Hakjo (學祖, 1431–1514) was a Buddhist monk of the early Joseon period. From the reign of Sejo through that of Yeonsangun, he served as National Preceptor (國師). His Dharma name was Hakjo (學祖), his art name (道號) was Deunggok (燈谷) or Hwangak Sanin (黃岳山人), and his birth name was Yeonghyeong (永衡). His family seat was Andong (安東) in the (Sin) lineage. He was the 11th-generation descendant of Kim Seon-pyeong (金宣平), Grand Master of the Three Han Wall Meritorious Subjects (三韓壁上功臣). His paternal grandfather was Kim Samgeun (金三係), Magistrate of Bian (比安縣監), and his father was Kim Gye-gwon (金係權), Magistrate Pan of Hanseong (漢城府判官). Kim Gye-haeng (金係行), Grand Senior Censor of the Office of Remonstrance (司諫院大司諫), Grand Master of Sungkyunkwan Education (成均館大司成), Chief Royal Secretary (都承旨), and posthumously Minister of Personnel (吏曹判書) under the title Bobaekdang, was his uncle. Kim Beon (金璠), Literary Official of the Crown Prince's Office (侍講院文學) and Seoyun of Pyongyang, was his nephew.
He was the eldest of five brothers: Yeonghyeong (Hakjo), Yeongjeon, Yeonggyun, Yeongchu, and Yeongsu. After Sejo took refuge in Buddhism, he received the patronage of the royal family and, from Sejo's reign through that of Jungjong, oversaw numerous Buddhist works. He was renowned as an eminent monk of his time for his great learning and virtue, and he was praised as a literary master of mighty prose and brush.
However, he exploited his close relationship with the royal family to engage in corruption and abuse of authority, which drew the criticism of the Sarim faction. While he was abbot of Gunjang Temple (窘長寺), he also committed adultery with Lady Song of Daebang, the widow of Grand Prince Yeongeung, which caused a scandal.
Life
Renunciation
At a young age, he left home early and entered the monastic life at Jungdae Temple on Mount Hakga in Andong and at Aeryeon Temple (艾蓮寺). He attained enlightenment at Deunggokdae (燈谷臺) of Sammaksa Temple on Mount Samseong (Gwanaksan), in what is now Anyang City.
- A legend concerning the reason for Master Hakjo's becoming a monk has been passed down in Sosan Village. While he was diligently studying at home, one day a certain old monk passing through the village of Geumsan (Sosan-ri) in Pungsan looked at Hakjo's physiognomy and told Hakjo's father, "I think you should give this child to me and send him to a temple." Startled, Hakjo's father Kim Gye-gwon asked, "How can you say such a thing?" and asked the reason. The old monk pointed at the young Hakjo and said, "If you doubt my words, look at the mark on this child's sole (the gold mark on his foot). If he remains in the mundane world like this, not only will this child but the entire family be unable to avoid great calamity." Following the monk's words, Hakjo's father examined the sole of his foot and indeed there was the character for king (王). It is said that for this reason, Hakjo's parents had the 13-year-old Hakjo leave home and become a monk.
Achievements and Royal Propagation Activities
After the death of Danjong, Sejo, who felt guilt and took refuge in Buddhism, met him, and together with Sinmi (信眉) and Hakyeol (學悅), he gained the deep trust of Sejo as a monk of the Seon school. In 1459 (the 5th year of Sejo), together with Master Sinmi and Hakyeol, he published the Worin seokbo (月印釋譜), and along with many eminent monks translated and published numerous Buddhist scriptures into the vernacular. In particular, he assisted his teacher Master Sinmi in contributing to the creation of Hunminjeongeum and the use of Hangul.
In 1464 (the 10th year of Sejo), at Bokcheon Temple (福泉寺) on Mount Songni, he attended the king and, together with Sinmi, Hakyeol, and others, held a great Dharma assembly. In 1467 (the 13th year of Sejo), by Sejo's order, he was sent to Mount Geumgang (金剛山) to rebuild Yujeom Temple (楡岾寺). In 1468, together with Master Sinmi and Hakyeol, he preached the Dharma, and some members of the yangban scholar-official class also took refuge in or came to believe in Buddhism. In January of that year, he received a post horse (驛騎) and was dispatched to Yujeom Temple in Goseong (高城), and the royal court also granted post horses to the fifteen artisans he brought with him.
