Jeong Yakyong was a scholar of Practical Learning (實學 Silhak) in the late Joseon period who left a vast amount of writing in almost all academic disciplines, including politics, economics, history, geography, literature, philosophy, medicine, education, military science, and natural science. He is not only known as a master of Silhak but also known as a representative poet and a composer of outstanding poems.
1. Life
Jeong Yakyong’s family origin is Naju (羅州) county of Jeolla province. His courtesy name is Miyong (美鏞) and his pen names are known as Dasan (茶山),·Saam (俟菴),·Yeoyudang (與猶堂),·Chaesan (菜山), Sammija (三眉子). His life is well illustrated in Professor Song Jaeso’s release of the Anthology of Dasan Poetry (茶山詩文集 Dasan Simunjip). The key points are as follows:
Period of Learning: Jeong was born in Gwangju (廣州) county in Gyeonggi province. He was born between his father, Jeong Jaewon (丁載遠, 1730-1792), and his mother, granddaughter of Yun Duseo (尹斗緖, 1668-1715, descendant of Yun Seondo (尹善道, 1587-1671). It is said that Jeong compiled Sammijajip (三眉子集 Collection of Sammija Works) which collected his poems before he turned 10, but it is nonexistent now. At the age of 16, after he read a collection of books written by Seongho (星湖) Yi Ik (李瀷, 1681-1764), he then became an admirer of him. At 28, he passed the civil service examination.
Period of Serving the Government: At the age of 31, Jeong wrote Gijungdoseol (起重圖說 Illustrated Explanations of the Crane) and saved expenses by using a pulley when constructing Suwon Castle (水原城). When he turned 33, as a royal secret inspector, he patrolled Yeoncheon (漣川) county, Gyeonggi province and revealed the illegality of Kim Yangjik (金養直, unknown birth and death date), former county magistrate of Yeoncheon. At the age of 34, he became a third minister of Ministry of Military Affairs (兵曹參議 Byeongjo Chamui) and a fifth secretary (右副承旨 Ubuseungji). However, due to his second brother, Jeong Yakjeon (丁若銓, 1758-1816) who was involved in the Ju Munmo (周文謨, chi. Zhou Wenmo, 1752-1801) incident, he was relegated to a less important post, defense inspector of a route of communication in Chungcheong province. At the age of 36, he was offered a position, fourth secretary (左副承旨 Jwabuseungji), but was sent to Gosan (谷山) county, Hwanghae province as a regional military commander because of vicious slander from the Noron (老論 patriarch’s faction) Byeokpa (辟派 party of principle). This experience became a motive for one of his work, Mongminsimseo (牧民心書 On Ruling the Hearts of the People). When he turned 38, he was promoted to a third minister of Ministry of Punishments (刑曹參議 Hyeongjo Chamui) and gained experience that later helped him write Heumheumsinseo (欽欽新書 New Treatise on the Legal System). After a series of petitions that associated him with Catholicism, he abandoned his office position at age 39 and returned to his hometown, Socheon (苕川) village in Gyeonggi province.
Period of Exile: In 1801 (at 40 years old), when the Catholic Persecution of 1801 broke out, many of the figures who belonged to the Namin (南人 Southerners) Sipa (時派, party of expediency) were sentenced to death. At this time, his third oldest brother Jeong Yakjong (丁若鍾, 1760-1801) died in prison, second oldest brother Jeong Yakjeon was exiled to Sinji Island (薪知島), and Jeong Yakyong himself was exiled to Janggi (長鬐), Gyeongsang province. But in the same year, when Hwang Sayeong (黃嗣永, 1775-1801)’s Silk Letter Incident occurred, his brother Yakjeon was exiled to Heuksan Island (黑山島) and Jeong himself to Gangjin (康津), Jella province. Jeong Yakyong wrote numerous writings while educating his disciples during his exile. At age 47, he moved to Dasan Chodang (茶山草堂 literally Thatched Cottage on a Tea Mountain).
Period of Release: He was released from exile at his age 57 and returned to his hometown, Majae (馬峴) village, Gyeonggi province, where he wrote Mongminsimseo and Heumheumsinseo.
2. Writing
In Jachan myojimyeong (自撰墓誌銘 Self-Written Epitaph), Jeong notes that he composed Yeoyudangjip (與猶堂集 Collection of Yeoyudang Works) with 232 chapters of annotation of the Confucian Classics (經集 gyeongjip) and 260 chapters of prose (文集 Works which contains poems and miscellaneous writings. The representative works of these are as follows.
