Hŏ Mok


Hŏ Mok was a Korean calligrapher, painter, philosopher, poet, and politician during the Joseon period, who came from the Yangcheon Hŏ clan. He was most commonly known by the art name Misu.
Heo was known as the best Korean calligrapher of his time due to his unique style of calligraphy. He became a governor at the age of 81, and was the first person in Korean history to hold such a high-ranking position without taking the civil service exam.

Biography

Early life

Hŏ Mok was born at Changseonbang, in Hanseong. His father, Hŏ Kyo, was a member of the lower bureaucracy, while his great-grandfather, Hŏ Cha, once served as the Vice Prime Minister of Joseon.
Hŏ Mok's maternal grandfather, Im Che, was a student of Sŏ Kyŏngdŏk. His father, Hŏ Kyo, was a student of Pak Chihwa. Sŏ Kyŏngdŏk and Pak Chihwa's more academic and ideologically-successful pupils were to join the political faction called Easterners at the Joseon Court. However, a schism divided court politics into two newly-formed factions: Southerners and Northerners, with the Easterners being assimilated into the Northerners. Hŏ's family were thus members of the Northerners faction.
Hŏ Mok's early years were spent as a disciple to Yi Sanhae and at Yi Wŏnik's distinct private scholarly institutions.
In 1613, he married Lady Yi of the Jeonju Yi clan, a granddaughter of Yi Wŏnik. The marriage was initially met with opposition from his wife's family, but Yi Wŏnik's support made it successful.

Early career

In 1615, Hŏ Mok and his cousin, Hŏ Hu, went to study at Chŏng Ku's private educational institute, where they remained until 1620.
In 1626, Hŏ Mok, as the head of management of the dormitory of educational institutions, imposed personal sanctions on scholar Pak Chigye, accusing him of joining King Injo's attempt to destroy the Li. As a result, he was banned from applying for Gwageo for a period of time.

Political movements

In 1651, he was commended for his philosophical learning skills, and appointed to the position of Naesi kyogwan, but a few years later, he resigned.
In 1656, after serving as Jojiseobyuljwa, and as Kongjo chwarang, he was appointed Yonggung hyŏn'gam, but resigned shortly after.
In 1657, he was reappointed to Kongjo chwarang, then appointed to Sahŏnbu changryŏng, and then to Saboksi Chubu.
In 1658, he was reappointed to Sahŏnbu changryŏng.
In 1659, King Hyojong appointed Hŏ Mok to Puhogun, and later that September, he became head of Changakwŏn. In December, he was appointed as leader of Sanguiwŏn.
During King Hyojong's funeral, he was in conflict with Song Si-yŏl and Song Chun-gil regarding the appropriate length of time for which Queen Jangryeol, the second wife of King Injo, should mourn her step-son, based on Confucian rules.

Yesong arguments

First Yesong argument

In May of 1659, an ideological dispute over how long the Queen Jangnyeol should wear her mourning clothes for the death of her stepson Hyojong of Joseon known as the "Kihae Yesong also known as the First of Yesong Ronjaeng. The dispute was sparked by a contradiction of ritual principles that can be applied because of the dubious nature of the position of Hyojong of Joseon,because despite him being born as the second son of Injo of Joseon, he can be considered the eldest son because of the rule that says "anyone who is the legitimate heir to the throne is treated as the eldest son".Regarding this matter two opposing political factions, the Southerners faction and the Westerners faction disagreed.
Song Si-yŏl and Song Chun-gil, two leaders of the Westerners faction, argued that the Queen should mourn for Hyojong for just a year, since he was only Injo's second son, and thus was not fit to be mourned for three years, which was the normal period of mourning for eldest sons. On the other hand, Hŏ Mok and Yun Hyu argued that Hyojong, as King Injo's successor, should be practically treated as if he was Injo's eldest son, and based on this interpretation, Queen Jaui should mourn for three years for her husband's son. While Song Si-yŏl asserted the status of Joseon Dynasty as "small China" to justify his arguments based on Chinese Neo-Confucian rule books, Hŏ Mok asserted the status of the Kingdom of Joseon as a "different country that is beyond the rule of China", thus different rules should be applied.
As a result of the dispute, Yŏngŭijŏng Chŏng T'aehwa decided to set the mourning period for Grand Royal Queen Dowager Jaui to one year, based on the rules of Kyŏngguk taejŏn and was the state official solution, but was considered a political win for Westerners faction.

Second Yesong argument

During that period, he wrote Kiŏn and Tongsa. The "Eastern History" was a Korean history book that considered the national ancestor as Dangun, which was against the general idea of the national ancestor being Kija.
In 1674, King Hyojong's wife, Queen Inseon, died. This revived the dispute over the length of the period Queen Jangnyeol,who was the mother in law of Queen Inseon, should wear mourning clothes for the death of Queen Inseon, and the dispute was known as the "Kapinyesong" or the "second Yesong argument". Song Si-yeol argued that Queen Inseon, as the wife of Injo's second son, should be mourned for 9 months. But Hŏ Mok and Yun Hyu maintained that Hyojong was the successor of King Injo, which practically made Queen Inseon the first daughter-in-law and required one year of mourning.
King Hyeonjong was unpleasant by "King Hyojong's Second" title and wanted a cabinet reshuffle, in order to give the power to the Southerners. This meant a victory for Hŏ Mok and Yun Hyu, but Hyeonjong died soon after.

Acquisition of power

Despite Hyeonjong's death, Hŏ Mok was still trusted. In November 1674, he was appointed to Ijo ch'amŭi and continuously served as Sahŏnbu Taesahŏn. In 1675 he was successively appointed for posts such as Ijo ch'ampan, Bibyŏngukdangsang, Chwach'amch'an, Ijo p'ansŏ and U ch'amch'an. In 1676, Hŏ Mok was promoted to Right State Councillor of Joseon.
In 1679, Hŏ Kyŏn, a party member and Chief State Councillor Hŏ Chuk's illegitimate son, abused his power and Hŏ Mok attacked Hŏ Chuk for it, but King Sukjong and the Southerners took Hŏ Kyŏn's side.

Death

On June 2, 1682, he died in Gyeonggi Province, at the age of 86.
The Westerners continued to attack Hŏ Mok and Yun Hyu, calling them Samunanjŏk.
In 1689, he was rehabilitated. In 1692, he was posthumously conferred the honours of a Chief State Councillor. Hŏ Mok was also awarded the posthumous title Munjŏng.

Books

  • Kyŏngnye Yuch'an
  • Tongsa
  • Ch'ŏngsa Yŏljŏn
  • Kyŏngsŏl
  • Misu Ch'ŏnjamun
  • Tangun Sega
  • Misu Kiŏn
  • Sim Hakdo
  • Pangguk Wangjorye
  • Chŏngch'e chŏnjungsŏl
  • Yosun Ujŏn Susimbŏpdo
  • Hŏ Mok Sugobon
  • Dut'a Sangi

Family

  • Father: Hŏ Kyo
  • Mother: Lady Im of the Naju Im clan
  • Siblings
  • * Younger brother: Hŏ Ŭi
  • * Younger brother: Hŏ Sŏ
  • * Younger sister: Lady Hŏ of the Yangcheon Hŏ clan
  • Wife and issue
  • * Lady Yi of the Jeonju Yi clan
  • ** Son: Hŏ Hwŏn
  • ** Son: Hŏ Ham
  • ** Son: Hŏ To
  • ** Daughter: Lady Hŏ of the Yangcheon Hŏ clan
  • ** Daughter: Lady Hŏ of the Yangcheon Hŏ clan