Gwon Geun was a Korean Neo-Confucian scholar at the time of the change from the Goryeo dynasty to Joseon. He was a member of the Andong Gwon clan that was very influential in the Goryeo court. He was a student of Yi Saek, and passed the first level of civil service examinations at the age of fourteen. He later went to Yuan China, and during his six years stay there he passed the second and the third level examinations. After his return to Korea, he became associated with the loyalist faction, and was exiled in 1389 for his defense of the loyalist minister Yi Sungin. While in exile he got involved in the faction’s attempt to prevent the rise of Yi Seonggye, by alerting the Ming Dynasty. His was acquitted when a flood that stopped the trial was accepted as an omen. A year later he returned from his exile and retired to the village of Yangchon, on which he based his pen name. However, king Taejo convinced him to devote his talent for the new dynasty. At first, resentment from Jeong Dojeon's faction kept his role minimal, but Jeong Do-jeon and many of his colleagues were wiped out during the succession straggle of 1398. From that point until his death, Gwon Geun became the most important scholar in the government. During this time Gwon Geun directed the education system back toward literary accomplishments.
Importance
Gwon Geun lived and served during the dynastic change, and became eventually one of the architects of the Neo-Confucian ideology that provided both reasoning for the change, and ideological framework for the Joseon literati. He introduced Zhu Xi to the Korean audience, and his writings served as the basis for future scholars. Among his writing on Neo-Confucianism, the most influential is probably the Iphak toseol. He created this book for some students who came with questions in 1390 while he was in exile. He also wrote commentaries on the Book of Rites – A task entrusted by Yi Saek. He rearranged the text and added his own commentaries as well as those of Chinese contemporaries. The work began in 1391 but ended only in 1404. Unfortunately his commentaries on the other classics are lost now. Gwon Geun developed a theory of ritual and emphasized the role of ritual in social order. He rearranged the Classic of Music, taking the first part as the original and the second part as a commentary. Gwon Geun was a prolific writer, and he is also known for his contributions to several anti Buddhist texts, including his preface to Jeong Dojeon’s Pulssi chappyeon, as well as a contribution to the standardization of the sacrifices to pacify restless spirits.
Works
Iphak doseol - Diagrams and Explanations upon Entering Learning
Ogyeong cheongyeonnok - Superficial Reflections on the Five Classics
Saseo ogyeong gugyeol - Mnemonics for the Four Book and the Five Classics
Gwonhaksaui paljo - Eight Articles on Recommendations for Learning
Dongguk ssaryak - Concise History of the Eastern State
Daeganjik imsamok - Admonition to the Appointment of Officials
Yegi Cheon'gyeonnok - Comments on the Book of Rites
