Yun Tusu

In this Korean name, the family name is Yun.
Yun Tusu
윤두수
Chief State Councillor
In office
24 July 1599 – 6 November 1599
Preceded byYi Wŏnik
Succeeded byYi Wŏnik
Left State Councillor
In office
31 March 1598 – 9 April 1598
Preceded byKim Ŭngnam
Succeeded byYi Wŏnik
In office
13 June 1592 – 11 December 1594
Preceded byCh'oe Hŭngwŏn
Succeeded byYu Hong
Right State Councillor
In office
10 June 1592 – 10 June 1592
Preceded byYi Yangwŏn
Succeeded byYu Hong
Personal details
Born1533
Hansŏng, Joseon
Died1601 (aged 67–68)
Joseon
Political partyWesterners
Spouse
Lady Hwang of the Changwon Hwang clan
​
​
(m. 1553)​
Children5
Parents
  • Yun Pyŏn (father)
  • Lady Hyŏn of the Sŏngju Hyŏn clan (mother)
ClanHaepyeong Yun
Korean name
Hangul
윤두수
Hanja
尹斗壽
RRYun Dusu
MRYun Tusu
Art name
Hangul
오음
Hanja
梧陰
RROeum
MROŭm
Courtesy name
Hangul
자앙
Hanja
子仰
RRJaang
MRChaang
Posthumous name
Hangul
문정
Hanja
文靖
RRMunjeong
MRMunjŏng

Yun Tusu (Korean: 윤두수; Hanja: 尹斗壽; 1533–1601) was a Korean scholar-official of the Joseon period. A prominent politician, poet, writer, and scholar, he was part of the Yi Hwang school and a member of the Westerners. Yun briefly served as Chief State Councillor during the reign of King Seonjo.

Early life

Birth and family

Yun Tusu was born on the 1st day, 9th month of 1533 in Pansongbang,[a] Hansŏng, between Yun Pyŏn and Lady Hyŏn of the Sŏngju Hyŏn clan.[2][3] His family was part of the Haepyeong Yun clan, whose members traditionally served as senior government officials during the Goryeo dynasty, but had decreased in prominence since the dawn of Joseon.[4] For instance, the progenitor of the Haepyeong Yuns, Yun Kunjŏng (윤군정; 尹君正),[5] had served as the Left Vice Director of Goryeo's Department of State Affairs (상서 좌복야; 尙書左僕射). In contrast, Yun's close ancestors did not progress their careers further beyond low-level offices.[2]

Yun's father, Yun Pyŏn, served as a Kunjagamjŏng,[2] a third-rank office under the Minister of Taxation which oversaw the storage and transfer of military supplies.[6] Yun Pyŏn was a student of Cho Kwangjo. When Cho Kwangjo was imprisoned for his alleged conspiracy during the third literati purge of 1519, Yun Pyŏn pleaded on his behalf with a group of Confucian students from the Sungkyunkwan. Yun Pyŏn was consequently accused as a co-conspirator,[7] but he avoided major repercussions and remained in the Sungkyunkwan.[8] Yun Pyŏn died in 1549.[4]

Yun Tusu married Lady Hwang of the Changwon Hwang clan (창원 황씨; 昌原黃氏) in 1553, with whom he had four sons: Yun Pang (윤방; 尹昉), Yun Hŭn (윤흔; 尹昕), Yun Hwi (윤휘; 尹暉), and Yun Hwŏn (윤훤; 尹暄), all of whom would later serve in high-ranking government office.[9] Yun had one younger brother, Yun Kŭnsu, who would later serve as the Vice Minister of Public Works and the Headmaster of the Sungkyungkwan.[3][10]

Education

During his younger years, Yun was taught by his father. After the death of his father, he studied under Yi Chungho (이중호; 李仲虎) and later Sŏng Such'im. After entering the public office, he became a student of Yi Hwang. Yun was taught Neo-Confucianist ideals from his mentors, but similarly to other scholars of his period, he was largely unversed in Neo-Confucianist philosophy. Instead, Yun devoted much of his literary studies to poetry.[11]

Career

Myeongjong era (1558–1567)

In 1555, Yun Tusu passed the Classics Licentiate Examination[b] (생원시; 生員試) in first place. In 1558, he completed the regular triennial civil service examination (식년문과; 式年文科) and began his governmental career as an editorial examiner (검열; 檢閱) at the Office of Royal Decrees.[12] Afterwards, he worked at the Office of Special Advisors as a proofreader (정자; 正字) and later as first copyist (저작; 著作). In 1561, he was appointed as an assistant section chief (좌랑; 佐郎) for the Ministry of Military Affairs; in 1562, he became an assistant section chief for the Ministry of Personnel.[13][3]

