One of the Three Famous Things in Songdo

Songdo is the old name of Gaeseong in South Hwanghae Province, North Korea. The term “Songdo-samjeol” refers to the three things or figures renowned for fidelity in Songdo. These are Bakyeon(박연) Falls, famous female entertainer Hwang Jini and mid-Joseon Neo-Confucian scholar Seo Gyeong-deok. Seo is better known by his nickname ‘Hwadam’(화담), as he built a study near Hwadam in Songdo and devoted himself to his study there. It is said that he never sought a government post and stayed in Songdo throughout his life to be solely dedicated to profound study and education of his students. He valued scholarly attainments through self-enlightenment. Who is Seo Gyeong-deok?

Boy who was Curious about how the World Works

Seo was born in 1489 in a family of a low-ranking military official. His family was not very well-off and he had to gather wild greens outside every day. He was always late in returning home but there were only few herbs in his basket. His parents thought it strange and asked him why.

The boy answered, “I went to the field to pick some greens and saw a young skylark flying. Yesterday, it flew up into the sky higher than the day before. Today, it flew even higher than yesterday. How amazing! I wondered what made the baby bird fly higher and higher day after day, but I couldn’t figure it out.”

This episode of Seo’s childhood recorded in a book titled (남계집) shows his extraordinary curiosity about the existence of living creatures.

Seo began to learn how to read and write rather late at age 14. When he came across something he didn’t know while reading, he would write it on paper and paste it on the wall to think of the logic inside it over and over again. When he was 20 years old, he often forgot to eat and sleep and fell into the habit of contemplating. He is said to have led this life for three years. He did not blindly believe the teaching of books or sages. Rather, he was more focused on thinking on his own and seeking self enlightenment.

Mixed Reviews

Seo was criticized by some scholars. Prominent Confucian scholar Yi Hwang said Seo moved in a different direction from the ideas of the sage. The sage here refers to Chu Hsi, a Confucian philosopher from the Song Dynasty of China. It seemed to Yi Hwang that Seo’s pursuit of self enlightenment deviated from Chu Hsi’s teaching. But what mattered to Seo was not academic orthodoxy or conventional authority. He attached importance to the principles attained through self enlightenment and believed that learning required independence, autonomy and self-reliance.

Seo was disapproved by Confucian scholars, including Yi Hwang, who advocated the theory of “principle” or “reason” known as Juriron(주리론). In contrast, Seo had a great influence on other scholars who supported the theory of “energy” or Jugiron(주기론). Another eminent Confucian philosopher Yi Yi said that Seo explored creative learning and had a deep understanding of the subtle aspects of energy.

Staying away from Turbulent World, Living in Seclusion

Seo took the state civil service examination in 1531 due to his mother’s earnest request. He was given a government post but he resigned right away. This was because he chose to live in seclusion from the world and concentrate on his study.

His attitude had to do with the turbulent political situation at the time. When he was nine years old in 1498, a massive purge known as Muosahwa(무오사화) swept the political scene. In 1519, another political purge, Gimyosahwa(기묘사화) plunged the royal court into turmoil. The chaotic atmosphere prompted Seo to stay away from the political world and live a quite life in seclusion to focus more on reaching the level of self enlightenment.

When he was 57 years old in 1546, he had a premonition of his own death. In fact, he had been suffering from a disease for nearly two years. He took his last bath and waited for his last moment. At the time, one of his students asked him how he felt.

Seo said “I realized the principles of life and death a long time ago. I feel at peace now.” With these words, he passed away.

All his life, Seo immersed himself in understanding how the world works and he accepted his own death in that way.