He started his studies
early, and in 1429
(the 11th year of
King Sejong’s rule:
age of 29), he passed
samasi (a type civil
servant examination
during Joseon Dynasty)
and became a student
of Taehakgwan in Seoul.
He sat for gwageo
(the civil servant
examination) several
times but failed to
pass.
Jeong’s goal was to
drive out Buddhism.
In July 1437 (the
19th year of King
Sejong’s rule), the
King ordered the building
of the sarijeon (the
sanctuary to keep
Buddha’s sarira) of
Hongcheonsa.
Hongcheonsa was a
temple in Hwagnhwabang
in the west of Seoul
(present-day Jeong-dong,
Seodaemun, Seoul).
The King and his wife,
Queen Seondeok, a
daughter of the Gang
family, tried to build
a shrine next to the
tomb, but stopped
due to the policy
that bans Buddhism.
However, the construction
of sarijeon was not
considered appropriate
timing, since the
people were suffering
from hunger and the
harvest was bad.
King Taejo began to
establish the foundations
of Confucianism, while
suppressing Buddhism,
which he believed
was the corrupted
religion, which lead
Goryeo to its ruins.
However, the Confucian
scholars opposed the
construction of sarijeon,
and the Taehakgwan
students, encouraged
by their leader, Jeong
Geukin, all decided
to leave the school.
The King was greatly
angered and wanted
to behead Jeong Geukin.
However, Prime Minister
Hwang Hui advised
the King not to follow
through with it, allowing
Jeong to narrowly
escape execution.
Instead, Jeong was
banished to the north.
When he returned from
exile, he went to
Taein, the home of
his parents-in-law,
and built a 3-kan
thatched house and
named it Bulwuheon,
which translated into
‘forget the world
and don’t worry’.
He named the water
that flows in front
of the house Pilsu,
and planted pine trees
and bamboo trees to
cultivate his mind
in nature. He also
became a teacher and
taught his sons, nephews,
and the youth of the
village, which became
the origin of
Taein Hyanghak. Later,
when Munjong became
the king, he received
an order from the
Royal Court and resumed
his career, which
was also a special
benefit.
In 1451 (the first
year of King Munjong’s
rule), he was recommended
as an excellent scholar
with a moral influence
that has not passed
gwageo and was given
a position by the
government. In 1463,
when he was 53 years
old, he took the advice
given by friends,
and sat for mungwa
(a type of gwageo)
and passed.
Thus, he served as
Seonggyungwan Jubu,
Saheonbu Gamchal,
and Yangjeongwan Jeonbubugyosu
successively, and
in August 1469, he
was appointed as Heonnam
of Saganweon. Soon
after, he was promoted
to the position of
Saganweon Jeongeon,
a move that was quite
unprecedented during
this time. (Jubu,
Gamchal, Jeonbubugyosu,
Heonnam, and Jeongeon
are all government
official titles)
He resigned and left
the capital in June.
At the time of his
departure, King Seongjon
decorated him with
Jwariweonjonggongsin,
and by the King’s
order, Ijobanseo (present-day
minister) Lee Seungseo
escorted him outside
Namdaemun.
One year later, he
returned to Taein.
The Royal Court asked
Bulwuheon for his
opinion on the policies
at hand. As a result,
he identified the
four policies listed
below.
1. Make a selection
among the jinsa
(those who have
passed jinsagwa,
a type of gwageo)
for the education
of the provinces.
The qualified candidates
should be those
who are 40 years
old or older and
have mastered the
Confucius scriptures.
2. Shut down Gangyeongdogam,
the Sutra publishing
organization, since
Buddhism continues
to flourish.
3. The transfer
of Governors in
provinces must be
fair.
4. Give men born
from concubines
of low birth the
same treatment as
their fathers.
Gangyeongdogam
was shut down right
away. On March 24
of the third year
of King Seongjong’s
rule, the king gave
a generous order.
‘I hear Jeong Geukin
is a man of integrity
and fidelity who
has had greed for
the world, and I
approve of his gatherings
of the youth in
the village as he
teaches and guides
them in their studies.
It is only his old
age that stops me
from having him
near and giving
him a position.
Therefore, give
him the position
of jongsampum, appoint
him as Jeolado Gwanchalsa
(governor), pay
all his living expenses,
and look after him.’
Bulwuheon was moved
by the benevolence
of the King. He
expressed his gratitude
as a song, which
has now become famous
and is called Bulwuheonga.
In order to give
thanks to the King’s
benevolence, he
sang Bulwuheongok,
expressing his wishes
for the King’s long
life.
When he resigned
from his government
official’s position,
he lived in Gohyeonnae
for 10 years. During
this time, he made
gohyeondongak to
foster juniors and
implemented gohyeonhyangyak.
He also wrote ‘Sangchungok’
a song about the
spring scenery of
Gohyeonnae, where
the mountains and
waters are beautiful.
As a result, he
has opened a new
door to Korean literature
by writing the poetic
sentiment into a
gayo in the Korean
language.
Bulwuheon passed
away on August 6
of that year. He
was 81 years old.
He was enshrined
at Museongseoweon
and his grave still
stands at Eunseok-dong,
Museong-ri, Chilbo-myeon,
and Jeongeup.
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Bulwuheon Jeong Geukin