During Yun's service in the Ministry of Personnel, Yi Ryang, a powerful politician and uncle of Queen Insun, recommended his son Yi Chŏngbin as an assistant section chief for the Ministry of Personnel. Yun, along with former section chief[14] Pak Sorip and Yi Hubaek, opposed Yi Chŏngbin's appointment. Yi Ryang, whose supporters had established a political monopoly over the Three Offices, attempted to suppress the opposition.[15] Likewise, Yun Tusu was impeached by the Office of the Inspector General in July 1563 and lost his position.[14] However, just two days after Yun's impeachment, Myeongjong ordered the removal of Yi Ryang and Yi Chŏngbin from public office upon a petition that fiercely criticized Yi Ryang's meddling of public affairs.[16] Yun was reinstated to the public office as sixth counselor (수찬) under the endorsement of then-Chief State Councilor Yun Wŏnhyŏng and Right State Councilor Sim T'ongwŏn.[17][3]

Following his return to office, Yun was soon promoted as the section chief (정랑; 正郞) of the Ministry of Personnel. He then transferred to the State Council, where he served as legal secretary (검상; 檢詳) and then as drafting adviser (사인; 舍人). He later went back and forth between the Office of the Inspector General and Sungkyunkwan before settling in the Office the Royal Stables. In 1565, he supervised funeral rites at the mourning of Queen Munjeong during his tenure as assistant responding editor (부응교; 副應敎) of the Office of Special Advisors. After the rites were over, he was selected as the Grand Master of Comprehensive Governance (통정대부; 通政大夫) and was commissioned as the director of the Five Guards (오위장; 五衛將). On the 7th day, 1st month of 1566,[18] he entered the Royal Secretariat as the sixth royal secretary (동부승지; 同副承旨) and was later promoted to the right assistant royal secretary (우부승지; 右副承旨). On the 8th month of 1566, he was appointed as the left assistant royal secretary (좌부승지; 左副承旨).[2][19]

In 1567, while Yun was working as the Right Royal Secretary (우승지) at the Royal Secretariat, Myeongjong became bedridden in critical condition. Yun dispatched a letter to Chief State Councilor Yi Chun'gyŏng containing a historical anecdote, citing "Wen Yanbo of the Song Dynasty came into the palace and slept"—a message urging Yi to reside overnight at the King's residence. Yi Chun'gyŏng followed suit and soon after received Myeongjong's final order deciding on his successor[c] that very night.[2]

Seonjo era (1567–1601)

During the early days following Seonjo's accession, the political environment surrounding the Joseon court shifted rapidly as Sarim literati filled up the ranks and the consort kin centered around Yi Ryang were ousted from the public sphere. Seonjo appointed a new generation of scholar-officials, with key figures including Yi Hwang, Yi Tak, and Chŏng Ch'ŏl, to principal government positions. In accordance with these changes, Yun Tusu was selected as the third minister of personnel (이조참의)[20] through a Chief Censor (대사간) of the Office of Censors. Yun Tusu was in charge of the supervision of gwageo in August 1574, and appointed to the assistant examiners (대독관) next month.[21][22]

In 1575, due to the conflict between Sim Ŭigyŏm and Kim Hyowŏn over the appointment of Section Chief of the Ministry of Personnel, Sarim was divided into the Easterners and the Westerners. At this time, Yun Tusu participated in the Westerners. In July 1576, he was appointed as a Chief Censor, and his nephew Yun Hyŏn was appointed as Assistant Section Chief of the Ministry of Personnel. Yun Tusu and Yun Kŭnsu suppressed the Easterners while they were in key positions. Yun Tusu, Yun Kŭnsu, and Yun Hyŏn were called Yun Trio (삼윤), and the Easterners had a bad feeling about them.[23] In the midst of this, a bribery case occurred by the magistrate of the Jindo County, and Yun Trio was involved in this case. Eventually, Yun Tusu was dismissed due to the impeachment of the Office of Censors and Office of the Inspector General in March 1579.[23]

As Inspector General (대사헌) Gim Gye-hwi requested, Yun Tusu was appointed again and became Magistrate of Yeonan Strategic Prefecture (연안도호부사). In the famine of 1580 to 1581, the people were helped to live by him, and there were about 1,000 people who came and ate from distant regions, and when a royal secret inspector (어사) reported this, King Seonjo especially gave him silk clothes.[2] Later, he served as second magistrate of Hansung (한성좌윤) and Second Minister of Punishment (형조참판), and in 1587, when the Japanese invaded Jeolla Province, he was appointed as a governor of Jeolla province to reform the discipline of chiefs and leaders and punish criminals.[3]

