Seo Gyeong-deok (Korean서경덕; Hanja徐敬德; 18 March 1489 – 13 August 1546[1]) was a Korean Neo-Confucianist philosopher during the Joseon period. His philosophy studied materialism and phenomenology based on ancient taoist philosophy theories absorbed by neoconfucianism, like Yin and Yang and Ki.[2]

Seo Gyeong-deok
Hangul
서경덕
Hanja
Revised RomanizationSeo Gyeongdeok
McCune–ReischauerSŏ Kyŏngdŏk
Art name
Hangul
화담
Hanja
Revised RomanizationHwadam
McCune–ReischauerHwadam

Works

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Seo was a great scholar of the day. He counted among his students the famed gisaeng Hwang Jini, for whom he wrote this sijo:

Other works:

  • Hwadamjip (화담집; 花潭集) - collection of his writings
  • Woniki (원이기; 原理氣) - About origin of Qi
  • Igiseol (이기설; 理氣說) - about processing of Qi
  • Taeheoseol (태허설; 太虛說) - About Mu of Qi
  • Gwisin sasaengnon (귀신사생론; 鬼神死生論) - about spirit of soul and life and death.

Disciples

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Family

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  • Father - Seo Ho-beon (서호번; 徐好蕃)
  • Mother - Lady Han of the Boan Han clan (보안 한씨; 保安 韓氏)
  • Sibling(s)
    • Younger brother - Seo Sung-deok (서숭덕; 徐崇德)
  • Wives and their issue
    • Lady Yi of the Taein Yi clan (태안 이씨; 泰安 李氏); daughter Yi Gye-jong (이계종; ? – 7 January 1561)
      • Son - Seo Eung-ga (서응가; 徐應暇)
      • Son - Seo Eung-gi (서응기; 徐應麒)
      • Daughter - Lady Seo of the Dangseong Seo clan (당성 서씨)
    • Unnamed concubine
      • Son - Seo Eung-bong (서응봉; 徐應鳳)
      • Son - Seo Eung-gu (서응구; 徐應龜)

References

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  1. ^ In Lunar Calendar, Seo was born on 17 February 1489 and died on 7 July 1546
  2. ^ "화담 서경덕(徐敬德)의 기(氣) 철학". Bravo Life!. April 3, 2014.
  3. ^ David Bannon, “Sijo Poetry of Korean Kisaeng,” Hangul Herald, Fall 2008: 10-13. Excerpted and used with permission.