← Explore on the interactive map

Seong Sam-mun

Type Figure Region Joseon Time 1418–1456 Also known as Geunbo (courtesy name)、Head of the Six Loyal Ministers

Seong Sam-mun (1418–1456), courtesy name Geunbo, pen name Maechukjeon, was an early Joseon scholar-official and head of the 'Six Loyal Ministers';…

Timeline

  1. 1438–1452Hanyang · JoseonSeong Sam-mun entered government service as a jinshi in 1438 and soon joined Jiphyeonjeon, the highest academic institution of King Sejong's reign. Between 1443 and 1444, together with Shin Sajeong, Jeong In-ji, Choi Hang and others, he participated in creating Hunminjeongeum, repeatedly traveling by imperial order to the Ming dynasty to consult phonologists such as Huang Zan, establishing a scientific phonological basis for the new script. Hunminjeongeum was promulgated in 1446, and Seong Sam-mun was a core participant in this historic cultural project. During King Munjong's reign he continued working at Jiphyeonjeon on organizing texts and writing, growing ever more renowned.
  2. 1452–1455Hanyang · JoseonDanjong ascended the throne in 1452; guided by Confucian loyalty to the ruler, Seong Sam-mun grew deeply concerned over Prince Suyang's (Sejo's) gradual erosion of royal authority, yet continued his official duties in public. After the Gyeyu Jeongnan of 1453, colleagues such as Shin Sajeong successively submitted to Sejo, while Seong Sam-mun inwardly maintained his loyalty to Danjong. When Danjong was forced to abdicate in 1455, Seong Sam-mun was grief-stricken and secretly conferred with like-minded officials such as Bak Peng-yeon, Ha Wi-ji, and Yi Gae about plans for restoration, seeking an opportunity to overthrow Sejo.
  3. 1455–1456Hanyang · JoseonIn 1456 Seong Sam-mun and others devised a plan to assassinate Sejo during a banquet Sejo was to host for Ming envoys, with Danjong (already Grand King Emeritus) in attendance, seizing the moment of a sword performance by warriors to strike, and then immediately enthroning Danjong in restoration. However, the plan leaked when co-conspirator Kim Jil (또는 김질) informed on it in advance; Seong Sam-mun, Bak Peng-yeon, Ha Wi-ji, Yi Gae, Yu Seong-won, and Yu Yeong-bu were arrested, an event known to history as the 'Six Loyal Ministers Incident'. Sejo personally interrogated them; Seong Sam-mun endured extreme torture yet remained unbowed, denouncing Sejo as a usurper, and was finally executed by lingchi, with the three clans of all six implicated. Seong Sam-mun left a farewell poem before his execution, which became a widely recited exemplar of loyalty for later generations.

Sources