In 1588, Yun Tusu became second deputy directors of Privy Council (동지중추부사) in June and governor of Pyeongan Province (평안도관찰사) and magistrate of Pyongyang Magistracy (평안부윤) in autumn. When there was news that the leader of the barbarians was coming to the western border, Yun Tusu strategically responded by reducing the number of soldiers belonging to the military and increasing the number of troops from four to six because they ran away increased day by day.[2] The following year, he taught the people around Yalu River how to plant cotton in Pyongyang. In 1590, he was established as Gwanggukgongsin and sealed to Haewongun due to the contribution of correcting the Joseon dynasty's genealogy. In August of that year, he resigned his original position and went up to the Minister of Punishments (형조판서) and became the Inspector General. A month later, he became a Fourth Superintendent of Privy Council (지중추부사). He became the Inspector General again in 1591.[24]

In March 1591, he became the Minister of Taxation, but in June, He had decided to support Prince Shinseong with Yi Sanhae, but he supported Gwanghaegun in the Geonjeo issue, a partisan fight between the Easterners and the Westerners, so King Seonjo was angry and divested Yun Tusu of his office and exiled him with his younger brother Yun Kŭnsu to Hoeryong.[17] After that, He was transferred to Hongwon due to the continued impeachment of the Easterners.[2]

Japanese invasions of Korea (1592–1598)

Main article: Japanese invasions of Korea (1592–1598)

In March 1591, a letter sent by Toyotomi Hideyoshi through Joseon Tongsinsa said he would invade Ming dynasty, but unlike other subjects who insisted on hiding it from the Ming dynasty, he actively insisted on telling the Ming Dynasty the situation of Japan.[2] In October 1591, when he was exiled to Hongwon, diplomatic envoys to Ming (진주사) returned from Beijing. When they reported that the Wanli Emperor praised the situation of Japan in detail, the royal court tried to let him go of his exile for his contribution, but he was transferred to Haeju due to opposition from the Office of Censors and the Office of the Inspector General. On April 13, 1592, when Japan captured Dongnae following Busan, he was released on 23 April as king's special order.[25]

On April 28, it was reported that Sin Rip had been defeated in Chungju, so King Seonjo proposed royal flight from the palace and it was decided the next day. Yun Tusu joined King Seonjo's departure to the west at the dawn of April 30 as an official holding sinecure post. Arriving in Kaesong on May 1, the procession of the royal carriage took Yun Tusu as the captain of Office of the Directorate General (어영대장) on May 2 and sacrificed to Right State Councilor the next day.[26][27] Yun Tusu insisted on sending an address to Liaodong to announce the war, punishing those who did not come with king as court officials, and remaining in Kaesong and defending. However, when King Seonjo heard that Kyongsong had fallen, he wanted to leave Kaesong. Yun Tusu requested that the royal carriage leaves early in the morning, but it was not accepted. Accordingly, Yun Tusu sent the governor of Hwanghae to soothe people so that the procession could leave Kaesong safely.[28]

The royal carriage left Kaesong on May 3 and arrived in Pyongyang on May 7. On May 9, he became Left State Councilor. On May 19, discussions took place on asking Ming for relief forces. Yun Tusu objected to this for three reasons. First, Joseon's soldiers are guarding Imjin River and have enough troops. Second, it is not clear that the Ming government will send troops. Third, the military in Liaodong and Guangning have a ferocious nature and various villages in Pyongan Province will be devastated.[29] However, as the situation became increasingly urgent, Yun Tusu also agreed to the request for relief forces.[30] He also insisted on protecting Pyongyang in discussions on whether to protect Pyongyang or move to another place. King Seonjo refused to accept this and asked to discuss the next destination, and Yun Tusu recommended going to Uiju rather than Hamhung. The procession left for Uiju, and Yun Tusu remained with Yi Wŏnik to protect Pyongyang.[31]

Family

  1. Parents and Siblings
    1. Father: Yun Byeon (윤변; 尹忭; 1493 – 8 July 1549)
    2. Step-mother - Lady Yi of the Jeonju Yi clan (전주 이씨)
      1. Older step-brother - Yun Dam-su (윤담수; 尹聃壽)
      2. Older step-brother - Yun Chun-su (윤춘수; 尹春壽; 1521 – ?)
      3. Older step-brother - Yun Gi-su (윤기수; 尹期壽)
    3. Mother: Lady Hyeon of the Palgeo Hyeon clan (팔거 현씨; 八莒 玄氏; ? – 1544)
      1. Older step-sister - Lady Yun of the Haepyeong Yun clan (해평 윤씨)
      2. Younger brother - Yun Kŭnsu (윤근수; 尹根壽; 1537 – 17 August 1616)
  2. Wives and their children
    1. Lady Hwang of the Changwon Hwang clan (창원 황씨; 昌原 黃氏; ? – 1591)
      1. Son - Yun Bang (윤방; 尹昉; 22 June 1563 – August 1640)
      2. Son - Yun Heun (윤흔; 尹昕; 1564 – 17 December 1638)
      3. Son - Yun Hwi (윤휘; 尹暉; 1571–1644)
      4. Son - Yun Hwon (윤훤; 尹暄)
    2. Unnamed concubine
      1. Son - Yun Gan (윤간; 尹旰; 1573 – 12 February 1665)

