (王淑) and Kim Bang-gyeong (金方慶) and others, then summoned the chief ministers to interrogate them.
At that gathering, Seokmal Cheongu suddenly said, "Since spring is already near, you should each compose a 'Welcoming Spring Poem' (迎春詩)."
Kim Gu merely bowed his head, but Ryu Gyeong lamented, "With the queen and the chief minister both imprisoned, is this a time to chant poetry?" Seokmal Cheongu was ashamed and his face turned red.
When Seokmal Cheongu hinted to the princess that she should interrogate the prisoners herself, the princess was about to do so.
Ryu Gyeong then requested an audience with the princess together with the chief ministers, and advanced on his knees to appeal:
From the moment Ryu Gyeong began to speak, his whole face was wet with tears, and his manner was so earnest and sincere that everyone around him was moved to weeping.
Jeguk Daejang Princess, deeply moved, released all the prisoners except Jeonghwa Gungju.
The ministers discussed asking for her release together, but out of fear of the princess they all remained silent. Ryu Gyeong then stood up, went inside, and pleaded earnestly, and in the end the princess also released Jeonghwa Gungju.
The king then sent an inner attendant to convey his sincere gratitude to Ryu Gyeong.
Later, when Wi Deuk-yu (韋得儒) and No Jin-ui (盧進義) falsely accused Kim Bang-gyeong and others of plotting rebellion, the Mongol commander (元帥) Heunduk (忻都) reported this to the king and the princess and requested permission to torture Kim Bang-gyeong.
When the king was about to consent, Ryu Gyeong stepped forward.
Upon hearing these words, Heunduk could say nothing more.
In 1278 (Chungnyeol 4), he became Supervisor of the Office of Judicial Affairs (判典理司事). At that time the king was in Yuan China, so Jeguk Daejang Princess summoned the ministers and ordered them to choose an auspicious day to build palace structures.
When O Yun-bu (伍允孚) refused, saying, "If construction work is begun this year, it will not be beneficial to the king, so no auspicious day can be chosen," the princess became angry, stripped him of his office, and attempted to have him beaten with the cane. Ryu Gyeong intervened with persuasion.
Upon hearing these words, the princess remained silent for a long time, and then ordered that the construction be halted.
In the same year he submitted a petition requesting permission to resign. The king allowed him to retire with the titles Grand Master of Splendid Tranquility (匡靖大夫), Middle Chancellor of the Chancellery (僉議中贊), Grand Scholar of the Hall of Literary Cultivation (修文殿大學士), Director of National History, General of the Upper Army (上將軍), Supervisor of the Office of Judicial Affairs, and Tutor to the Crown Prince (世子師). Even after that, he was always summoned to royal banquets.
In 1282 (Chungnyeol 8), the monk Hong Tan (洪坦), harboring a personal grudge, accused Ryu Gyeong, General Han Hui-yu (韓希愈), General Yang Gong-jeok (梁公勣), and Lim Bi (林庇) of plotting rebellion. The king had all those involved imprisoned in the Sunmasso (巡馬所) and interrogated. Only Ryu Gyeong was not arrested, on account of his old age and illness. Hong Tan was exiled to an island for false accusation.
In 1289 (Chungnyeol 15), he died at the age of 79 and was given the posthumous name Munjeong (文正).1
Anecdotes
- Ryu Gyeong had been wealthy from the beginning, so when he moved, the carts and horses carrying his goods stretched on for ten days.
After he killed Choe Ui and gained great power, his wealth doubled from before, and people called him the greatest wealthy man of the Three Han (三韓).
Later, when the king exiled him to Heuksan Island and confiscated his property, the rare treasures, household goods, grain, and silk were beyond counting.
When Ryu Gyeong set out for exile without taking anything with him, a family member followed him with a set of clothes wrapped in a red silk cloth and handed it to him.
Ryu Gyeong took out only the clothes and returned the cloth, saying, "When the women of the household run short of clothing and provisions, sell this and use the money."
His son Ryu Seung went ahead to wait at Geumgang Temple (金剛院). When Ryu Gyeong came to say goodbye, he said, "The affection between father and son has not yet ended, so we will meet again," and, holding his son's hand, wept.
People said that Ryu Gyeong's downfall was brought on by his wealth.
- In 1260 (Wonjong 1), when Ryu Gyeong first presided over the civil service examination, his chief examiner (座主)2, Chief Secretary (平章事) Im Gyeong-suk, removed the red leather belt made of black water buffalo horn that he was wearing, gave it to him, and said, "If there is anyone among your disciples equal to you, pass it on to them."
Twenty-odd years later, in 1283 (Chungnyeol 9), when Ryu Gyeong's disciple Yi Jon-bi presided over the examination, he tried to pass the belt on to one of his own disciples. However, it had been lost during the Im Yeon rebellion, so he bought it again in the market, and it was said to be that very belt.
- In 1262 (Wonjong 3), Ryu Gyeong presided over the examination together with Yu Cheon-u. Yu trusted his own talent and did not listen to others. When comparing candidates' answers with model answers (程文)3, he tried to reject any paper with even a small flaw, but Ryu Gyeong did not argue with him.
As a result, it is said that when the successful candidates were announced, most of them were people who had grown old taking the examinations, and few of them later rose to high office.
Evaluation
The Goryeosa commented on Ryu Gyeong in his biography as follows:
Family
- Great-grandfather - Ryu Chong (柳寵): Gyeomgyo Sogbu Sogam (檢校少府少監)
- Grandfather - Ryu Gong-gwon (柳公權, 1132–1196): Chief Secretary of the Chancellery (政堂文學), Participant in State Affairs (叅知政事), Minister of Rites (判禮部事), posthumous name Mungan (文簡)
- Father - Ryu Taek (柳澤): Deputy Minister of the Right (右僕射), Chief Secretary of the Hanlim Academy (翰林學士承旨)
- Mother - of the Jeonju Yi clan, daughter of Yi Rin (李隣/李璘), Inner Attendant (內侍執奏)4, and maternal granddaughter of Mun Geuk-gyeom5
- Wife - daughter of Jang Se-ui (張世儀)4
- Son - Ryu Seung (柳陞, 1248–1298): Joint Chief Councilor of the Chancellery (都僉議參理), posthumous name Jeongsin (貞愼)
- Son-in-law - Min Hwon (閔萱, ? – 1310): Chief Councilor of the Chancellery (都僉議贊成事)4
Appearances in works
Notes