Yang Song-cheon Burial Ground

This is the burial ground of Yang Eung-jeong, pen name Song-cheon (1519-1581), a civil official and man of letters of the mid-Joseon period. He came first in the saengwon examination in 1540, the 35th year of King Jungjong, and passed the higher civil service examination in 1552, the seventh year of King Myeongjong, thereafter entering government service; he rose through posts including deputy compiler in the Hongmungwan (Office of Special Advisors), the Yemungwan (Office of Royal Decrees) and the Seungjeongwon (Royal Secretariat), eventually reaching the post of Daesaseong (head of the National Academy). Having fallen victim to the factional strife that was then beginning to take root, he returned to his hometown and devoted himself to training the next generation. He told his student Song Gang, Jeong Cheol: "There can be no one skilled in writing who has not first grounded himself in inquiry into principle. I too came to realise this only late in life, and though I regret it, it is already too late" - cautioning him never to wield the brush carelessly on the strength of fine writing alone, without deep thought behind it. The burial ground today has, in front of the grave, a stone offering table, an incense-burner stone, and a sindobi (a memorial stele set up beside the road near a tomb to commemorate the lifetime achievements of a king or high official), its epitaph composed by Min Byeong-seung. Also here are the grave of his son, Yang San-suk (posthumous title Chungmingong), who died a martyr's death in the Battle of Jinjuseong Fortress, and the grave of his grandson, the Hallim Academician Yang Man-yong.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Gwangsan-gu, Jeonnam & Gwangju

Designation

Provincial Monument · 시도기념물