Yu Sŏngnyong


Yu Sŏngnyong, also known as Ryu Sŏngnyong, 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

Yu was born in Hahoe Maeul, Andong, Gyeongsang Province, to a yangban family of the.
Yu 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 kwŏnji bujŏngja. He held various other positions and in 1569 he joined the imperial birthday mission to Ming as a Seojanggwan, returning to Korea the following year.

Career

Thereafter he held posts including Inspector of Classics and devoted himself to editing, being granted a royal sabbatical. Subsequently, he held posts including kyori and ŭnggyo. He was appointed chik chehak in 1575 and pujehak in 1576. Continually he held posts including tosŏngji, taesahŏn and taejehak.
In 1590, he was appointed Uŭijŏng, honored with the third rank of Kwanguk Kongsin, and appointed as Pungwŏn Buwŏngun. In 1591, he was promoted to Chwaŭijŏng and ijo p'ansŏ. However, the Easterners faction split into the Southerners and the Northerners. Yu Sŏngnyong was a Southerner.
He was in the rank of provincial to ch'ech'alsa when the Imjin War broke out. In 1592 he was appointed Yŏngŭijŏng, the Chief State Councillor. Yu Sŏngnyong accompanied the royal family from Hanseong to Uiju. In this capacity, he oversaw all military units and called leaders like Yi Sun-sin and Kwŏn Yul to battle. He also fought on the Korean-Chinese allied forces side in the Siege of Pyongyang. He suggested of establishment the Hunnyeon Dogam.
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 Hosŏng Kongsin, and appointed again as Pungwŏn Buwŏngun.

Family

Parents
Consorts and their issue:
  • Wife: Lady Yi of the Jeonju Yi clan
  • *Yu Wi, 1st son
  • *Yu Yŏ, 2nd son
  • *Yu Tan, 3rd son
  • *Yu Chin, 4th son
  • Wife: Lady Chang of the Indong Chang clan
  • *Yu Ch'o, 5th son
  • *Yu Ch'ŏm, 6th son

Later life and death

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

Legacy

Yu's major writings are preserved in the Sŏae chip, Jingbirok, and minor writings as Hwanghwa chip, Chŏngch'ungrok. Yu Sŏngnyong was enshrined in the Byeongsan Seowon and Hogye Seowon in Andong, North Gyeongsang Province.

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