Yun Chu

Yun Chu (尹推, 1632 - 1707) was a scholar-official of the late Joseon period. His family seat was Paepyeong (坡平). His courtesy name was Jaseo (子恕) and his art name was Nongeun (農隱). He was the younger brother of Yun Jeung, leader of the Soron faction, and was related by marriage to Kwon Si, Song Si-yeol, and Yun Hyu. He was from South Chungcheong Province. He was a disciple of his father, Yun Seon-geo.

Life

He was born in Eupnae-ri, Hoedeok County, Chungcheong Province, and was the grandson of Palsong Yun Hwang, Grand Remonstrator, and the son of the scholar Michon Yun Seon-geo. His factional affiliation was the Westerners, and he was later the younger brother of Yun Jeung, leader of the Soron. From an early age he studied under his father Yun Seon-geo and cultivated his learning and virtue through family instruction.

However, at the age of 30 he fell ill and suffered for ten years, and in 1668 (9th year of Hyeonjong) he passed the mungwa examination but did not proceed to the palace examination. (The mungwa consisted of three examinations: the chosija, the boksi, and the jeonsi.)¹

In 1669 he suffered the death of his father and did not take office, completing the three-year mourning period. However, even after completing the mourning, he did not take up official posts, and he named himself Nongeun and intended to spend his life buried in the fields of his home village. Nevertheless, invitations to serve at court continued to come.

Thereafter, the court repeatedly conferred offices on him, but he did not accept them until, in 1681 (7th year of Sukjong), he first took up the post of Assistant Magistrate of Jangheunggo. Shortly afterward he took up the post of of , but after one year in office he gave up the post and returned home. Thereafter, after passing through various offices, in 1706 (32nd year of Sukjong) he attained the post of of the , but he declined by memorial and withdrew. He died in 1707, at the age of 75.