Seol Chong
Encyclopedia
Seol Chong was a leading scholar of the Unified Silla
period. He studied Confucian
writings and the related Chinese classics. He is also known by the courtesy name Chongji and the pen name
Bingwoldang.
Seol was the son of the prominent Buddhist figure Wonhyo
and the Silla princess Yoseok, the daughter of King Muyeol
. He was of head-rank six in Silla's bone rank system
. An account of his life is found in the Samguk Sagi
, yeoljeon (biographies), vol. 6 and his achievements are mentioned as well in the Samguk Yusa's
account of Wonhyo
(vol. 5).
Seol Chong is best remembered for regularizing the idu and gugyeol scripts, which were the first systems for representing the Korean language
in Chinese character
s. The idu script had been in use previous to Seol Chong, but had lacked rigorous principles. Early in his career Seol is also credited with composing a short Confucian parable on kingship entitled The Warning of the Flower King (화왕계/花王戒) for King Sinmun of Silla. This parable is either repeated or paraphrased in the Samguk Sagi, and influenced later writers of the Joseon
period. A typically Confucian text, it criticizes monarchs for valuing pleasure-seeking over righteous rule.
Seol Chong is sometimes regarded as the progenitor of the Gyeongju Seol
lineage. However, opinions on this differ, since the Seol family name is found as far back as the foundation of Silla.
He is also one of eighteen Korean Confucian sages who have been enshrined in the Korean National Confucian shrine.
Unified Silla
Unified Silla or Later Silla is the name often applied to the Korean kingdom of Silla, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, when it conquered Baekje in 660 and Goguryeo in 668, unifying the southern portion of the Korean peninsula...
period. He studied Confucian
Confucianism
Confucianism is a Chinese ethical and philosophical system developed from the teachings of the Chinese philosopher Confucius . Confucianism originated as an "ethical-sociopolitical teaching" during the Spring and Autumn Period, but later developed metaphysical and cosmological elements in the Han...
writings and the related Chinese classics. He is also known by the courtesy name Chongji and the pen name
Pen name
A pen name, nom de plume, or literary double, is a pseudonym adopted by an author. A pen name may be used to make the author's name more distinctive, to disguise his or her gender, to distance an author from some or all of his or her works, to protect the author from retribution for his or her...
Bingwoldang.
Seol was the son of the prominent Buddhist figure Wonhyo
Wonhyo
Wonhyo was one of the leading thinkers, writers and commentators of the Korean Buddhist tradition. Essence-Function , a key concept in East Asian Buddhism and particularly that of Korean Buddhism, was refined in the syncretic philosophy and worldview of Wonhyo.As one of the most eminent...
and the Silla princess Yoseok, the daughter of King Muyeol
Muyeol of Silla
King Taejong Muyeol , born Kim Chunchu, was the 29th monarch of the southern Korean kingdom of Silla and ruled from 654 to 661. He is credited for leading the unification of the Three Kingdoms of Korea...
. He was of head-rank six in Silla's bone rank system
Bone rank system
The bone rank system was the system of aristocratic rank used in the ancient Korean kingdom of Silla. It was used to segregate society, and particularly the layers of the aristocracy, on the basis of their hereditary proximity to the throne and the level of authority they were permitted to wield...
. An account of his life is found in the Samguk Sagi
Samguk Sagi
Samguk Sagi is a historical record of the Three Kingdoms of Korea: Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla. The Samguk Sagi is written in Classical Chinese and its compilation was ordered by Goryeo's King Injong Samguk Sagi (History of the Three Kingdoms) is a historical record of the Three Kingdoms of...
, yeoljeon (biographies), vol. 6 and his achievements are mentioned as well in the Samguk Yusa's
Samguk Yusa
Samguk Yusa, or Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms, is a collection of legends, folktales, and historical accounts relating to the Three Kingdoms of Korea , as well as to other periods and states before, during, and after the Three Kingdoms period.The text was written in Classical Chinese, which was...
account of Wonhyo
Wonhyo
Wonhyo was one of the leading thinkers, writers and commentators of the Korean Buddhist tradition. Essence-Function , a key concept in East Asian Buddhism and particularly that of Korean Buddhism, was refined in the syncretic philosophy and worldview of Wonhyo.As one of the most eminent...
(vol. 5).
Seol Chong is best remembered for regularizing the idu and gugyeol scripts, which were the first systems for representing the Korean language
Korean language
Korean is the official language of the country Korea, in both South and North. It is also one of the two official languages in the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in People's Republic of China. There are about 78 million Korean speakers worldwide. In the 15th century, a national writing...
in Chinese character
Chinese character
Chinese characters are logograms used in the writing of Chinese and Japanese , less frequently Korean , formerly Vietnamese , or other languages...
s. The idu script had been in use previous to Seol Chong, but had lacked rigorous principles. Early in his career Seol is also credited with composing a short Confucian parable on kingship entitled The Warning of the Flower King (화왕계/花王戒) for King Sinmun of Silla. This parable is either repeated or paraphrased in the Samguk Sagi, and influenced later writers of the Joseon
Joseon Dynasty
Joseon , was a Korean state founded by Taejo Yi Seong-gye that lasted for approximately five centuries. It was founded in the aftermath of the overthrow of the Goryeo at what is today the city of Kaesong. Early on, Korea was retitled and the capital was relocated to modern-day Seoul...
period. A typically Confucian text, it criticizes monarchs for valuing pleasure-seeking over righteous rule.
Seol Chong is sometimes regarded as the progenitor of the Gyeongju Seol
Seol (Korean name)
Seol or Sul is a Korean family name, spelled 설 in hangul and 薛 in hanja.People who have this name include:* Seol Ki-Hyeon, South Korean-Soccer player* Sol Kyung-gu, South Korean-Actor...
lineage. However, opinions on this differ, since the Seol family name is found as far back as the foundation of Silla.
He is also one of eighteen Korean Confucian sages who have been enshrined in the Korean National Confucian shrine.
See also
- History of KoreaHistory of KoreaThe Korean Peninsula was inhabited from the Lower Paleolithic about 400,000-500,000 years ago. Archeological evidence indicates that the presence of modern humans in northeast Asia dates to 39,000 years ago. The earliest known Korean pottery dates to around 8000 BC, and the Neolithic period began...
- Korean literatureKorean literatureKorean literature is the body of literature produced in Korea or by Korean writers. For much of its 3,000 years of literature history, it was written both in Hanja and in Korean, first using the transcription systems idu and gugyeol, and finally using the Korean script Hangul. It is commonly...
- List of Korea-related topics
- List of Korean philosophers