Sang Jin (尙震, July 17, 1493 (5th day of 6th lunar month) – April 4, 1564 (23rd day of intercalary 2nd lunar month)) was a civil official of Joseon. His family seat was Mokcheon (木川). During the reign of Myeongjong of Joseon, he rose through the posts of Right State Minister and Left State Minister to become Chief State Minister, and for fourteen years he oversaw the state affairs of Joseon as its chief minister.1 His posthumous name was Seongan (成安). He was the maternal grandfather-in-law of Yi Je-sin.2
Life
His great-grandfather Sang Yeong-bu (尙英孚) served as a Probationary Guard (護軍). While living in Imcheon (林川) in Chungcheong Province, the family was prosperous, but he once burned his creditors' bonds and said, "My descendants will surely prosper." Afterward, through accumulated virtuous deeds, blessings came repeatedly: his grandfather Sang Hyo-chung (尙孝忠) served as Vice Commander of the Naval Forces (水軍虞侯), and his father Sang Bo (尙甫) served as Investigator of Angi-do (安奇道察訪). Sang Bo married the daughter of Kim Hwi (金徽), a Doctor (博士) and descendant of Kim Do (金濤), a prominent figure of the Yeonan (延安) family. After praying at Mount Seongju (聖住山), Sang Jin was born on the 5th day of the 6th lunar month of 1493 (24th year of King Seongjong).
Sang Jin lost his mother at age five and his father at age eight, and was raised by his eldest sister, Lady Seong Mong-jeong, wife of Seong Mong-jeong, Lord of Hasan (夏山君). By nature he was gentle, generous, and calm, and already behaved like an adult; no matter how painful the situation, his words and expression did not change.
In 1516 (11th year of King Jungjong) he passed the Saengwon examination (生員試). In 1519 he passed the special civil service examination and, in the third rank, became Examining Editor (檢閱) of the Office of Literary Affairs (藝文館). He then served as Secretary (奉敎) and Junior Secretary of the Ministry of Rites (禮曹佐郞), and was promoted to Junior Inspector (持平) of the Saheonbu (司憲府).
In 1528 he served as Senior Inspector (掌令) of the Saheonbu, and afterward held posts including Senior Inspector and Lecturer (校理) of the Hongmungwan. During this time he proposed measures to eliminate the greed of local officials and to promote rural development.
In 1534 (29th year of Jungjong) he became Grand Remonstrator of the Office of Remonstrance (司諫院大司諫). In the 6th month of 1535 (30th year of Jungjong) he was appointed Deputy Royal Secretary of the Right (同副承旨), and in 1536 (31st year of Jungjong) he was appointed Royal Secretary of the Left (左副承旨).
In 1537 (32nd year of Jungjong) he was reappointed Grand Remonstrator of the Office of Remonstrance; in the 10th month he was appointed Vice Minister of the Board of Punishments (刑曹參判), and by special command of Jungjong he was raised to Gaseon Daebu (嘉善大夫).
In the 7th month of 1538 (33rd year of Jungjong) he was sent out as Governor (觀察使) of Gyeonggi Province. In the 6th month of 1539 (34th year of Jungjong) he was promoted to Minister of the Board of Punishments (刑曹判書). In the 9th month he became Grand Inspector-General, and in the 10th month he was sent out as Governor of Pyeongan Province.
In 1541 (36th year of Jungjong), by special command of Jungjong, he skipped several ranks to become Magistrate of Hanseong (漢城府判尹).
In the 6th month of 1543 (38th year of Jungjong) he became Minister of the Board of Works, and in the 7th month he was appointed Minister of the Board of War, overseeing the national defense of Joseon.
In 1544 (39th year of Jungjong), after returning from a mission to the Ming dynasty as envoy for the emperor's birthday (聖節使), he was appointed Right State Councillor in the 2nd month, but in the 4th month he was transferred to Director of the Dongnyeong Office (知敦寧府事). In the 5th month he moved to Minister of the Board of Punishments, and in the 12th month, when Jungjong died, he took part as Commissioner of the Office of Historiography (春秋館知事) in compiling the Veritable Records of Jungjong (《中宗實錄》).
In the 1st month of 1545 (1st year of King Injong), after Injong's accession, he was demoted to Governor of Gyeongsang Province on the charge of colluding with Yun Won-ro (尹元老). In 1545 (accession year of Myeongjong) he was appointed Director of the Jungchubu Office (知中樞府事).
In 1546 (1st year of Myeongjong), when Myeongjong ascended the throne and Yi Gi and others seized real power, he became Right Assistant Councillor (右參贊) of the State Council (議政府) through the recommendation of Yi Gi and the support of Queen Munjeong. In the 2nd month he was recorded as a First-Class Wonjong meritorious subject (原從功臣). In the 9th month of the same year he was again appointed Minister of the Board of War, working to strengthen military administration; he especially emphasized the importance of horse administration (馬政) and worked to implement it.
In the 6th month of 1548 (3rd year of Myeongjong) he was appointed Director of the Office of Royal Justice (知義禁府事), and in the 7th month he became Right State Councillor with the rank of Sungjeong Daebu (崇政大夫).
In the 1st month of 1549 (4th year of Myeongjong), on the recommendation of Yi Gi and Yun Won-hyeong (尹元衡), he became Minister of the Board of Personnel (吏曹判書). In the 9th month he was raised to Right State Minister and, together with Yi Gi, Sim Yeon-won (沈連源) and others, managed state affairs. He took a moderate position on the establishment of the Two Buddhist Schools (兩宗) advocated by Queen Munjeong, and he implemented the Law of Complaints by Subjects (部民告訴法), examining the grievances of the people.