Anthology of Poems (詩文集 Si munjip): The most remarkable in his collection of poems is Jeollon (田論 Discourse on Land). Dasan [Jeong Yakyong]’s primary focus was institutional reform on the land property system since the biggest social problem at that time was the deteriorated farmers’ lives. Massive reforms in which Dasan focused on was to free farmers from hunger. Also, in Tangnon (蕩論 Discourse of King Tang of Shang, China), Dasan states that since Son of Heaven (天子 cheonja) was neither descended from the sky nor raised from the earth, but made by the masses, Son of Heaven could be replaced by the public. His representative literary theory is the declaration of Joseon poetry: “I enjoy writing poems in Korean because I am a Joseon person.” When he creates a poem, he tends to use the Korean ancient history or sometimes make Korean native words in Chinese as a poetic word. Some of the examples he translated from Korean to Chinese were ‘bollit gogae (보릿고개)’ as ‘maengnyeong (麥嶺; boli means barley, pronounces maek[ng] in Chinese, gogae is hill, pronounces nyeong in Chinese0 and ‘nopsae baram (높새바람)’ as ‘gojopung (高鳥風).’
Letters also play a crucial role. Letters to his two sons from Gangjin, where he was exiled to, thoroughly reveal his philosophy of life, academic attitude, and literary opinion. In the letter to Chung Yakjeon, his brother who was exiled to Heuksan Island from Gangjin, Dasan reveals his close brotherhood. This letter asking questions about the doubts in the writing process gives a glimpse of Dasan’s core ideologies.
Abanggangyeokgo (我邦疆域考 An Examination of National Territory): This is a book of geomancy. By correcting the errors in the previous geography books and paying attention to the problems of the northern region, the book attempts to establish the legitimacy of the Joseon Dynasty.
Sanguijeoryo (喪儀節要 Essentials of Mourning Ceremony): This book of ritual ceremonies was written in 1815 and published in 1817. It summarizes ten chapters of Jeonseoksangnye (箋釋喪禮 Annotation of Funerary Rites). His views on the controversy on the ceremonial process, including denial of traditionally accepted geomancy or funeral times and places, are well illustrated in the book.
Gyeongseyupyo (經世遺表 Proposals for Good Government): The original title is Bangnyechobon (邦禮草本). While the book was initially written in 1817, it was never completed. It is also considered as one of the prestigious works, so called “One Proposal (表 pyo) and Two Books (書 seo) [Gyeongseyupyo, Mongminsimseo, and Heumheumsinseo]. It advocated that departments that play a substantial role in our society should be reformed. For instance, enhancing functions and powers of Six Ministries (六曹 yukjo), improving treatment on the middle class and sons of concubines, rebalancing the hierarchy of county and prefecture, implementation of well-field system (井田制), taxation on all sectors, and utilizing the battleship as a merchant ship are few examples.
Mongminsimseo (牧民心書): This book, published in the year 1818, is composed of 12 sections: buim (赴任 incoming replacement), yulgi (律己 control oneself), bonggong (奉公 focus on public service), aemin (愛民 apathy for people), ijeon (吏典 code of personnel), hojeon (戶典 code of taxation), yejeon (禮典, code of rituals), byeongjeon (兵典 code of military affairs), hyeongjeon (刑典 code of punishments), gongjeon (工典 code of public works), jinhwang (賑荒 save the people who are devastated by the natural disasters), and haegwan (解官 dismissal). He criticizes a corrupt government system with a perspective of ordinary people.
Heumheumsinseo (欽欽新書): This book of the law was completed in 1819 and published in 1822. It introduces judicial precedents as well as fundamental ideologies of justice. It shows the proficiency of the autopsy system in the late Joseon period.
Aeongakbi (雅言覺非 Correct Concepts for the Rectification of Errors): This is a classified reference book to identify the etymology and to explain the proper usage of the words to rectify everyday language. It was written in 1819.
Maessi[sang]seopyeong (梅氏[尙]書平 An Evaluation of Mei Tse’s Classic of Documents): This book of editorial review was written in the year 1834. Referring Kong Yingda (孔潁達, 574-648)’s Shang shu zheng yi (尙書正義), Cai Shen (蔡沈, 1167-1230)’s Shu ji zhuan Seo (書集傳), and Mao Qiling (毛奇齡, 1623-1716)’s Yuan ci (寃詞), he compares and contrasts Gu wen shang shu (古文尙書) and Jin wen shang shu (今文尙書) which are two different editions of the Book of Documents (書經 Shujing). Thus, he proves and reveals that Mei Ze (梅賾)’s Wei gu wen shang shu (僞古文尙書)』 is a lie.
Magwahoetong (麻科會通 Comprehensive Treatise on Smallpox): This medicine book was written in 1798. He referred to Yi Heongil (李獻吉, unknown birth and death date)’s Majingibang (麻疹奇方), Heo Jun (許浚, 1539-1615)’s Byeogyeoksinbang (辟疫神方 Prescriptions to Prevent Epidemics) and Yi Gyeonghwa (李景華, 1721-?)’s Gwangjebigeup (廣濟秘笈). He describes the symptoms and prescriptions for the epidemic, specifically smallpox.
Akseogojon (樂書孤存 Examination of Documents on Music): Published year for this book of music remains unknown. He consults various ancient papers to illustrate and correct errors in music and rhythm theories. He describes instruments such as pyeonjong (編鐘), pyeongyeong (編磬), geum (琴), seul (瑟), saeng (笙) and jeok (笛) in detail.
