Ryu Sun (柳洵, 1441 – 1517) was a scholar-official of mid-Joseon. His courtesy name was Huimyeong (希明), his pen name was Nopo (老圃), and his ancestral seat was Munhwa (文化).
Life
From a young age he loved reading, and early on he wrote the Geumneungsa (金陵詞), whose meaning was solemn and sound and which was widely recited.1
In 1459 (5th year of King Sejo), he topped the Saengwonsi (general civil service examination for the lower degree). Then in 1462 (8th year of King Sejo), he passed the regular Mungwa civil service examination in the jeonggwa (丁科) division and entered the Office of Special Advisors (藝文館). In 1466 (12th year of King Sejo), he passed the Munkwa jungsi (重試) and the Balyeongsi (拔英試) examinations, each ranking third, and became Junior Secretary of the Board of Personnel (吏曹正郞).
In 1478 (9th year of King Seongjong), as Deputy Director of the Hall of Worthies (弘文館副提學), he passed through the post of Chief Royal Secretary and was active as a Lecturer (侍講官). He was especially skilled in poetry and prose, and he enjoyed the deep favor of Seongjong (成宗).
In 1484 (15th year of King Seongjong), after serving as Vice Minister of Public Works (工曹參判), he became Grand Censor-in-Chief (大司憲) and for a long time devoted himself to establishing discipline among officials. After serving as Governor of the Jungchubu (同知中樞府事), he became Vice Minister of Justice (刑曹參判).
In 1487 (18th year of King Seongjong), he went to Ming as envoy for the Cheonchu-sa (千秋使). After returning, he held in turn the posts of Governor of the Jungchubu, Vice Minister of Rites (禮曹參判), Vice Minister of Revenue (戶曹參判), Vice Minister of Justice, Vice Minister of Public Works, and Vice Minister of War (兵曹參判), and he was again appointed Grand Censor-in-Chief.
After that, he served as Governor of Gaeseong and Deputy Governor of Gaeseong (開城府留守), and then rose to Minister of Public Works (工曹判書).
In 1494, when Seongjong died, he served as Supervisor of the Royal Tomb Construction Office (山陵都監提調) and managed the work at the tomb. In 1495 (1st year of Yeonsan-gun), he was moved to Minister of Justice (刑曹判書), and he concurrently held the posts of Chief Academician (大提學), Supervisor of the Royal Tomb Construction Office, Vice Lecturer of the Gyeongyeon (同知經筵事), Chief Judge of the Board of Punishments (判義禁府事), and Concurrently Chief Editor of the Chunchugwan (知春秋館事).
Next, he concurrently served as Minister of Personnel (吏曹判書) and Chief Commander of the Army Command (都摠管), then passed through the posts of Right Assistant Councilor (右參贊), Left Assistant Councilor (左參贊), and Minister of Revenue. In 1498 (4th year of Yeonsan-gun), he became Governor of Hanseong (漢城府判尹), and in the same year he took part in compiling the Veritable Records of King Seongjong (成宗實錄).
The following year, he again became Minister of Justice. When a plan was made to punish the Jurchen who were raiding along the banks of the Yalu River, he actively argued with Sin Su-geun (愼守勤) that the time was not right, and the plan was halted.
After that, he served as Left Assistant Councilor (左參贊) and Minister of Revenue (戶曹判書). In 1502 (8th year of Yeonsan-gun), he was selected as one of ten men skilled in poetry and was praised as the "First Poet" (詩首相).
As the tyranny of Yeonsan-gun (燕山君) grew worse by the day, he wished to retire from office, but the court did not permit it. The following year, he passed through the posts of Right State Councilor (右議政) and Left State Councilor (左議政), and in 1505 (11th year of Yeonsan-gun), at the age of 65, he rose to Chief State Councilor (領議政).
The following year, Park Won-jong (朴元宗), Seong Hui-an (成希顔), Ryu Sun-jeong (柳順汀), and others carried out the Jungjong Restoration (中宗反正). As the chief minister, he was recorded as a Second-Rank Meritorious Subject of the Jeongguk (靖國功臣) and was enfeoffed as Lord Munseong (文城府院君).
In reality, however, he had hardly taken part in the restoration. For this reason he repeatedly requested to resign, but the court would not allow it.
Then in 1509 (4th year of Jungjong), he was impeached by censors who said he had been a close minister of the Yeonsan period. He again requested to resign, and at last he withdrew from office on his own.
In 1514 (9th year of Jungjong), he was again appointed Chief State Councilor and oversaw state affairs. Three years later, he died at the age of 77.
He was highly precise in the study of characters (字學) and also had knowledge of medicine and geography.
His posthumous name was Munhui (文僖).
