Historic Site Related to Jeong Yak-yong, Gangjin

This is the place where Jeong Yak-yong (pen name Dasan, 1762-1836), a Silhak (Practical Learning) scholar of the late Joseon period, lived in exile for eleven years and wrote many books. Jeong Yak-yong held several pen names, including Yeoyudang, and his Catholic baptismal name was Johan (John). He enjoyed the special favour of King Jeongjo, and together with Yu Hyeong-won he designed Suwonseong Fortress, using new devices such as the geojunggi (a pulley-based hoisting device) to help build Suwon Hwaseong Fortress. When King Jeongjo died, he was slandered by court officials, imprisoned and exiled, and during the eighteen years of exile that followed he produced a great many writings. Jeong Yak-yong's thought can be said to connect directly to the archetype of Korean thought. During his eleven years here he left behind more than 500 volumes, including the Mongminsimseo, the Gyeongseyupyo and the Heumheumsinseo. The Yeoyudang jeonseo, which brought all of this together, set out directions for scholarship of benefit to the nation's future, ranging across philosophy, law, religion, music, medicine, astronomy, surveying and architecture. It is valued internationally as material for academic research. The original cottage had collapsed, and in 1958 the Dasan Heritage Preservation Society of Gangjin arranged for the present cottage to be rebuilt on the site where the original building had stood. It is a small, simple house facing south, with a wooden plaque reading "Dasan Chodang" hanging on it. On the rock of the hill behind the cottage are carved the characters "丁石" (Jeongseok), cut by Dasan himself, and to the left of the cottage there is a small pond. In the front yard stands "Cheongseok," a stone said to have been used for brewing tea, and to one side is a spring called Yakcheon (literally "medicine spring"), which together give a sense of Dasan's life in exile at the time. Note: the name was changed from Jeong Dasan Yujeok to Historic Site Related to Jeong Yak-yong, Gangjin (announced 28 July 2011).

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Gangjin, Jeonnam & Gwangju

Designation

Historic Site · 사적