Ju Zu Mountain that Stood Firm against Flooding Yellow River

No matter how faithful people are, only a few stick to their principles.
Mr. Gil certainly came close to that goal.
He viewed honorable government service as an empty dream and retired to hermitage in a thatched cottage in his hometown.
Ah! While the virtues of the Zhou Dynasty were as lofty as the sky, they couldn’t console Boyi and Shuqi who lived on fiddlehead ferns at West Mountain.
Even when the Han Dynasty was in its heyday, it neglected Yan Ziling, who was fishing along the Tong River in retirement.
A thousand years have passed, but we still can’t go against their wishes.

This passage pays homage to prominent scholar and politician Gil Jae, who is also known by his penname Yaeun(야은). Written by Kwon Woo(권우), a scholar from the late Goryeo and early Joseon period, the passage is full of respect for Gil Jae.

Yi Bang-won(이방원), the third king of the Joseon Dynasty, offered a government post to Gil, but he was loyal to the previous Goryeo Kingdom and lived in seclusion in the firm belief that he should not serve two kings.

Thanks to his allegiance, Gil was compared to the Ju Zu Mountain that stood firm against the flooding Yellow River in China. Let’s follow the life of Gil Jae, the symbol of loyalty.

Goryeo Subject

Gil Jae was born in Gumi in 1353, as the son of Geumsan (금산) governor Gil Won-jin (길원진). It was the 3rd year of King Gongmin’s reign, and the Goryeo kingdom was waning.

When he was eight years old, his father was promoted to a local official and moved to Boseon(보성), Jeolla Province. His father’s income was too small for the entire family to move there. So, Gil grew up in his mothers’ parents’ house. Although his childhood was poor and lonely, he was a gentle and smart boy. He started to read and write at Dori Temple in Naeng(냉) Mountain in 1363. By 1370, he had learned Neo-Confucianism through Chinese classics such as the Analects of Confucius and Mencius.

Gil went to the capital of Gaegyeong(개경) to meet his father. There, he began to study under renowned scholars who developed Neo-Confucianism during the late Goryeo period, such as Yi Saek(이색), Jeong Mong-ju(정몽주) and Kwon Geun(권근).

Gil cut a conspicuous figure. Kwon Geun’s remarked that lots of students came to him to study, but Gil Jae definitely stood out. He passed the state civil service exam at the age of 31, and entered government service.

He assumed education-related posts before he was named an official in charge of royal documents and records at the Chancellery of State Affairs in 1389. At the time, there were signs indicating that some military officials were moving to establish a new kingdom. The following year, Gil resigned from the post and returned to his hometown with the excuse of taking care of his old mother.

Never Serve Two Kings

Afterwards, Gil was offered government positions several times, but refused to accept them. After the death of King Gongyang(공양), the last ruler of the Goryeo Dynasty, Gil mourned for three years.

Yi Bang-won, the third monarch of the new kingdom of Joseon, had lived in Gil’s neighborhood when they were young. The two studied together at Sunggyungwan, the highest educational institute in Goryeo. Yi appointed him to the government post of handling memorial services, but Gil turned down the offer, saying that he would never serve two kings.

Gil lived through the tumultuous years during the late Goryeo and early Joseon period, but he remained faithful to his principles. His loyal life became widely known, and a number of scholars lined up to study under him.

Some of his disciples laid the foundation for a powerful faction of literati known as Sarim(사림) that dominated middle and late Joseon politics. Gil opened a study at the foot of Geumo(금오) Mountain and taught the students his experience and duties as an official dealing with educational affairs. Numerous talented scholars who had studied under him made their way to the central government, and Geumo Mountain emerged as the Mecca of Neo-Confucianism in the 15th century. Even Yi Hwang, one of the greatest Neo-Confucian scholars in Joseon, highly respected Gil.

Gil did not pursue honor, career or wealth. He only devoted himself to his studies until he died in 1419. He led an upright life, like a bamboo tree that does not die even in winter. His strict loyalty, great learning, and lofty virtues have been revered by later generations.