A Symbol of Intellectuals in Action

Cho Shik was one of the two key figures who formed Yeongnam(영남) School representing the nation’s southeastern Gyeongsang region in the 16th century, along with renowned neo-Confucian scholar Yi Hwang, who is known as his penname Toegye. It is said that Cho Shik, who used his penname Nammyeong, asked people to simply call him ‘cheosa’(처사) whether he was dead or alive.

‘Cheosa’ refers to people who refused to enter government service throughout their lives but lived in seclusion to devote themselves to studies. Although Cho was a man of great erudition as one of the two most prominent Confucian philosophers, along with Yi Hwang, he declined government posts throughout his entire life and remained vigilant all the time.

Yet, Cho wasn’t a scholar who tried to find a way only in books. He always carried a bell whenever he walked in order to reflect on himself when hearing the tinkling of the bell. He would also wear a sword, determined to cut any selfish desires if they arose. He criticized corrupt power all his life as an intellectual in action.

Giving up Government Post

Cho Shik was born as the second son of Cho Eun-hyeong(조언형) in 1501 in Todong(토동), which is in present-day Hapcheon(합천) in South Gyongsang Province. He moved to Seoul when he was five years old as his father won the first place in the state exam and entered government service. At 15, he moved to Dancheon(단천), Hamgyeong Province, when his father was appointed governor of Dancheon County. There, he studied a wide range of subjects from astronomy and geography to medicine and art of war. Living in a provincial government office, he studied hard to seek ways to resolve people’s difficulties he witnessed himself.

Cho passed the first round of the state civil service exam when he was 20 years old. Unfortunately, his uncle’s family was exterminated and his father was dismissed from office as well, in the wake of a political purge of rising Confucian scholars in 1519. Lamenting the tragic situation, Cho retreated to his hometown. But he gained a good deal of enlightenment when he read the writing of Xu-Heung, a scholar of Yuan Dynasty of China. It read, “What’s the use of setting an aim in life and studying, if a man does nothing after taking up a public office and, if he abandons his beliefs and principles when living in seclusion?” So, at 25, he started focusing only on the proper function of Confucianism instead of preparing for the state civil service exam.

Confucian Scholar Wearing a Sword

Cho’s father died in 1526. After a three-year mourning period, he and his family moved to Gimhae, where his wife’s parents lived. There, he set up a reading house called Sanhaejeong(산해정). He returned to his hometown when he was 48 years old and set up the Noeryongjeong(뇌룡정) Pavilion to study and teach students.

Unlike Yi Hwang, who related cosmology of Chinese Neo-Confucianism to the human mind, Cho placed emphasis on practice to overcome the ideality of Neo-Confucianism. According to Cho, learning was more than just finding something out, and it was important to experience poverty and respect older people. Cho pursued ‘respect’ and ‘justice,’ and thoroughly practiced self-control in daily life. His philosophy gave birth to an academic tradition of never compromising with injustice.

Based on his criticism of social reality and his belief in the need for administrating the state to relieve people’s suffering, Cho suggested which way scholars should go. His fame spread throughout the country, and the royal court began to show special interest in this great scholar who was rumored to have long devoted himself solely to learning and had a remarkable inner strength. The royal court appointed him to several government posts.

But Cho turned down the posts each time. When he was offered to the post of a town magistrate in Danseong(단성) in 1555, he presented a written petition, asking the king to withdraw the offer. The writing, called ‘Danseong Petition,’ shook the entire nation. In the text, Cho condemned corrupt power by describing King Myeongjong as a orphan, and Queen Munjeong(문정), the Queen Mother who acted as regent to wield power, as a widow. Cho was at the center of bitter controversy due to the petition, but his reputation was only enhanced.

Passing down Living Knowledge

As a number of scholars visited this eminent scholar to learn under his tutelage in 1551, Cho moved to Sancheong(산청) at the food of Mt. Jiri and set up the Sancheonjae(산천재) House to teach scholars. He spent his later years nurturing talented people before he died in 1572 at the age of 72.

Cho left few books, since he valued practice in Confucianism. But his students put their master’s teachings into practice and grew up to influence Joseon’s political and academic circles during the reign of King Seonjo. When Japan invaded Korea in 1592, 50 of his followers became the leaders of righteous armies to fight against the Japanese. Cho never remained silent about injustice, and the spirit of this practicing scholar carried on that way.