**Sim Jae** (沈梓, 1624–1693) was a civil official of late Joseon. His family seat was [[Cheongsong Sim clan|Cheongsong]], his courtesy name was Munsuk (文叔), and his pen name was Yangjolje (養拙齋). He was a leading figure of the hardline Namin faction (TakNam) and was close to [[Gwon Daewoon]] and [[Mok Naeseon]].

## Family background

He was the grandson of Sim Chang (沈昶), the adopted son of [[Sim Huisu]], Left State Councillor in the reigns of [[Seonjo of Joseon|King Seonjo]] and [[Gwanghaegun]], who was a Namin official. Sim Chang was the son of Sim Changsu (沈昌壽), the elder brother of Sim Huisu.

## Career

He passed the regular civil service examination in 1654 (5th year of [[Hyojong of Joseon|King Hyojong]]) and became a Jeongja. He was promoted to Yeomneyol in 1657, then Jeongeon, and became Jipyeong in 1660. After King Hyeonjong ascended the throne, he served as a low-ranking official in the Board, holding the posts of Jipyeong, Secretary of the Border Office, and Assistant Compiler. He then served successively as Jipyeong, Assistant Compiler, Compiler, and Lecturer, and again as Compiler, Lecturer, Assistant Lecturer, and Responding Lecturer. In 1667 he became Royal Secretary, rising to senior rank. He then served as Right Royal Secretary, and in 1668 he was sent out as Governor of Gyeonggi Province. In 1670 he returned to the court as Royal Secretary and served as [[Grand Remonstrator]].

He later served again as [[Grand Remonstrator]], Right Royal Secretary, and Left Royal Secretary, then became Right Royal Secretary and, after serving as Left Royal Secretary, Vice Minister of Revenue, and then [[Chief Royal Secretary]]. He concurrently served as Assistant Examiner in the Board of Rites while serving as [[Grand Remonstrator]], and was again sent out as Governor of Gyeonggi Province. When [[Sukjong of Joseon|King Sukjong]] ascended the throne and the Westerners lost power, he supported their downfall and served in various posts, including [[Chief Royal Secretary]], Vice Minister of Personnel, and [[Grand Remonstrator]]. He later served as Sub-Magistrate of the court, went to Qing China as an envoy, and continued as [[Grand Remonstrator]]. He was again sent out as Governor of Gyeonggi Province, but was dismissed in 1680 during the [[Gyeongsin Purge]]. However, the Western government, which recognized his ability, specially recruited him, and he became [[Chief Royal Secretary]], then served as Vice Mayor of [[Hanseong Prefecture|Hanseong]]. He again became [[Chief Royal Secretary]], [[Grand Remonstrator]], and Vice Minister of Rites, and also served as an examiner of the preliminary examinations, supervising the civil service examinations. He then served as [[Chief Royal Secretary]] and became [[Minister of Works]]. After the [[Gisa Purge]], he became [[Minister of Personnel]]. Later, as a close associate of [[Min Am]], he served as [[Left Assistant State Councillor]] and [[Minister of Justice|Grand Censor]], concurrently serving as Director of the Office of Astronomy, and as [[Chief Royal Commissioner]] while also serving as Director of the Royal Lecture Office. He then entered the [[Giroso]] (耆老所) as [[Chief State Councillor]] and died in 1693. However, in 1694, during the [[Gapsul Purge]], his official rank was revoked.[^1][^2][^3]

