Chŏng Mong-ju

Chŏng Mong-ju was born in Yeongcheon, Gyeongsang Province to a family from the Yeonil Jeong clan (연일 정씨; 延日 鄭氏).

[1] In 1367, he became an instructor of Neo-Confucianism at the Gukjagam, then called Songgyungwan, whilst simultaneously holding a government position, and was a faithful public servant to King U.

Around this time, because the Waegu (왜구; 倭寇 - the Japanese pirates) invasions of the Korean Peninsula were extreme, in 1377 Chŏng Mong-ju was dispatched as a delegate to Kyūshū in Japan.

At this time, the tandai of Kyūshū, Imagawa Sadayo, made several repressions against the Waegu, probably as a direct result of Chŏng Mong-ju's diplomacy.

Chŏng Mong-ju's noble death symbolizes his faithful allegiance to the king and Goryeo, and later he was venerated even by Joseon monarchs.

Chŏng Mong-ju's murderer, Yi Pang-wŏn (later Taejong of Joseon), inscribed the words "Defender of Goryeo" on his tombstone to praise his loyalty.

The diagram ( — ) represents Chŏng Mong-ju's unerring loyalty to his king and his country towards the end of the Goryeo Dynasty.

이몸이 죽고 죽어 일백 번 고쳐 죽어                此身死了死了一百番更死了。      (차신사료사료일백번갱사료) 백골이 진토되어 넋이라도 있고 없고              白骨爲塵土魂魄有也無。              (백골위진토혼백유무야) 임 향한 일편 단심이야 가실 줄이 있으랴         向主一片丹心寧有改理也歟。      (향주일편단심유개리여) Though I die and die again a hundred times, That my bones turn to dust, whether my soul remains or not, Ever loyal to my Lord, how can this red heart ever fade away?

Sonjuk Bridge in Kaesong where Chŏng Mong-ju was assassinated
Assassination of Chŏng Mong-ju
Portrait of Chŏng Mong-ju