Documents of the Samujeong Branch of the Milseong Bak Clan

These documents, held by the Samujeong branch of the Milseong Bak clan, are various records issued to Bak Gyeong-sin (1539–1594), a military official of the Joseon period during the reign of King Seonjo, and to his two sons, Ji-nam and Cheol-nam. Bak Gyeong-sin passed the preliminary military examination in 1569, the second year of King Seonjo, at the age of thirty-one, and came first in the final palace examination at the age of thirty-five. He was subsequently appointed to posts including deputy garrison commander of Yanggeun, and during the Japanese invasion of 1592 he escorted King Seonjo in his flight from the capital; together with his two sons he also raised a righteous army (a civilian militia) in his hometown of Cheongdo and defended it. After the war he was honoured as a first-class Seonmu Wonjong-gongsin, a title granted to those who helped suppress the Japanese invasion, and a second-class Hoseong Wonjong-gongsin, a title granted to those who escorted the king to safety. His eldest son, Bak Ji-nam (1565–1626), joined his father's righteous army and fought in battles in Cheongdo and Miryang; after the war he was honoured as a second-class Seonmu Wonjong-gongsin. Bak Cheol-nam (1565–1611), Ji-nam's twin younger brother, fought alongside his father and brother, and the three together achieved many military successes; he too was honoured as a second-class Seonmu Wonjong-gongsin after the war. All three, father and sons, were later enshrined together at Imho Seowon, a Confucian academy. The collection includes one volume of the Roster of Seonmu Wonjong Meritorious Subjects (Seonmu Wonjong-gongsin nokgwon) issued to Bak Gyeong-sin, two royal edicts (gyoji) issued to Bak Gyeong-sin and his wife during the reign of King Sunjo, and thirteen certificates recognising merit-subject status (Seonmu Wonjong-gongsin nokhun injeungseo) issued to his sons Ji-nam and Cheol-nam. The detailed list comprises: eight extracts of the royal decree stating that all who had beheaded one or more Japanese soldiers were to be recorded as meritorious subjects, issued to Bak Gyeong-sin—two dated 1592, the twenty-fifth year of King Seonjo, and six dated 1593, the twenty-sixth year of King Seonjo; two further such extracts issued to Bak Ji-nam, both dated 1593; three more issued to Bak Cheol-nam, also dated 1593; the Roster of Seonmu Wonjong Meritorious Subjects, dated 1605, the thirty-eighth year of King Seonjo, one volume; a certificate posthumously promoting Bak Gyeong-sin—then holding the military rank of Jeolchung janggun and the post of deputy commissioner of the Border Defence Command (cheomji jungchubusa)—to the civil rank of Gaseon daebu and the posts of deputy minister of war (byeongjo champ an) and concurrent deputy commissioner of the Uigeumbu, dated the eighth month of 1816 (the twenty-first year of the Jiaqing reign), the sixteenth year of King Sunjo, one item; a companion certificate promoting his wife, Lady Ye, from the rank of Sukbuin to Jeongbuin, dated the same day in 1816, one item; and a deed of special bequest (byeolgeup mun-gi) written by Bak Gyeong-sin as a successful examination candidate and second son, dated the tenth day of the seventh month of 1579 (the seventh year of the Wanli reign), the twelfth year of King Seonjo, one item.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Suseong-gu, Daegu

Designation

Treasure · 보물