In April of that year, by royal command, he and the monk Hakyeol prepared to receive envoys. In 1476, he translated into the vernacular and revised the Cheonsugyeong (千手經, Sutra of the Thousand-Hand Avalokitesvara). In 1482 (the 13th year of Seongjong), by the order of Queen Jeonghyeon, he translated and completed the Jeungdoga Namyeong Gyesong (證道歌南明繼頌), a work begun in the reign of Sejong but abandoned, under her command. In 1488 (the 19th year of Seongjong), by the order of Queen Dowager Insu, he oversaw the restoration of Haeinsa and the reconstruction of the Tripitaka Koreana depository that houses the Palman Daejanggyeong. Master Hakjo's greatest achievement is that he is regarded as the foremost meritorious subject who protected the Palman Daejanggyeong. At that time, a royal wonchang (願堂) of Sejo was established within the grounds of Haeinsa, and as a result Haeinsa was able to be protected by the royal family until the fall of the Joseon dynasty.
Connection with Hong Gil-dong
The wandering outlaw hero Hong Gil-dong (洪吉童), who had run away from home, met Master Hakjo at Jikji Temple on Mount Hwangak in Gimcheon (the temple where Samyeong Daesa took his vows). Master Hakjo, seeing in Hong Gil-dong's frustration, suppressed dreams, and hope, kept Hong Gil-dong, who had an exceptional aptitude for learning and martial arts, at Jikji Temple and taught him military strategy and martial arts. The art name Hwangak Sanin (黃岳山人) is believed to have been used at this time.
Later Life and Death
In 1500 (the 6th year of Yeonsangun), by the order of Queen Shin, he printed and published three copies of the Tripitaka at Haeinsa and personally wrote their colophons. Although he caused controversy due to various corruption and involvement in vested interests, he survived the swords of the Gabo Purge and the Muo Purge and lived on until the Jungjong Restoration. Afterward, in 1520 (the 15th year of Jungjong), by royal command, one more copy of the Haeinsa Tripitaka was printed. Looking at the Buddhist scriptures he translated into the vernacular, the Jijanggyeong Eonhae (地藏經諺解) is presumed to be one of the earliest vernacular translations, and the Geumgangyeong Samga-hae Eonhae (金剛經三家解諺解), completed under Grand Prince Suyang, was revised and printed by order of Queen Dowager Jaseong (慈聖大妃).
From the reign of Sejo through that of Jungjong, with the support of the kings and the royal family, he entered the palace freely without charge, but he also caused controversy by brokering favors and privately using palace women and servants for his own purposes.
In his later years, he returned to Aeryeon Temple (艾蓮寺) on Mount Hakga, the temple where he had left home, and passed away there.
His stupa (浮屠) stands at Bokcheonam Hermitage of Beopjusa Temple on Mount Songni in Boeun, Chungcheongbuk-do, side by side with the stupa of his teacher Master Sinmi (Hyegak Jonja). Hakjo's stupa was erected in May 1514 (the 9th year of Jungjong), 34 years after the stupa of Master Sinmi (1480), beside Master Sinmi's stupa. On the two faces of the octagonal middle stone of the stupa is the inscription '正德九年甲戌五月日立 (Jeongdeok gunyeon gapsul owol iril, "erected on a day in May of the ninth year of Jeongdeok, gapsul")' and the five-line inscription '學祖燈谷和尙塔 (Hakjo Deunggok Hwasang Tap, "Stupa of Venerable Hakjo Deunggok")', which show that it was built in 1514 (the 9th year of Jungjong). It was formerly designated as Regional Cultural Property No. 13, and on April 5, 2004, it was designated as Treasure No. 1418.
Corruption and Abuse of Authority
The scandals surrounding Hakjo, who enjoyed the favor of Sejo and Queen Jeonghui, became a major subject of the Sarim faction's criticism of Buddhism.
The record of Hakjo, using the authority of the royal family, replacing the abbot of Haeinsa with his own subordinate, became an issue.1 Also, the record of Hakjo misappropriating the land and people of Grand Prince Gwangpyeong and Grand Prince Yeongeung, sons of Sejong, was also an issue in the records.1 This caused controversy, but through the royal family's intervention it was made as if nothing had happened. There were several issues concerning Hakjo's corruption and abuse of authority, and the Sarim faction used these as grounds to attack the collusion between corrupt monks and politics and the protection of the royal family. Although the problem was temporarily covered over under royal pressure, this issue, together with other problems, erupted again during the reign of Yeonsangun.
