Nanjae Chae Su Spirit-path Stele

A spirit-path stele is a monument recording the lifetime achievements of a king or high official, erected to the south-east of his tomb; this stele honours the achievements of Chae Su, pen name Nanjae, a meritorious subject of the Jungjong Restoration in the early Joseon period. Chae Su (1449-1515) became a licentiate in 1468, the fourteenth year of King Sejo, and the following year passed the state examination with the highest honours, beginning his official career as an Inspector of the Office of the Inspector-General and going on to hold a number of posts. He took part in compiling the Veritable Records of King Sejo and of King Yejong, and in 1477, the eighth year of King Seongjong, became a Second Counsellor of the Office of Special Advisers, reporting the wicked crimes of the royal secretary Im Sa-hong and having him driven from office. While serving as Inspector-General he defended the deposed Queen Yun and thereby incurred the king's anger, retiring from office; he was not reappointed until 1485, the sixteenth year of King Seongjong. When the Jungjong Restoration took place in 1506, the twelfth year of King Yeonsangun, he took part in it and, for his contribution, was named a fourth-class meritorious subject and enfeoffed as Lord of Incheon. At the age of 59 he gave up his post and retired to Hamchang in Gyeongsang-do, present-day Sangju, where he spent the rest of his life. The stele consists of a stone body set upon a somewhat roughly carved tortoise-shaped base and capped with a headstone, closely following the style of the early Joseon period. It is the oldest spirit-path stele surviving in the Sangju region.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Sangju, Gyeongbuk

Designation

Provincial Tangible Heritage · 시도유형문화유산