Pak Chiwŏn (Korean: 박지원; Hanja: 朴趾源; 1737–1805), styled Yeonam (연암; 燕巖; lit. Rock of swallow), was a philosopher and novelist in the late Joseon dynasty. He has been regarded as one of the greatest thinkers of the so-called "Practical Learning (silhak)" movement. Pak Chiwŏn belonged to the "School of Profitable Usage and Benefiting the People" (이용후생파; 利用厚生派; Iyong Husaengpa) to promote the industrialization of his country and the development of trade by positively introducing western technologies to Joseon Korea. Pak Chiwŏn proposed that Joseon import advanced technologies from the Qing dynasty, and promote mercantilism.[1]
Pak Chiwŏn | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 5 March 1737 Hanseong, Joseon |
| Died | 10 December 1805 (aged 68) Hanseong, Joseon |
| Other names | Yeonam |
| Notable work | Collection of the Rock of swallow(Also called Yeonamjip), The Jehol Diary |
| Era | 18th-century philosophy |
| Region | Korean Confucianism |
| School | Silhak |
| Pak Chiwŏn | |
| Hangul | 박지원 |
|---|---|
| Hanja | 朴趾源 |
| Revised Romanization | Bak Jiwon |
| McCune–Reischauer | Pak Chiwŏn |
The scholars Bak Jega, Yu Deukgong and Yi Deokmu were influenced by Pak Chiwŏn.
Belief
editAlong with Hong Daeyong, he argued that the ground is not flat but round. He saw that the Earth could be a large circle, not a flat surface. It also claimed that the land consists of one dust and soil. He argued that the world is objectively real, from celestial bodies to all things, and that everything in the universe is created in the process of the particle of dust and movement and change. Pak's claim that the Earth is a round circle was accepted as absurd.
Personal criticism
editPak Chiwŏn's appearance is described in Gwajeong-rok (過庭錄), written by his son, Pak Jong-chae. He was tall and very big, had a long face, prominent cheekbones, and a double eyelid. The record is almost identical to the remaining portraits of Pak Chiwŏn. Pak also said that his voice was so loud that he could be heard far outside the fence even if he spoke. Although there was one portrait depicting Pak Chiwŏn as a middle-aged man, Yeonam forced him to destroy the portrait, saying it was less than 70 percent of his original self, and he never accepted his son's plea to paint it again.
Pak Chiwŏn was also not able to negotiate easily with others. Kim Ki-soon said, "He lacked the power to hold down smoothly because he was so graceful, and he was always too strong to have a smooth side." Pak Chiwŏn also admitted, "It's all because of my personality that I've been through this sort of mess all my life." In fact, Pak entered the government office with a sound letter and served as a minister of internal affairs and internal affairs, but was not included in key posts in the government.
Books
edit- The Jehol Diary (열하일기)
- Yangbanjeon
- Heosaengjeon (허생전)
- YeonamJip (연암집)
Pak Chiwŏn was also influenced by Chinese writers and technology. He wrote farming manuals with recommendations and was active in practical agronomy. His farming books were Kwonongsocho and Nongjongsinso.[3]
Popular culture
edit- Portrayed by Jung Yoo-seok in the 2014 tvN TV series The Three Musketeers.
References
edit- ^ 고미숙 (7 March 2011). 고전 인물로 다시읽기: 글쓰기 '프리랜서' 연암 박지원 [Discovering classics: the 'freelancerer' Yonam Pak Chiwŏn]. Seoul Shinmun (in Korean). Retrieved 8 June 2012.
- ^ 박지원 (in Korean). Retrieved 2018-05-13.
- ^ Encyclopaedia Korea its land, people and culture of all ages (1960) Hakwon-sa Ltd, under Agronomy (at 465)
External links
edit- https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/art/2011/02/135_81644.html
- Yeonam Bak Jiwon, Die Schelte des Tigers (in German)
- Yonam Bak Jiwon: a humanist who sided with the lower classes (연암 박지원: 백성의 편에서 세상을 바꾼 휴머니스트), Im Chae-yeong (임채영), Naver BookStory, March 2012, ISBN 9788993480795 (in Korean) {ko}.