Bibliography

  • Oheum-yugo 《오음유고》 (梧陰遺稿)
  • Gija-ji 《기자지》 (箕子誌)
  • Seongin-rok 《성인록 成仁錄》
  • Pyeongyang-ji 《평양지 平壤志》
  • Yeonan-ji 《연안지 延安志》

Footnotes

  1. ^ (반송방; 盤松坊) Pansongbang was an area outside of Seodaemun and near the modern-day location of Independence Gate. It was where diplomatic convoys would depart for China.[1]
  2. ^ A minor examination (소과; 小科) which evaluated an examinee's understanding of the Four Books and Five Classics. Upon passing, the examinee would be granted permission to enroll in the Sungkyunkwan.
  3. ^ Myeongjong's only linear male heir, Crown Prince Sunhoe, had died in 1563 at a young age. His chosen successor, Prince Haseong, was his nephew.

References

  1. ^ 조총엽 (September 17, 2016). "조선시대 이별 장소는 서대문 밖 '반송방'". The Dong-A Ilbo (in Korean).
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i 세종대왕기념사업회 편집부 [Editorial team of the King Sejong Commemorative Foundation] (December 30, 1999). "윤두수". 국조인물고 [Gukjo Inmulgo (Biographical Studies of Notable Figures of Our Dynasty)] (in Korean). 세종대왕기념사업회. p. 444. ISBN 9788982755736. Retrieved 18 January 2022 – via Naver Encyclopedia.
  3. ^ a b c d e 장동익 [Jang Dong-ik] (1997). "윤두수". Encyclopedia of Korean Culture (in Korean). Seongnam. Retrieved 18 January 2022.{{cite encyclopedia}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  4. ^ a b 이 2012, p. 72.
  5. ^ 정필준. "해평윤씨" [Haepyeong Yun clan]. Encyclopedia of Korean Local Culture (in Korean). Retrieved June 26, 2025.
  6. ^ 이재옥(李載玉). "군자감정(軍資監正)". 한국역대인물종합정보시스템. Academy of Korean Studies. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
  7. ^ 안 2012, p. 44.
  8. ^ 김용덕. "윤변 (尹忭)". Encyclopedia of Korean Culture (in Korean). Retrieved June 26, 2025.
  9. ^ 이 2012, p. 73.
  10. ^ 장동익. "윤근수 (尹根壽)". Encyclopedia of Korean Culture (in Korean). Retrieved July 10, 2025.
  11. ^ 이 2012, pp. 73–74.
  12. ^ 이 2012, p. 75.
  13. ^ 장 2012, p. 10.
  14. ^ a b 1st article entry of the 17th day, 8th month, 18th year of King Myeongjong.
  15. ^ 이 2012, p. 79.
  16. ^ 2nd article entry of the 19th day, 8th month, 18th year of King Myeongjong.
  17. ^ a b 안 2012, p. 45.
  18. ^ 3rd article entry of the 7th day, 1st month, 21st year of King Myeongjong.
  19. ^ 4th article entry of the 28th day, 8th month, 21st year of King Myeongjong.
  20. ^ 이 2012, p. 81–82.
  21. ^ 선조실록8권, 선조 7년 8월 18일 기미 1번째기사 [Veritable Records of Seonjo 18th day, 8th month of 1574, 1st Article]. Veritable Records of the Joseon Dynasty (in Korean). National Institute of Korean History. Retrieved 2025-07-12.
  22. ^ 선조실록8권, 선조 7년 9월 11일 임오 2번째기사 [Veritable Records of Seonjo 11th day, 9th month of 1574, 2nd Article]. Veritable Records of the Joseon Dynasty (in Korean). National Institute of Korean History. Retrieved 2025-07-12.
  23. ^ a b 이 2012, p. 86.
  24. ^ 장 2012, pp. 13–14.
  25. ^ 장 2012, p. 14.
  26. ^ 선조실록26권, 선조 25년 5월 2일 신유 3번째기사 [Veritable Records of Seonjo 2nd day, 5th month of 1592, 3rd Article]. Veritable Records of the Joseon Dynasty (in Korean). National Institute of Korean History. Retrieved 2025-07-12.
  27. ^ 선조실록26권, 선조 25년 5월 3일 임술 11번째기사 [Veritable Records of Seonjo 3rd day, 5th month of 1592, 11th Article]. Veritable Records of the Joseon Dynasty (in Korean). National Institute of Korean History. Retrieved 2025-07-12.
  28. ^ 이 2012, p. 89.
  29. ^ 이 2012, pp. 89–90.
  30. ^ 이 2012, p. 90.
  31. ^ 이 2012, p. 91.

Sources

Veritable Records

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