In the 8th month of 1551 (6th year of Myeongjong) he was promoted to Left State Minister.3 After becoming a minister, he formed a marriage alliance with Sim Tong-won and made ties with the royal in-law families (戚里). In 1557 (12th year of Myeongjong) he became Tutor to the Crown Prince (世子傅).
In 1558 (13th year of Myeongjong) he became Chief State Minister and for five years oversaw the state affairs of Joseon. While serving as Chief State Minister, a rebellion led by Im Kkeok-jeong (林巨正) broke out in Pyeongsan (平山), Hwanghae Province, and he suppressed it. Together with Left State Minister Yi Jun-gyeong (李浚慶), he also worked to bring Sarim scholars into office.
In the autumn of 1561 (16th year of Myeongjong), when he went to visit the ancestral graves in Imcheon (林川), the king ordered Sang Si-son (尙蓍孫), Sang Jin's grandson and Deputy Commander (副率), to ride a relay horse and escort him. The king also sent a court official (中使) to bestow a leopard skin (豹皮) and a royal rain cape (御蓑衣). Such honors had never before been given to the veteran officials (勳舊) of recent times. When Sang Jin submitted a letter of gratitude (箋), Myeongjong replied, "This is my way of honoring a great minister and valuing a man of old virtue."
In 1562 (17th year of Myeongjong), at the age of seventy, he asked to retire according to ritual, but this was not permitted, and he was granted a stool and cane (几杖). On the day of the banquet, Queen Munjeong, Queen Inseong (仁聖王后), Myeongjong, and Queen Insun (仁順王后) all sent wine and meat. When Sang Jin submitted a letter of thanks, Myeongjong replied: "As the saying goes, 'Seventy years of life are rare since ancient times,' I hold men of old virtue in high regard. It is not common in the world for a minister to serve for twelve years. How could I make a man of mature wisdom withdraw?"
In the 2nd month, 24th day of 1564 (19th year of Myeongjong), he died at the age of seventy-two as Chief Minister of the Central Office (領中樞府事). His posthumous name was Seongan. Upon hearing of his death, the king walked the streets and refrained from eating meat to express his grief. On the 19th day of the 5th month he was buried on a hill facing northeast (坤坐艮向) in Sangchō-ri (霜草里), east of Gwacheon (果川) in Gyeonggi Province. The tomb is located within Sangmun High School (尙文高等學校) in Seoul's Seocho District.
Evaluation
Sang Jin was by nature sincere and generous, with a calm and dignified bearing; his complexion was gentle, his temperament mild, his magnanimity great, and his judgment deep. Even among many people he did not act in an angular or contrary way, and when others offended him, he did not quarrel with them. His conduct was unhurried, and even in urgent situations he never spoke hastily or showed signs of confusion. Judging from his appearance, he seemed slow and dull, but inwardly he was strong and brave, yet he did not behave in an abrasive manner. In personal conduct he did not place great importance on fixed rules, but he always sought to correct his temperament and cultivate his virtue; he wrote a self-admonition on the wall, saying, "Rashness must be corrected with gravity, haste with leisureliness, narrowness with generosity, impatience with calmness, violence with gentleness, and coarseness with attentiveness."4
Family
- Grandfather: Vice Commander (虞侯) Sang Hyo-chung (尙孝忠)
- Father: Investigator (察訪) Sang Bo (尙甫)
- Maternal grandfather: Kim Hwi (金徽)
- Mother: Yeonan Kim clan
- Brother-in-law: Seong Mong-jeong (成夢井)
- Father-in-law: Deputy Guardian of Gaesan (介山副守) Yi Hyo-ji (李孝智), great-grandson of Grand Prince Hyoryeong5
- Mother-in-law: Changnyeong Seong clan, daughter of Seong Dam-nyeon (成聃年)5
- Wife: Lady Jeonju Yi clan of Jeongkyeong rank
- Eldest son: Sŏnmurang (宣務郞) Sang Bong-nam (尙鵬南)
- Daughter-in-law: Jeonju Yi clan, daughter of Military Governor (節度使) Yi Hyeong-sun (李亨順)
- Concubine: daughter of Kim Yun-jong (金胤宗), Training Commissioner (訓鍊都正)
Related Cultural Properties
- Tomb of Sang Jin (Seoul Tangible Cultural Property No. 60)
- Sang Jin's Spirit Path Stele: Spirit path stele of Sang Jin. Seoul Tangible Cultural Property No. 60. Overall height 362 cm, stele body height 220 cm, width 106 cm, thickness 36 cm. "Seongan" is the posthumous name of Sang Jin, a mid-Joseon minister; this stele was erected in 1566 (21st year of Myeongjong). It consists of a granite base of long stones and square supports, with a marble stele body placed on top, and a granite capstone placed above that. On the four sides of the base stone, flower patterns are carved within square frames. The inscription was written at the request of his grandson Sang Si-son by Hong Seom (洪暹), Left Assistant Councillor (左贊成); the calligraphy was written by Song In (宋寅), Lord of Yeocheong (礪城君), who excelled in the Songseol style; and the seal script heading "成安公神道碑銘" was written by Yi Je-sin (李濟臣), Examining Editor of the Office of Literary Affairs and Sang Jin's second son-in-law. The inscription records Sang Jin's career during the reigns of Jungjong, Injong, and Myeongjong, and his sincere and dignified character and conduct.
Footnotes