Ryu Seong-ryong explained

Ryu Seong-ryong
Term Start:4 December 1592
Term End:6 November 1598
Predecessor:Choe Heung-won
Successor:Yi Won-ik
Term Start1:10 June 1592
Term End1:9 July 1592
Predecessor1:Yi San-hae
Successor1:Choe Heung-won
Term Start2:24 February 1591
Term End2:10 June 1592
Predecessor2:Jeong Cheol
Successor2:Yi Yang-won
Term Start3:4 April 1590
Term End3:24 February 1591
Predecessor3:Sim Su-gyeong
Successor3:Yi Yang-won
Birth Date:7 November 1542
Birth Place:Gyeongsang Province, Korea
Death Place:Andong, Korea
Occupation:Scholar-official
Module:
Child:yes
Hangul:류성룡
Hanja:柳成龍
Rr:Ryu Seong-ryong
Mr:Ryu Sŏngryong
Hangulja:이현
Hanjaja:而見
Rrja:Ihyeon
Mrja:Ihyŏn
Hangulho:서애
Hanjaho:西厓
Rrho:Seoae
Mrho:Sŏae
Hangulph:문충
Hanjaph:文忠
Rrph:Munchung
Mrph:Munch'ung

Ryu Seong-ryong (; November 1542 – May 1607), was a scholar-official of the Joseon period of Korea. He held many responsibilities, including the Chief State Councillor position in 1592. He was a member of the "Eastern faction" and a follower of Yi Hwang.

Early life and education

Ryu was born in Hahoe Maeul, Andong, Gyeongsang province (today a UNESCO World Heritage Site), to a yangban family of the P'ungsan Ryu clan.

Ryu is said to have been so precocious that he absorbed the teachings of Confucius and Mencius at the age of 8. In 1564 the 19th year of Myeongjong, he passed the Samasi examination, and in 1566 he passed the Mun-gwa at a special examination, and then took the post of Gwonji bujeongja .[1] He held various other positions and in 1569 he joined the imperial birthday mission to Ming as a Seojanggwan (서장관, 書狀官, the third of the mission), returning to Korea the following year.[1]

Career

Thereafter he held posts including Inspector of Classics and devoted himself to editing, being granted a royal sabbatical .[1] Subsequently, he held posts including Gyori (교리, ranked 5a) and Eunggyo (응교, 應敎, ranked 4a). He was appointed Jikjehak in 1575 and Bujehak in 1576.[1] Continually he held posts including Doseongji (都承旨), Daesaheon and Daejehak .[1]

In 1590, he was appointed Uuijeong (Third State Councillor), honored with the third rank of Gwanguk Gongsin, and appointed as Pungwon Buwongun .[1] In 1591, he was promoted to Jwauijeong (Second State Councillor) and Ijo Panseo (이조판서, Minister of Personnel, the first ranked of the six Ministries). However, the Easterners faction split into the Southerners and the Northerners. Ryu Seong-ryong was a Southerner (claiming exile, instead of death, for Jeong Cheol, the leader of the Westerners rival faction). He was in the rank of provincial Dochechalsa when the Imjin War broke out. In 1592 he was appointed Yeonguijeong, the Chief State Councillor.[1] Ryu Seongryong accompanied the royal family from Hanseong to Uiju.[1] In this capacity, he oversaw all military units and called leaders like Yi Sun-sin and Gwon Yul to battle. He also fought on the Korean-Chinese allied forces side in the Siege of Pyongyang.[1] He suggested of establishment the Hunnyeon Dogam (훈련도감, 訓鍊都監, Military Training Agency).[1]

In 1598, he was ousted by the Northerners faction. But King Seonjo rehabilitated him. However, he refused to take office as a minister in 1600. Nevertheless, in 1602, he was honored with the second rank of Hoseong Gongsin, and appointed again as Pungwon Buwongun.[1]

Later life and death

After which he spent his time on political writing until his death in 1607.[1]

Legacy

Ryu's major writings are preserved in the Seoaejip (The Anthology of Seoae, 서애집, 西厓集), Jingbirok (The Book of Corrections, 징비록, 懲毖錄), and minor writings as Hwanghwajip, Jeongchungrok .[1] Ryu Seong-ryong was enshrined in the Byeongsan Seowon and Hogye Seowon in Andong, North Gyeongsang.[1]

Popular culture

See also

Notes and References

  1. 유성룡 Naver Encyclopedia