**Sim Sa-son** (沈思遜, 25 December 1493 – 1528) was a [[civil official]] and [[military official]] of early [[Joseon]], whose other name was **Sim Sa-son** (沈士遜). He was the second son of [[Uijeongbu|Uijeongbu]] [[Chief State Councillor]] Sim Jeong, Hwacheon Buwon-gun, and the father of [[Sim Su-gyeong]], who served as Chief State Councillor. While serving as Chief Commander of [[Manpo]], he was attacked by a surprise raid of the [[Jurchens]] and killed. His family seat was [[Pungsan Sim clan|Pungsan]] (豊山), and his courtesy name was Yanggyeong (讓卿). After his death he was posthumously conferred several times and was given the posthumous title of [[State Councillor|Chief State Councillor]] of [[Uijeongbu]] [[Yeonguijeong]]. ## Life ### Family Sim Sa-son was the second son of Sim Jeong (沈貞), Chief State Councillor and Hwacheon Buwon-gun (花川府院君), during the reign of [[Jungjong of Joseon|Jungjong]]. He was the elder brother of Sim Sa-sun (沈思順), who served as Vice Director of the [[Hongmungwan]] during the reign of [[Jungjong of Joseon|Jungjong]], and the father of Sim Su-gyeong (沈守慶), an incorruptible official who served as Chief State Councillor during the reign of [[Seonjo of Joseon|Seonjo]]. From childhood he loved reading and writing, possessed a sincere character and broad magnanimity, and his talents excelled in many fields. Although he did not pursue scholarship in depth, he reached a profound level in it. ### Career In 1513 (8th year of [[Jungjong of Joseon|Jungjong]]) he passed the [[jinsa]] examination, and in 1517 (12th year of [[Jungjong of Joseon|Jungjong]]) he passed the special [[mungwa]] examination. He served as Provisional Jeongja at the Seungmunwon, Examiner (Hallim) of the Yemunwan, Bonggyo of the Yemunwan, historiographer (sagwan), Junior Secretary of the Ministry of Rites, Jeongeon of the [[Saganwon]], Assistant Reader of the [[Hongmungwan]] (Okdang), Reader of the Hongmungwan, Jipyeong of the [[Saheonbu]], Jeongnang of the Byeongjo, Lecturer of the [[Hongmungwan]], Vice Reply Lecturer of the Hongmungwan, Reply Lecturer of the Hongmungwan, and Jangnyeong of the [[Saheonbu]], among other posts. In 1523 (18th year of [[Jungjong of Joseon|Jungjong]]), as Lecturer of the Hongmungwan and secretary of the [[Biubyeonsa]], he took part in the campaign against the [[Jurchens]] of the Seobuk-myeon. In 1524 (19th year of [[Jungjong of Joseon|Jungjong]]) he served as Special Advisor to the Gyeongyeon, Sain of the [[Uijeongbu]], and others. In 1525 (20th year of [[Jungjong of Joseon|Jungjong]]) he returned from service as [[Royal Inspector|Secret Royal Inspector]] of Gyeongsang Uido. Afterwards he served as Jipyeong of the [[Saheonbu]], Jeonhan of the Hongmungwan concurrently Sigangwan of the Gyeongyeon, and Jikjehak of the Hongmungwan concurrently Sidokgwan of the Gyeongyeon. By special command of [[Jungjong of Joseon|Jungjong]], he was promoted to senior official of the 3rd rank and became Sangho-gun of the [[Chungmuwi]], and was then appointed Chief Commander of Manpo-jin (滿浦鎭 僉節制使) concurrently Jeolchung Janggun.