| Go-un Choi Chi-won 고운 최치원 Korea's Confucian-daoist "Lonely Cloud" Sage-Hero |
Choi Chi-won is one of my favorite figures of Korean cultural history, displaying many virtues &
talents and symbolizing many key themes. He was born in 857 on the north-eastern-most slope
of sacred Nam-san [South Mountain] in the Unified Shilla Dynasty's capital Gyeongju. He grew
up as a prodigy during the kingdom's steep decline from a world-class trading, military and
religious power into utter civil and political collapse. He went to China to further his studies,
and was so talented that the also-declining Tang Dynasty employed him as an official.
Finally returning to Shilla, Choi did his Confucian best to save the kingdom by advocating
reforms, but they were unfortunately rejected or ignored. Despairing that the necessary reforms
could ever be implemented, he left the capital and "washed his ears" of its corruptions in the
pure waters of the deep remote gorge north of Ssanggye-sa and east of Chilbul-sa which
thereafter became named Daeseong-gyegok [Great Sage Scenic-Valley] in his honor.
He spent his later years wandering the southern third of the peninsula, visiting sacred sites and
holding discussions with their monastic residents, learning, practicing and teaching Daoist
techniques of longevity / immortality, and composing historical records of Korea's greatest
temples. He met and learned from Doseon-daesa, Buddhist Master of Geomancy. He took the
scholar-name Go-un [Lonely Cloud] to reflect his feelings about his life in effective internal exile.
Many southern sites boost their prestige by claiming to have been visited by him, such as the
Shinseon-dae [Platform of a Spiritual Immortal] bluff on the south coast of Busan City.
talents and symbolizing many key themes. He was born in 857 on the north-eastern-most slope
of sacred Nam-san [South Mountain] in the Unified Shilla Dynasty's capital Gyeongju. He grew
up as a prodigy during the kingdom's steep decline from a world-class trading, military and
religious power into utter civil and political collapse. He went to China to further his studies,
and was so talented that the also-declining Tang Dynasty employed him as an official.
Finally returning to Shilla, Choi did his Confucian best to save the kingdom by advocating
reforms, but they were unfortunately rejected or ignored. Despairing that the necessary reforms
could ever be implemented, he left the capital and "washed his ears" of its corruptions in the
pure waters of the deep remote gorge north of Ssanggye-sa and east of Chilbul-sa which
thereafter became named Daeseong-gyegok [Great Sage Scenic-Valley] in his honor.
He spent his later years wandering the southern third of the peninsula, visiting sacred sites and
holding discussions with their monastic residents, learning, practicing and teaching Daoist
techniques of longevity / immortality, and composing historical records of Korea's greatest
temples. He met and learned from Doseon-daesa, Buddhist Master of Geomancy. He took the
scholar-name Go-un [Lonely Cloud] to reflect his feelings about his life in effective internal exile.
Many southern sites boost their prestige by claiming to have been visited by him, such as the
Shinseon-dae [Platform of a Spiritual Immortal] bluff on the south coast of Busan City.
the portrait of Choi Chi-won above is in
Ssanggye-sa's Seongbo Museum, age
unknown. Portraits of him are very rare.
I'm sorry for the bad photo, but i had to shoot it
through a reflective glass case.
Ssanggye-sa's Seongbo Museum, age
unknown. Portraits of him are very rare.
I'm sorry for the bad photo, but i had to shoot it
through a reflective glass case.
Choi is credited with naming Busan's famous Haeundae
Beach by carving those characters, meaning "Sea Clouds
Platform", on a rock beneath the pavilion he had built
overlooking it. Also with designing the unique Gate-Hall
straddling the stream in Goun-sa Temple south of Andong,
Beach by carving those characters, meaning "Sea Clouds
Platform", on a rock beneath the pavilion he had built
overlooking it. Also with designing the unique Gate-Hall
straddling the stream in Goun-sa Temple south of Andong,
| the superb dragons-dancing-in-the-clouds capstone features nine elaborate Chinese characters in moderately primitive script |
The text Choi wrote on the stele body tells the early history of Ssanggye-sa, the
biography and accomplishments of Jin-gam-daesa (a great Master of Meditation
of the early 800s, including his establishment of Beompae (Korea's Buddhist
ritual-music-&-dance) and nurturing Korea's first green tea field just outside this
temple starting in 828. This monument was built under the patronage of King
Jeonggang (r.886-887) who highly respected Jin-gam-seonsa.
