Choe Myeong-gil Spirit-path Stele, Cheongju

A sindobi (spirit-path stele) records the lifetime achievements of a king or high official and is erected before his tomb; this stele honours the accomplishments of Choe Myeong-gil (1586–1647), a civil official of the mid-Joseon period. Choe passed the munkwa civil service examination in the 38th year of King Seonjo (1605) and, after serving in the Seungmunwon (the office handling diplomatic documents), became a jeonjeok (a court clerical post) in the Yemungwan. When King Gwanghaegun confined the Queen Dowager Inmok and politics grew ever more difficult, Choe took part in the Injo Restoration that placed King Injo on the throne. During the Jeongmyo War of 1627 and the Byeongja War of 1636 against Qing, he pursued a pragmatic diplomatic policy in the face of the prevailing opinion of the time, which called for resisting Qing outright. After the Qing forces withdrew, he became Right State Councillor, consoled the king and set the disordered affairs of state in order, helping to stabilise the country at home and abroad; he later rose through Left State Councillor to Chief State Councillor. The stele was erected in the 28th year of King Sukjong (1702); its inscription was composed by Bak Se-dang and its calligraphy written by Choe Chang-dae, and in 1980 a stele pavilion was built to protect it.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Cheongju, Chungbuk

Designation

Provincial Tangible Heritage · 시도유형문화유산