## Family tree

-   Sixth-generation paternal great-great-grandfather: Sim Sunmun (沈順文) (Jangnyeong of the Board of Censors, posthumously Chief State Councillor)
    -   Paternal grandfather's elder brother: [[Sim Yeonwon]] (Chief State Councillor, Lord Cheongcheon, meritorious subject enshrined in the royal ancestral shrine)
        -   Second cousin of great-great-grandfather: [[Sim Gang]] (maternal uncle of King Myeongjong, Lord Cheongneung, Chief Royal Secretary of the Royal Relatives' Office, posthumously Chief State Councillor)
            -   Third-cousin great-grand-aunt: [[Queen Insun]]
            -   Third-cousin great-grand-uncle by marriage: 13th King [[Myeongjong of Joseon|King Myeongjong]]
            -   Third-cousin grand-uncle: [[Sim Uigyeom]] (leader of the Westerners, Minister of War, Lord Cheongyang)
            -   Third-cousin grand-uncle: [[Sim Chunggyeom]] (Minister of War, Lord Cheongnim, posthumously Left Assistant Councillor)
    -   Paternal grandfather's elder brother: [[Sim Dalwon]] (Judge in the Seungmunwon, one of the Gimyo Famous Scholars, posthumously Minister of Personnel)
        -   Second cousin of great-great-grandfather: [[Sim Jeon]] (Governor of Gyeonggi Province, posthumously Chief State Councillor, Lord Cheopa)
            -   Third-cousin grand-uncle: [[Sim Useung]] (Vice Minister of Revenue, Governor of Gyeonggi Province, Meritorious Subject of the Hoseong Rank 2, posthumously Chief State Councillor, Lord Cheonggye)
    -   Great-grandfather: Sim Bongwon (Concurrent Royal Relatives' Office Vice Chief, posthumously Left Assistant Councillor)
        -   Great-grandfather's son: Sim Geon (Trainee Clerk in the Seungmunwon, posthumously Chief State Councillor)
            -   Grandfather: [[Sim Huisu]] (Grand Secretary, Left State Councillor)
                -   Adoptive grandfather: Sim Chang (son of Sim Changsu, Magistrate of Onyang, posthumously Minister of Personnel)
                    -   Father: Sim Yuhaeng (Chief of the Office of Censors, posthumously Left Assistant Councillor)
                    -   Mother: Posthumously honored [[Lady of the First Rank|Jeongkyeongbuin]] [[Andong Gwon clan|Andong Gwon]]
                        -   Self: Sim Jae (沈梓, Minister of Personnel, Chief Royal Commissioner, Chief State Councillor)
                        -   Wife: [[Lady of the First Rank|Jeongkyeongbuin]] [[Gwangju Yi clan|Gwangju Yi]], great-granddaughter of [[Yi Deokhyeong (1561)|Yi Deokhyeong]] (Hanum)
                            -   Son: Sim Choeryang (沈最良, Judge of the Court of Adjudication)
                            -   Daughter-in-law: [[Andong Gwon clan|Andong Gwon]], granddaughter of Gwon Daehang, Lord Dongchang and royal son-in-law of [[Seonjo of Joseon|King Seonjo]]
                            -   Son: Sim Jungyang (沈仲良, Governor of Hwanghae Province)
                            -   Daughter-in-law: [[Lady|Jeongbuin]] [[Jeonju Yi clan|Jeonju Yi]], daughter of [[Prince Bokchang|Prince Bokchang Yi Jeong]] (福昌君 李楨), granddaughter of [[Prince Inpyeong]] (younger brother of [[Hyojong of Joseon|King Hyojong]]), great-granddaughter of [[Injo of Joseon|King Injo]]
                            -   Son: Sim Gyeryang (沈季良, Royal Secretary)
                            -   Daughter-in-law: [[Naju Jeong clan|Naju Jeong]]
            -   Paternal uncle: Sim Changsu (Chief of the Military Equipment Office, posthumously Vice Minister of Personnel)
                -   Second cousin: Sim Uk (Vice Minister of War)
                -   Second cousin: Sim Don (Inspector of the Board of Censors)
                -   Second cousin: Sim Chang (adopted into the family of Sim Huisu, Magistrate of Onyang, posthumously Minister of Personnel)
                -   Second cousin: Sim Hwon (Magistrate of Heumgok)
    -   Paternal grandfather's elder brother: [[Sim Tongwon]] (Left State Councillor)
        -   Second cousin of great-great-grandfather: [[Sim Noe]] (Naval Commander of Cheongheung, Military Commander of Pyeongan Province, Commander of the Capital Police)

## Notes

[^1]: Hyojong sillok
[^2]: Hyeonjong sillok
[^3]: Sukjong sillok