biography and accomplishments of Jin-gam-daesa (a great Master of Meditation
of the early 800s, including his establishment of Beompae (Korea's Buddhist
ritual-music-&-dance) and nurturing Korea's first green tea field just outside this
temple starting in 828. This monument was built under the patronage of King
Jeonggang (r.886-887) who highly respected Jin-gam-seonsa.
which then took his pen-name for its own. He is said to have lived for awhile nearby the great
Gaya-san Haein-sa monastery and writing its history -- he may be enshrined there before Haein-sa's
front gateway, as a guardian spirit similar to a San-shin. Certainly his most famous physical legacy
is this magnificent monument at Jiri-san Ssanggye-sa with extensive inscription in his own "lively"
calligraphy. He is credited with composing many fine poems, essays and other feats of spiritual
scholarship. It is said that he never actually died, but rather achieved shinseon immortality at
Gaya-san's peak in the early 900s -- intuiting that Shilla was at its end, he bid the others at the
temple farewell and went off hiking. Days later monks went up to search for him, but they only found
his straw sandals and hat.
In the subsequent dynasties, Choi Chi-won was honored as highly as a non-royal citizen could be.
His family's house and birthplace on the northeastern corner of Gyeongju Nam-san was turned into
a shrine, enlarged and expanded several times by the decrees of kings. On that ancient capital's
western sacred mountain, Seondo-san, a noted Neo-Confucian scholar established the Seo-ak
Seowon [West Peak Private Confucian Academy] which enshrines the three most accomplished
personages of the Shilla Kingdom who were not kings -- General Kim Yu-shin, Scholar Seol Cheong
and Choi. Both of these places are a bit obscure but can still be visited by intrepid travelers today.
Gaya-san Haein-sa monastery and writing its history -- he may be enshrined there before Haein-sa's
front gateway, as a guardian spirit similar to a San-shin. Certainly his most famous physical legacy
is this magnificent monument at Jiri-san Ssanggye-sa with extensive inscription in his own "lively"
calligraphy. He is credited with composing many fine poems, essays and other feats of spiritual
scholarship. It is said that he never actually died, but rather achieved shinseon immortality at
Gaya-san's peak in the early 900s -- intuiting that Shilla was at its end, he bid the others at the
temple farewell and went off hiking. Days later monks went up to search for him, but they only found
his straw sandals and hat.
In the subsequent dynasties, Choi Chi-won was honored as highly as a non-royal citizen could be.
His family's house and birthplace on the northeastern corner of Gyeongju Nam-san was turned into
a shrine, enlarged and expanded several times by the decrees of kings. On that ancient capital's
western sacred mountain, Seondo-san, a noted Neo-Confucian scholar established the Seo-ak
Seowon [West Peak Private Confucian Academy] which enshrines the three most accomplished
personages of the Shilla Kingdom who were not kings -- General Kim Yu-shin, Scholar Seol Cheong
and Choi. Both of these places are a bit obscure but can still be visited by intrepid travelers today.
| Myself respectfully studying this monument, in Jan 1987! |
Choe Chiwon (857-904?) A scholar and eminent religious
figure of the late Silla period. Originally from the Gyeongju
Choe family, his names also include Goun 孤雲 and Haeun 海
雲. He entered the government in 894 and reached the
position of Achan 阿湌, but became pessimistic with the
troubled times and roamed the countryside. In 895 he wrote
the inscription of the pagoda erected in memory of the
warrior monks who died while guarding the temples during
the country's civil war. In his later years he went to Haeinsa
temple 海印寺 forming close ties with Hyeonjun 賢俊 and
Jeonghyeon 定玄. Choe distinguished himself with his
literary skills and wrote many epitaphs. His writings include
the Seok suneung jeon 釋順應傳, Buseokjonja jeon 浮石尊者
傳 and Gyewonpilgyeong 桂苑 筆耕 and others. 〔三國史記,
朝鮮今昔總攬〕
figure of the late Silla period. Originally from the Gyeongju
Choe family, his names also include Goun 孤雲 and Haeun 海
雲. He entered the government in 894 and reached the
position of Achan 阿湌, but became pessimistic with the
troubled times and roamed the countryside. In 895 he wrote
the inscription of the pagoda erected in memory of the
warrior monks who died while guarding the temples during
the country's civil war. In his later years he went to Haeinsa
temple 海印寺 forming close ties with Hyeonjun 賢俊 and
Jeonghyeon 定玄. Choe distinguished himself with his
literary skills and wrote many epitaphs. His writings include
the Seok suneung jeon 釋順應傳, Buseokjonja jeon 浮石尊者
傳 and Gyewonpilgyeong 桂苑 筆耕 and others. 〔三國史記,
朝鮮今昔總攬〕