Ryu Ja-sin

Ryu Ja-sin (柳自新, December 1541 – 7 February 1612) was a civil official and royal in-law of the mid-Joseon period. His family seat was Munhwa, and his courtesy name was Jiyeon (止彦). He was the son of Ryu Jam (柳潛), Minister of Public Works, and the father-in-law of Gwanghaegun. He was a disciple of Yi Dam (李湛).

Life

He studied under Yi Dam (李湛). In 1564 (the 19th year of King Myeongjong), he passed the Sumsi examination and became a Jinsa. In 1565, during the mourning period for Queen Munjeong Yun, he entered office as Taereung Chambong (Secretary of Taereung), taking the place of his father, who had resigned to observe three years of mourning.

At that time, his father Ryu Jam was serving as the head of the guard of the Taereung tomb. King Myeongjong issued a special decree saying: "If an official guarding a royal tomb is ill, let his son serve as tomb secretary to act in his father's place." He took office as Taereung Chambong while in mourning for his father, and after completing the three years of mourning, he passed through the posts of Taereung Chambong and Donryeongbu Jiksang, then was transferred to Jangwonseo Jangwon after serving as Naejasi Jubu. He was later sent out as Magistrate of Pyeonggang. After that, he returned to a central post and became Sagwa in 1571, Hojo Jwarang and Hyeongjo Jeongrang in 1572, and in the spring of 1575 he took up the post of Magistrate of Gimpo. However, the following year he suffered the death of his father, Ryu Jam, and observed the three years of mourning.

In 1579 he served as Jeongrang of the Board of Punishments, then took up the post of Magistrate of Gimje, but resigned soon after because his mother was over seventy years old. He afterward served as Pangwan of Hanseong Prefecture and Jangakwon Cheomjeong, among other posts. He then served as Cheomjeong of Jeyonggam, and was appointed Magistrate of Yanggeun, but was removed from the post in 1581. In 1582 he became Pangwan of Sangeuiwon, in 1583 Cheomjeong of Sajaegam, and in 1585 was transferred to Jangakwon Cheomjeong, concurrently serving as Naeseung. In March 1587 he sent his third daughter to become the wife of Prince Gwanghaegun. In the summer of 1587 he suffered the death of his mother and observed the three years of mourning.

In the autumn of 1589 he was appointed Pangwan of Gyeongjo. That winter, during the purge related to Jeong Yeo-rip (鄭汝立), he was sent out as Magistrate of Anak and arrested and rounded up accomplices and associates in Haeseo. Afterward he was specially promoted to Tongjeong Daebu and continued to serve as Magistrate of Anak, and later served as Magistrate (Moksa) of Gwangju, among other posts. During the Imjin War in 1592, he accompanied Gwanghaegun. After that he was promoted to Gaseon Daebu and passed through the post of Donnyeongbu Dongjisa before being appointed to the provincial post of Magistrate (Dohobusa) of Chuncheon. However, dissuaded him on the grounds that he should serve the Crown Prince, and he was again made Donnyeongbu Dongjisa. He soon escorted the king's royal carriage and went as far as Pyongyang. From Pyongyang he escorted the ancestral tablets (Myosaju) and followed Gwanghaegun's separate court (Bunjo) toward Gangwon Province, and in the autumn of that year he went to Seongcheon and was appointed Magistrate (Dohobusa) of Seongcheon.