Shin Heum (申欽, 1566 – 1628) was a civil official of late Joseon. His courtesy name was Gyeongsuk (敬叔), his art names were Hyeonheon (玄軒), Sangchon (象村), Hyeonong (玄翁), and Bangong (放翁), his posthumous name was Munjeong (文貞), and his family seat was Pyeongsan.
Life
During the reign of King Seonjo he passed the civil service examination and served as Hakyu, Gamchal, Junior Secretary of the Ministry of War, Bonggyo, and Inspector of Yangjae Province, among other posts. During the Imjin War he followed Samdo Sunbyeonsa Shin Rip and took part in the Battle of Jowollyeong, but after Shin Rip was defeated he entered Ganghwa, and later became a secretary (jongsagwan) to Chechalsa Jeong Cheol. He then served as Chief Royal Secretary, Vice Minister of War, Vice Director of the Hall of Worthies, and Director of Sungkyunkwan, and for a time he was sent to the Ming dynasty. He served as Dongji Seonggyunggwan Sagwan and Grand Academician of the Yemun-gwan. In 1608 he passed through Magistrate of Hanseong, Minister of War, and Minister of Rites, then became Governor of Gyeonggi Province, followed by Jiuigeumbusa and Chief Censor; he was later promoted to Sungjeong Daebu and became Dongji Gyeongyeongsa. When Gwanghaegun ascended the throne, he served as Chief Censor and as envoy requesting the investiture of the crown prince. He was one of the seven ministers whom King Seonjo had charged with assisting Prince Yeongchang, and in 1608 (the year of Gwanghaegun's accession), immediately after the trial of Yu Yeong-gyeong, he was registered as a first-class Jeongun Wonjong meritorious subject (定運功臣一等). In 1613 he was exiled during the Gyechuk Incident.
On August 27, 1614 (the sixth year of Gwanghaegun), he was registered as a first-class Wiseong Wonjong meritorious subject (衛聖原從功臣).
After the Injo Restoration he was reappointed, and passed through Minister of Personnel and Grand Academician before serving as Right State Councillor (July 29, 1623 – September 24, 1626). During the Jeongmyo War he served as Left State Councillor (January 18 – September 4, 1627), and accompanied the crown prince to Jeonju in flight; after returning he became Chief State Councillor (September 4, 1627 – June 29, 1628). In 1628 (the sixth year of Injo), for his contribution to suppressing the rebellion of Yu Hyo-rip, he was registered as a first-class Yeongsa Wonjong meritorious subject (寧社原從功臣一等).harkping.top.com.go.kr
Posthumous
The Tomb and Stele of Shin Heum (《신흠 묘역 및 신도비》) is located in Yeongdong-ri, Toechon-myeon, Gwangju City, Gyeonggi Province. It is a joint grave with his wife, of the Jeonui Yi clan, and the tomb area is surrounded by low hills. In front of the mound are well-preserved stone monuments such as a grave marker, a sangseok (床石: a stone table set before the tomb for offerings during ancestral rites), and an incense burner stone. In front of the sangseok stand a jangmyeongdeung (長明燈: a stone lantern in front of a tomb), and on either side a mangjusuk (望柱石: stone pillars that let people know from afar that a tomb is there) and civil statues (munin-seok). The grave marker was erected in 1628 (the sixth year of Injo) and bears an epitaph that he wrote himself; at the southeast of the tomb area stands a sindobi (神道碑: a stele erected at a tomb to commemorate the lifelong achievements of a king or high official). On April 20, 1994 it was designated Monument No. 145 of Gyeonggi Province.
Family
- Paternal grandfather: Shin Yeong (申瑛)
- Father: Shin Seung-seo (申承緖, 1531 – 1572)
- Mother: Lady of the Eunjin Song clan (1532 – 1572), daughter of Song Gi-su
- Father-in-law: Yi Je-sin (李濟臣)
- Mother-in-law: Sang Deok-rok (尙德祿, 1538 – ?), daughter of Sang Pung-nam (尙鵬南), son of Sang Jin (尙震) of the Mokcheon Sang clan
- Wife: Lady of the Jeonui Yi clan
- Eldest son: Shin Ik-seong (申翊聖, 1588 – 1644)
- Daughter-in-law: Princess Jeongsuk – third daughter of King Seonjo
- Granddaughter: Shin Hye-sun (申惠順, 1604 – died young)
- Granddaughter: Shin Gyeong-gang (申敬康, 1606 – 1649)
- Grandson: Shin Myeon (申冕, 1607 – 1652)
- Grandson: Shin Byeon (申昪, 1610 – 1664)
- Grandson: Shin Gyeong (申炅, 1613 – 1664)
- Granddaughter: Shin Sun-gang (申順康, 1615 – ?)
- Granddaughter: Shin Ji-gang (申止康, 1617 – 1667), mother of Kim Seok-ju
- Grandson: Shin Choe (申最, 1619 – 1658)
- Grandson: Shin Hwi (申晑, 1623 – 1642)
- Second son: Shin Ik-jeon (申翊全, 1605 – 1660)
- Daughter-in-law: Jo Su-im (趙壽任), eldest daughter of Jo Chang-won and elder sister of Queen Jangnyeol
- Grandson: Shin Jeong (申晸)
- Granddaughter: Lady Shin, Lady of Yeongpung (永豐郡夫人 申氏), wife of Prince Sungseon, fifth son of King Injo
- Granddaughter: Wife of Yun Ji-bin
- Eldest daughter: Wife of Park Ho
- Second daughter: Married to Jo Gye-won (趙啓遠), uncle of Queen Jangnyeol, of the Yangju Jo clan
Evaluation
Together with Yi Jeong-gu, Jang Yu, and Yi Sik, the leading writers of his day, he is regarded as one of the four great writers of mid-Joseon, the "Four Great Masters of Wolsang-gyetaek" (月象谿澤), and as the founder of mid-Joseon Sino-Korean literature.
Works
- 《Sangchon-jip》 (象村集)
- 《Sanjung Doneon》 (山中獨言)
- 《Yaeon Gujeong-rok》 (野言求正錄)
Related Cultural Heritage
References
This article includes content based on the Global World Encyclopedia, distributed by Daum Communications (now Kakao) under the GFDL or CC-SA license.