[^1] However, in 1528 (23rd year of [[Jungjong of Joseon|Jungjong]]), he treated the Yain ([[Jurchens]]) of [[Hamgyong Province|Hamgyeong-do]] too lightly, and was struck down by a surprise attack of the Yain and slain. He was 35 years old at the time. ### Posthumous He was buried on the slope of Seogaehwasan (西開花山) in [[Yangcheon-hyeon]] (now 410 Banghwa 3-dong, [[Gangseo-gu, Seoul|Gangseo-gu]], [[Seoul]]), facing northwest-southeast (乾坐巽向), behind [[Samjeong Middle School]]. Later, the tombs of his father [[Sim Jeong]], his younger brother Sim Sa-sun, and his son [[Sim Su-gyeong]] were established around his grave. After his death, he was immediately posthumously conferred as Jaheondaebu, Minister of Rites, concurrently Jigyeongyeon Chunchugwan Seonggyungwan Sanggwan, Grand Secretary of the [[Hongmungwan]], and Grand Secretary of the [[Yemunwan]]. Later, when his father Sim Jeong was purged by [[Kim An-no]], his official rank was not stripped. Later, owing to the advancement of his son Sim Su-gyeong, he was posthumously promoted to Sungjeongdaebu, Left Assistant State Councillor of the [[Uijeongbu]], and then again was posthumously promoted to Daegwang Boguk Sungnokdaebu, Chief State Councillor of the [[Uijeongbu]]. ## Family Relations - Grandfather: [[Sim Eung]] (沈膺) – Jeokgae Meritorious Subject, Bongjoha Posthumous Chief State Councillor, Pungsan Buwon-gun (豊山府院君) - Grandmother: Posthumously [[Lady of Jeongkyeong]] [[Daegu Seo clan|Lady Seo of Daegu]] – daughter of Seo Munhan (徐文翰), Deputy Director of Gwangheungchang - Father: [[Sim Jeong (1471)|Sim Jeong]] (沈貞) – Jeonggukgongsin, Left State Councillor, Hwacheon Buwon-gun (花川府院君) - Mother: [[Lady of Jeongkyeong]] [[Hayang Heo clan|Lady Heo of Hayang]] – daughter of Heo Dang (許塘) - Younger brother: Sim Sa-sun (沈思順) – Vice Director of the Hongmungwan - Sister-in-law: [[Deoksu Yi clan|Lady Yi of Deoksu]] – daughter of Champ'an Yi Bin (李蘋) - Wife: Posthumously [[Lady of Jeongkyeong]] [[Jeonui Yi clan|Lady Yi of Jeonui]] (15 February 1493 – 1 April 1578) – daughter of Chamui Yi Yejang (李禮長) - Eldest son: [[Sim Su-gyeong]] (沈守慶) – Provincial Governor of the Eight Provinces, Left State Councillor, Geonui Daejang, incorruptible official - Daughter-in-law: [[Lady of Jeongkyeong]] Lady Shin – daughter of Shin Pa (申坡), Gunginsi Panggwan - Grandson: Sim Iljang (沈日將) – Chalbang - Great-grandson: Sim Gwan (沈關) – Hojo Jwarang - Great-great-grandson: Sim No (沈노) – Seungji - Fifth-generation descendant: Sim Gu (沈玖) – Sangeuwon Jeong - Grandson: Sim Ilchwi (沈日就) – Cheomji Jungchubusa, posthumously Vice Minister of Personnel - Daughter-in-law: concubine - Illegitimate grandson: Sim Ilmae (沈日邁) – Gwansanggam Jeong - Daughter-in-law: concubine - Illegitimate grandson: [[Sim Iljun]] (沈日遵) – Magistrate of Indong - Illegitimate grandson: [[Sim Ilun]] (沈日運) – Magistrate of Haemi - Second son: Sim Su-yak (沈守約) - Third son: Sim Su-jun (沈守準) - Daughter: [[Pungsan Sim clan]] - Son-in-law: Yi Uichung (李義忠) - Daughter: [[Pungsan Sim clan]] - Son-in-law: Yu Daeeop (柳大業) - Father-in-law: Yi Yejang (李禮長) - Maternal grandfather: Heo Dang (許塘) ## Evaluation He liked to consider matters with deep thought, surpassing the expectations of many people, and did not care for shallow misdeeds such as the trickery of "three in the morning, four in the evening." [^2] He is also said to have accomplished all affairs through diligence and caution, and to have had no hesitation at all. ## Miscellaneous When he reached the age of twenty, he was said to be tall and handsome, with distinct features.[^3] ## Footnotes [^1]: As a passed candidate of the mungwa, he was specially appointed to a military rank. [^2]: This is in contrast to his father Sim Jeong, who was known as a "bag of tricks." [^3]: Stele inscription for Sim Sa-son.