Jeong Chobu (鄭樵夫, 정초부, 1714-1789) was a Chosun Dynasty poet and of slave class (賤民, 천민). Unlike many of the other poets who were born into the slave class, Jeong Chobu did not have a father that was of the aristocratic Yangban class (兩班, 양반) to emancipate him early in his life. His original name (本名, 본명) was Bong (鳳, 봉); his later name was Ijae (彛載, 이재). He lived near modern day Sucheong-ri (水靑里, 수청리) near Yangpyeong (楊平, 양평) in Gyeonggi Province (京畿道, 경기도), just east of Seoul. He worked in a household belonging to members of the Hamyang Yeo Clan (咸陽呂氏, 함양여씨). When he was young, Jeong Chobu first started learning Classical Chinese by peering over the shoulders of the household’s children as they were reciting. His then-master quickly recognized his aptitude in memorizing Chinese characters and had him taught Chinese Classics along with the other children. One of these children was Yeo Chung’yeong (呂春永, 여춘영, 1734-1812), who was twenty years his junior and later became his master. Yeo Chung’yeong distributed Jeong Chobu’s poetry in Seoul. Jeong Chobu soon became well-known for his poetry and went to become one of the most famous poets of the 18th century. Members of the Yangban class regularly invited him to compose with them. One of his poems became the subject of one of Kim Hongdo’s (金弘道, 김홍도,1745-1806) painting titled Crossing the River (渡江圖, 도강도) (picture above). In 19th century and early 20th century poetry collections, his name and works appear along with those of other Yangban poets. Out of all the known slave poets of the Chosun dynasty, he has the largest amount of poetry that has survived to date.
樵夫 초부
A Lumberjack
翰墨餘生老採樵 한묵여생노채초
滿肩秋色動蕭蕭 만견추색동소소
東風吹送長安路 동풍취송장안로
曉踏靑門第二橋 효답청문제이교
The remaining life of the letters and ink in this old man is in gathering wood.
On his packed shoulders, the autumn colors sway lonely and desolate.
The easterly wind blows and is sent off to the roads of Jang’an.
At dawn, he steps upon the Blue Gate’s second bridge.
Letters • ink • remaining • life • old • to gather • to cut wood
To fill • shoulders • autumn • colors • to sway • to be lonely • to be lonely
Easterly • wind • to blow • to send • long • peace • roads
Dawn • to step • blue • gate • order • second • bridge
- 翰墨(한묵) – Literally “letters and ink.” Can refer to a literary writer.
- 長安(장안) – Jang’an, or in Mandarin Chang’an, was one of the major capitals in ancient China. It is now modern day Xi’an (西安, 서안, Seoan). Chosun poets referred to Seoul by this name.
- 靑門(청문) – Name of the south-east gate in Jang’an. Refers to the Dongdaemun (東大門, 동대문), also known as Heunginjimun (興仁之門, 흥인지문) in Seoul.
Because of Jeong Chobu’s abilities, Yeo Chun’yeong recognized the injustice of his situation, lamenting that the world valued status and money over talent, and eventually burned his slave documents to emancipate him. Even after his emancipation, Jeong Chobu lived a rather squalid life, and continued cutting wood and traveled back and forth from Seoul to his village to sell wood. When Jeong Chobu passed away, Yeo Chung’yeong mourned composing a number of poems for him, including the following:
詩祭樵夫文 시제초부문
Obituary Poem for the Lumberjack
黃壚亦樵否 황로역초부
霜葉雨空汀 상엽우공정
三韓多氏族 삼한다씨족
來世托寧馨 래세탁녕형
Down in the yellow clay, are there also lumberjacks?
The frosted leaves rain down upon the empty riverbanks.
In the Three Han States, there are many named family clans.
In the next life, I plead that you become one of them.
Yellow • clay • also • lumberjack • or not
Frost • leaves • to rain down • empty • riverbank
Three • Han states • many • surname • family clan
Coming • world • to plead • like so • like so
- 黃壚(황로) – Literally “yellow earth” or “yellow clay.” A Buddhist term referring to the afterlife.
- 三韓(삼한) – Three Han States are Mahan (馬韓, 마한), Byeonhan (弁韓, 변한), and Jinhan (辰韓, 진한). Here, refers to Korea as a whole.
- 寧馨(녕형) – Monomorphemic word (衍聲複詞, 연성복사) for “like so.” Here, refers to becoming a member of an illustrious family clan.
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