Lady Song, the wife of Grand Prince Yeongeung, went up to a temple called Gunjang to hear sermons, and when her maidservant fell into a deep sleep, she had an affair with Hakjo.2 At the time of the Muo Purge, this fact was also recorded in the court historians' records.2
Because he frequently had contact with Lady Song of Daebang, the wife of Grand Prince Yeongeung, and eventually committed adultery with her, Kim Jong-jik, who had long despised him, criticized and ridiculed him. This incident was later recorded in the royal annals by Kim Jong-jik's disciples, providing the cause of the Muo Purge later on.
The court historians' records concerning the monk Hakjo, who was favored by Sejo and Queen Jeonghui, were also one of the important points of accusation.3 They recorded the fact that Hakjo, relying on the authority of the queen dowager, replaced the abbot of Haeinsa with his own subordinate. The record of Hakjo misappropriating the land and people of Grand Prince Gwangpyeong and Grand Prince Yeongeung, sons of Sejong, also became an issue.3
The Sarim faction, which advanced into office from the late reign of Sejo, disapproved of his activities. The period in which Master Hakjo was active, from the reign of Sejo through that of Jungjong, was when the Sarim faction's entry into politics became full-fledged. The Sarim sought to strengthen their dominance through Neo-Confucianism, but because of the kings and queens who were protective of Buddhism, such as Sejo, Queen Jeonghui, Queen Dowager Insu, and Queen Dowager Inhye, they could not openly oppose royal Buddhist works. Therefore, officials at court sought to block their Buddhist works by turning the temple visits of the grand princes' wives into scandals involving monks.
Adultery with a Royal Consort
Park Gyeong had ties with Kim Il-son, and outside Hongin Gate he saw a notice (榜文) stating that "Lady Song, wife of Grand Prince Yeongeung (永膺大君), committed adultery with the monk Hakjo (學祖)," and reported it; but because Kim Il-son wrote it into the court records, Park Gyeong was arrested, subjected to severe torture, and barely survived.4 It is said that Lady Song, wife of Grand Prince Yeongeung, went up to Gunjang Temple to hear sermons, and when her servant girl fell asleep, she had an affair with Hakjo.3 This was revealed by a maid and spread widely as rumor. The adultery incident between Hakjo and Lady Song of Daebang provided the cause of the Muo Purge later on.
Family
- (Paternal grandfather) Kim Samgeun (金三近), Magistrate of Bonghwa and Magistrate of Bian
- (Father) Kim Gye-gwon (金係權), Magistrate Pan of Hanseong — son-in-law of Kwon Maeng-son (權孟孫), Minister of Personnel and Grand Academician of the Office of Special Advisers (禮文館大提學), posthumously Lord Jepyeong
- (Uncle) Kim Gye-haeng (金係行), Grand Master of Sungkyunkwan Education, posthumously Minister of Personnel, Bobaekdang
- (Younger brother) Kim Yeongjeon (金永銓), Censor of the Office of Inspector General, Magistrate of Hapcheon
- (Younger brother) Kim Yeonggyun (金永鈞), Jinsa, Bongsa
- (Younger brother) Kim Yeongchu (金永錘), Magistrate of Hapcheon, Magistrate of Suwon
- (Younger brother) Kim Yeong-su (金永銖), Censor of the Office of Inspector General, Magistrate of Yeongcheon, Junior Councilor of the Office of Inspector General
- (Nephew) Kim Yeong (金瑛), Vice Royal Secretary, Governor of Gangwon Province, Samdang
- (Nephew) Kim Beon (金璠), Literary Official of the Crown Prince's Office, Seoyun of Pyongyang, posthumously Minister of Personnel
- (Nephew) Kim Sun (金珣), Chalbang, Hyeongjo Jwarang, Naval Commander
- (Grand-nephew's son) Kim Saeng-hae (金生海), Magistrate of Sinchun, posthumously Chwachan Sungseong — son-in-law of Grand Prince Gyeongmyeong (景明君) Yi Chim (李忱), son of King Seongjong
- (Great-grandnephew) Kim Daehyo (金大孝), Magistrate of Samga, posthumously Yeongsang
- (Great-grandnephew) Kim Won-hyo (金元孝), Vice Director of the Gunginsi, posthumously Minister of Personnel
- (Great-grandnephew) Kim Geuk-hyo (金克孝), Director of the Office of Royal Relatives, posthumously Yeongsang — son-in-law of Left State Councillor Imdang Jeong Yu-gil (鄭惟吉)
Footnotes