Family
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Sources: genealogical records (boji/족보) such as the Munhwa Ryu Clan Genealogy (문화류씨가정보), Goryeosa, Goryeosa Jeoryo, and Veritable Records of the Joseon Dynasty, and other official histories.
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The founder of the Munhwa Ryu clan was Ryu Cha-dal (柳車達), Goryeo Tongham Samhan Iganbyeoksang Gongsin Daeseung (高麗 統合三韓翊贊壁上功臣 大丞); his descendants were Ryu Hyo-geum (柳孝金; Jwayun 左尹), Ryu Geum-hwan (柳金奐; Daejanggun Jungyun 大將軍中尹), Ryu No-il (柳盧一; Geommo Daejanggun Haengsanwon 檢校大將軍 行散員), Ryu Bo-chun (柳寶春; Geommo Sobu Sogam 檢校少府少監), Ryu Chong (柳寵; Geommo Sobu Sogam 檢校少府少監), and Ryu Gong-gwon (柳公權).
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10th-generation ancestor: Lord Mungan (文簡公), Jeongdang Munhak Chamjijeongsa Panshangseo Yebusa (政堂文學 參知政事 判尙書禮部事) Ryu Gong-gwon (1132–1196)
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9th-generation ancestor: Sangseo Upokya Hallim Haksa Seungji (尙書右僕射 翰林學士承旨) Ryu Taek (柳澤)
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8th-generation ancestor: Lord Munjeong (文正公), Chuseong Wisa Gongsin Gwangjeong Daebu Cheomui Jungchan Sumun Jeon Daehaksa Gamsu Gungsa Sangjanggun Pan Jeonriosa Sejasa (推誠衛社功臣 匡靖大夫 僉議中贊 修文殿大學士 監修國史 上將軍 判典理司事 世子師) Ryu Gyeong (柳璥; 1211–1289)
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7th-generation ancestor: Lord Jeongsin (貞愼公), Do Cheomui Chamni (都僉議參理) Ryu Seung (柳陞; 1248–1298); son-in-law of Hong Jin (洪縉; ?–1266) // brother-in-law of Hong Gyu (originally named Hong Mun-gye; maternal grandfather of King Chunghye and King Gongmin)
Genealogy of the Namyang Hong clan: in the 12th century, Hong Gwan (died during the Yi Jagyeom Rebellion), Hong Ji-yu, Hong Won-jung, Hong Sa-yun, Hong Jin (father-in-law of Ryu Seung), Hong Gyu, Queen Myeongdeok Hong (wife of King Chungsuk); Hong Yung, Hong Ju (father-in-law of Ryu Man-su), Hong Eon-bak.
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6th-generation ancestor: Lord Janggyeong (章景公), Gwangjeong Daebu Do Cheomui Chanseongsa Yemungwan Daeje Haksa Jichunchugwan Sanghogun Pan Pandosasa (匡靖大夫 都僉議贊成事 藝文館大提學 知春秋館事 上護軍 判版圖司事) Ryu Don (柳墩; 1274–1349)
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5th-generation ancestor: Miljiksa Jwabudaeon Pan Sabusa (密直司左副代言 判司僕寺事) Ryu Chong (柳總); son-in-law of Lord Munthan, Lord Yecheon (文坦公 醴泉府院君) Kwon Han-gong (權漢功; ?–1349)
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Great-grandfather: Ryu Man-su (柳萬壽; ?–1398), son of Ryu Chong; Gaeguk Wonjong Gongsin (朝鮮開國原從功臣) of the founding of Joseon, Munha Sirang Chanseongsa (門下侍郞贊成事), and Sangui Munha Busa (商議門下府事)
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Great-grandmother: Lady Yeongsuk Taekju (寧淑宅主) of the Namyang Hong clan, wife of Ryu Man-su; daughter of Hong Ju (洪澍; ?–1342, elder brother of Hong Eon-bak, who served as a chief minister during the reign of King Gongmin), Cheomui Sangui Samsa Usa Namyanggun (僉議商議 三司右使 南陽君) of Goryeo
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Grandfather: Ryu Won-ji (柳源之; ?–1398), Sangui Jungchuwonsa (商議中椎院事)
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Father: Ryu Jong (柳淙), Pan-gwan of the Hanseong Prefecture (漢城府 判官)
- Father: Semal Ryu Sa-gong (柳思恭)
- Mother: daughter of Hong Sang-jik (洪尙直)
- First wife: daughter of Jeong Yun-hui (丁胤禧)
- Son: Ryu Eung-ryong (柳應龍)
- Grandson: Ryu Gyeong-jang (柳敬長)
- Second wife: daughter of Hong Il-min (洪逸民)
Related works
Television drama
Notes