Hong Gwi-dal Spirit-path Stele

A spirit-path stele records the lifetime achievements of a king or high official and is erected to the south-east of his tomb; this stele honours the scholar-official Hong Gwi-dal, who served during the reign of King Yeonsangun of Joseon. Hong Gwi-dal (1438-1504) passed the civil service examination at the age of twenty-three and entered government service. In 1467, the thirteenth year of King Sejo, he distinguished himself in suppressing the Yi Si-ae Rebellion and was promoted to jeongnang in the Ministry of Personnel, later becoming a compiler at the Chunchugwan, the Office of State Records, and taking part in compiling the Veritable Records of King Sejong. In 1481, the twelfth year of King Seongjong, after serving as an envoy to Ming China he rose to Minister of Taxation, but during the Muo Purge of 1498, the fourth year of King Yeonsangun, he remonstrated with the king over misgovernment and was demoted to a lower post. In 1504, the tenth year of King Yeonsangun, while being exiled to the Gyeongwon region he was strangled to death at Dancheon. After the Jungjong Restoration his honour was restored and he was posthumously appointed Minister of Personnel; in the reign of King Sukjong he was given the posthumous title Mungwang. The stele, housed within a stele pavilion, has its body set upon a base stone and capped with a headstone, the carving on every part finely worked. The inscription is now so worn as to be difficult to read, but fortunately its original text survives in the Burim Hongssi Sedeongnok, a genealogical record of the Burim Hong clan. The stele was erected in 1535, the thirtieth year of King Jungjong; the text was composed by Nam Gon, who had served as Chief Academician, and the calligraphy was done by Hong Gwi-dal's son, Hong Eon-guk.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Mungyeong, Gyeongbuk

Designation

Provincial Tangible Heritage · 시도유형문화유산