Mun Ikchŏm


Mun Ikchŏm was a politician and Neo-Confucian scholar of the Goryeo period, who was primarily known for introducing cotton to Korea. His original given name was Ikch'ŏm, his courtesy name was Ilsin, and his art names were Saŭn and Samudang.

History

Mun Ikchŏm was born in Gangseong-hyeon, Jinju-mok, Gyeongsang Province in 1329. His father was Mun Suksŏn, who had passed the civil service examination but did not work for the government. Mun Ikchŏm started working for the government as a historical recorder in 1360. In 1363, he went to Yuan China as a delegation member from Goryeo dynasty. On the way back to Korea he stole cottonseed in his writing brush cap to bring it secretly into Korea. In 1364, he went back to his home town Jinju to spread the seed and successfully grew one of the seeds he had brought back and continued to grow the number of plants significantly. Within ten years, Korea was able to produce cotton and was able to distribute it to the citizens. He died on July 26, 1398.

Family

Works

Samudang silgi