Yu Seong-ryong

Infobox Korean name
hangul=유성룡
hanja=柳成龍
rr=Yu Seongryong
mr=Yu Sŏngnyong
hangulja=이현
hanjaja=而見
rrja=Ihyeon
mrja=Ihyŏn
hangulho=서애
hanjaho=西厓
rrho=Seoae
mrho=Sŏae
hangulph=문충
hanjaph=文忠
rrph=Munchung
mrph=Munch'ung

Yu Seongryong (1542-1607), also often spelled Yu Songnyong, was a scholar-official of the Joseon Dynasty of Korea. He was a member of the Eastern faction, and a follower of Yi Hwang.

Yu was born in Uiseong, in Gyeongsang province, to a "yangban" family of the Pungsan Yu clan.

Life

Yu is said to have been so precocious that he absorbed the teachings of Confucius and Mencius at the age of 8. In 1564 the 19th year of Myeongjong, he passed the "samasi" examination, and in 1566 he passed the "mun-gwa" at a special examination, and then took the post of "Gwonjibujeongja" (권지부정사;權知副正字). He held various other positions and in 1569 he joined the imperial birthday mission to Ming as a "seojanggwan" (서장관;書狀官), returning to Korea the following year.

Thereafter he held posts including Inspector of Classics (경연검토관,經筵檢討官) and devoted himself to editing, being granted a royal sabbatical (사가독서;賜暇讀書). Subsequently he held posts including "gyori" (fifth jeong rank) and "eunggyo" (응교;應敎, fourth jeong rank). He was appointed "jikjehak" in 1575 and "bujehak" in 1576. He was made magistrate of Sangju "mok". Thereafter he held various other positions, becoming the "gwanchalsa" of Gyeongsang province.

He was in the rank of provincial "chechalsa" when the Imjin War broke out in 1592. Yu Seongryong accompanied the royal family at Hanseong to Uiju. In this capacity he oversaw all military units, and called leaders like Yi Sun-sin and Gwon Yul to battle. He suggest of establishment the "Hunnyeon Dogam" (Training capital garrisons).

ee also

* Yi Sun-sin