Jeong Yakyong was not only a great scholar of Silhak (Practical Learning School) but also a prominent poet who composed approximately 2,500 poems. Through his literary works, he reflects his worries on the Joseon Dynasty and attempts to correct various contradictions based on the factual status of Joseon. This is where he differentiates himself from other bureaucrats. He focuses on the reform, living his life as a government official and a poet. He says, “If the poem does not mourn over the times and does not despise the world, it’s not a poem. It’s not a poem unless it praises high virtue, satirizes bad behavior, encourages good, and punishes the evil. Thus, those who do not have a will to support the king to benefit the people and have corrupted ideas must not compose poems; you must work hard to become a poet.” The sentences are from his letter to his son, Dabyeona (寄淵兒 Answer to his son, Hakyeon). He actually practiced his literary consciousness through his works.
Doganggogabusa (道康瞽歌婦詞) is about what he learns and sees in Gangjin, a place he was exiled to. This work is a narrative Chinese traditional poem (敍事漢詩 seosa hansi) with 360 lines, which is longer than any typical poems. It is about the lives of the underprivileged in the Joseon Dynasty, especially an 18-year-old woman being sold to a blind elderly man after being coerced by her drunk father. It also stands out from any other Korean poem in the late Joseon dynasty due to its lively description of the pain and despair of a woman.
Jeong Yakyong’s work focuses on revealing the social contradictions and the suffering of the people in the late Joseon period. In addition, since he corrects the monarch and emphasizes the duty of the authority in his scholarly writings and poetry, his poems and sentences are acknowledged for incorporating political implications of the contemporary period beyond mere literary texts. His literary achievements are highlighted for his distinguished writings and future impacts.
Reference
Song, Jaeso, Hanguk Hanmunhak ui Sasangjeok Jipyeong (The Ideological Prospect of Korean Chinese Literature) (Dolbegae Korean Studies series 7), Dolbegae, 2005.
Song, Jaeso, Dasansi Yeongu (A Study of Dasan’s Poems), Changbi Publishers, 2014.
Silsihaksa, Dasan Jeong Yakyong Yeongu (A Study of Dasan Jeong Yakyong) (Silsihaksa Silhak Study series 2), Saram ui Munui, 2012.
Im, Hyeongtaek, ed., Dasanhakdan Munheonjipseong (Compilation of Dasanhakdan Literary), Daedong Institute for Korean Studies, Sungkyunkwan University, 2008.
Jeong, Ilgyun, Dasan Saseo Gyeonghak Yeongu (Studies on Dasan Jeong Yakyong’s Understanding of the Four Books), Iljisa, 2000.
Jeong, Min, Paran: Jeong Min ui Dasan Dokbon (The Waves: Reading Book of Dasan by Jeong Min) vol. 1-2, Cheonnyeon ui Sangsang, 2019.
Kim, Ho, “Yuhak i Oneul ui Munje e Dap eul Jul Su Itneunga? – Gonggongseong ui wigi wa Silhak: Dasan Jeong Yakyong ui “Minju (民主)” Gihoek (Can Study Abroad Answer Today’s Question? – Crisis of Publicness and Silhak: Dasan Jeong Yakyong’s “Democratic” Plan), Dasan gwa Hyeondae,” Dasan gwa Hyeondae (The Journal of Dasan and the Contemporary Times) 6, Dasan Silhak Research Institute, Yonsei University, 2013.
Park, Cheolsang, “Sinjaryo Seonamchongseo ui Balgul gwa Mongminsimseo Jeosul Gwajeong ui Geomto (A Review of the Excavation of the New Data Seonamchongseo and the Writing Process of Mongminsimseo),” Hanguk Hanmunhak Yeongu (A Study of Korean Classic Literature), The Society of Korean Literature in Chinese, 2012.
Sim, Gyeongho, “Dasan Jeong Yakyong Sanmun ui Jeosul Sigi Gochal (A Study on the Period of Writing of Jeong Yakyong’s Prose),” Dasanhak (A Study of Dasan) 23, Dasan Academic Cultural Foundation, 2013.
Im, Hyeongtaek, “Sidae ui Dap eul Dasan ege Muntda, Dasan Jeong Yakyong gwa Hanguk ui Sahoe/Inmun gwahak: Uri Sidae ui Gongbu wa Dasan (Ask Dasan for the Answer of the Times, Dasan Jeong Yakyong and Korea’s Social/Humanities Science: The Study of Our Times and Dasan),” Dasan gwa Hyeondae (The Journal of Dasan and the Contemporary Times) 4, 5, Dasan Silhak Research Institute, Yonsei University, 2012.
Jin, Jaegyo, “Joseonjo Hugi Jeongchi Jang eseo ui Gwonryeok hyangbae wa Hanmunhak – Dasan Jeong Yakyong ui Munahk eul Ilkneun hana ui Bangbeop (The Propensity of Power and Chinese Literature in the Political Field of the Late Joseon Dynasty),” Gojeon Munhak Yeongu (A Study of Classical Literature) 46, Korean Classical Literature Association, 2014.
