Yun So-jong

Yun So-jong (尹紹宗, 1345 – 1393) was a civil official, poet, military official, and politician in the late Goryeo and early Joseon periods. His family seat was Musong (茂松), his courtesy name was Heonsuk (憲叔), and his pen name was Dongjeong (桐亭). His grandfather was Yun Taek (尹澤), who served as Chansangsa in late Goryeo. From childhood he was intelligent and fond of learning, and before the age of 20 he was already skilled in poetry and prose, which won him notice from Yi Je-hyeon (李齊賢) as an unusual Confucian scholar.

Life

He was a disciple of Yi Saek (牧隱 李穡), Mogeun. He passed the Seonggyungsi examination in 1360 (9th year of King Gongmin). In 1365 he passed the Yebusi examination, placing first in the second grade, and because his policy essay was the best, he was appointed Chunchu Sujwan (春秋修撰). Later, while serving as Jwajeongeon, he submitted a memorial that sharply denounced the favored courtier Kim Heung-gyeong (金興慶) and the eunuch Kim Sa-haeng (金師幸) for bringing ruin to the country and harm to the people, but his aims were not achieved. In 1379 (5th year of King U) he served as Jeongyosiseung (典校寺丞), Jeonuiburyeong (典儀副令), Yemun Eungyo, and other posts. In 1381, during mourning for his mother in Geumju (錦州, Geumsan), many scholars from the southern regions came to study under him. In 1386 he was appointed Seonggyun Sayeo (成均司藝). In 1388, when Yi Seong-gye (李成桂) turned back from Wihwado, he went out beyond the East Gate to greet him and presented the Biography of Huo Guang (霍光傳). This was meant to hint that King U should be deposed and another member of the Wang line installed as king. Afterwards he became Jeollichongnang (典理摠郎) and was then promoted to Usauidaebu (右司議大夫). In 1389 (1st year of King Chang), he argued for the crimes of Yi In-im (李仁任) and requested that his coffin be cut apart and his house be dug up and flooded (斬棺瀦宅). He then became Daesaseong of Seonggyungwan. When Yi Seong-gye together with Jo Jun (趙浚) sought to abolish private land holdings (私田), he worked vigorously in cooperation with (三峯 鄭道傳). In the reign of , on the recommendation of Daesaheon , he became Jwasangsi and Gyeongyeon Gangdokgwan (左常侍經筵講讀官). He argued strongly that (邊安烈) should be executed for the crime of enthroning King U (迎立, the act of welcoming a candidate for the throne and installing him as king), and he petitioned to that effect. He also opposed and halted the king's plan to invite the monk Chan-yeong (粲英) as royal preceptor (wangsa). Later, because he slandered others, he incurred the displeasure of and was exiled to Geumju, but was soon released. He was again impeached by censors of the faction of (圃隱 鄭夢周) and exiled. In 1392 (4th year of ), after was assassinated, he was finally released from exile. When was founded, he was summoned as Byeongjo Jeonseo (兵曹典書), was also named a Wonjong meritorious subject (原從功臣), and served as Daejehak of Sumungwan (修文館 大提學). However, not long after, in 1393, he died of illness at the age of 49. He read widely in the classics and histories, and he was especially exact in Neo-Confucianism. His collected writings include the eight-volume (桐亭集).