Sin Don
Sin Don (신돈, 辛旽; 21 January 1322 – 21 August 1371[1]) was a Korean Buddhist monk and scholar during the Goryeo Dynasty; His Dharma name was Pyeonjo and became a teacher and advisor of Gongmin of Goryeo.
Marquess Jinpyeong Sin Don of the Yeongsan Sin clan | |
|---|---|
신돈 | |
| Personal | |
| Born | 21 January 1322 Yeongsan-hyeon, Gyeongsang-do, Kingdom of Goryeo (nowadays is Yeongsan-myeon, Changnyeong-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea) |
| Died | 21 August 1371 (aged 48) |
| Religion | Korean Buddhism |
| Nationality | Goryeo |
| Children | 1 |
| Parents |
|
| Dharma names | Pyeonjo |
| Profession | Buddhist monk Warrior Politician Writer Scholar |
| Senior posting | |
| Period in office | Goryeo |
| Profession | Buddhist monk Warrior Politician Writer Scholar |
| Sin Don | |
| Hangul | 신돈 |
|---|---|
| Hanja | |
| Revised Romanization | Sin Don |
| McCune–Reischauer | Sh'in T'on |
| Pen name | |
| Hangul | 청한거사 |
| Hanja | |
| Revised Romanization | Cheonghan Geosa |
| McCune–Reischauer | Ch'ŏnghan Kŏsa |
| Courtesy name | |
| Hangul | 요공 |
| Hanja | |
| Revised Romanization | Yogong |
| McCune–Reischauer | Yo'kong |
| Dharma name | |
| Hangul | 편조 |
| Hanja | |
| Revised Romanization | Pyeonjo |
| McCune–Reischauer | P'yŏnch'o |
Summary
He was a Buddhist monk. He had the full confidence of King Gongmin, and he tried to reform the society of Goryeo. King Gongmin judged Shin Don clever. In 1365, King Gongmin gave him the nickname "Cheonghan Geosa" and the noble title Jinpyeonghu (Chinpyŏng Marquess)
He appointed a shinjin sadaebu (hangul: 신진사대부) (a group of new high-level officials) with an air of freshness and drove out some people who had acquired power. Also, he promoted setting up the Jeonmin Byeonjeong Dogam (hangul: 전민변정도감, hanja: 田民辨整都監), a kind of government office to reform the land and nation in 1366. Thus, he was met with opposition by some powerful families. While surrounded by flatterers, he didn't have any supporters. Finally King Gongmin executed him in 1371.
Criticism
King Gongmin's attempt to regain the leadership of the state through the introduction of the Sin Don has achieved some success. However, for this purpose, King Kongun had almost entrusted Sin Don with full authority, and had to face criticism by making a lame political operation allowing Sin Don to do an equal example with the king.[2]
In popular culture
- Portrayed by Son Chang-min in the 2005-2006 MBC TV series Sin Don.
- Portrayed by Yoo Ha-joon in the 2012-2013 SBS TV series The Great Seer.
See also
- Yi Jaehyeon
- Gongmin of Goryeo
- U of Goryeo