Heo Jo

Heo Jo (許稠, 17 May 1369 (lunar 11 April) – 1 February 1440 (lunar 28 December 1439)) was a scholar-official of the late Goryeo and early Joseon periods. His courtesy name was Jungtong (仲通), his art name was Gyeongam (敬菴), and his posthumous name was Mungyeong (文敬). He was from the Hayang (河陽) clan.

Life

In 1369, he was born in Hayang County, Gyeongsang Province, as the second son of Heo Guiryong (許貴龍), who served as Minister of the Board of Territory (版圖判書), and of a lady of the Heungyang Yi clan (興陽李氏). Early on, he studied under Gwon Geun, and he passed the Jinsa examination in 1383 (9th year of King U) and the Saengwon examination in 1385 (11th year of King U). In 1390 (2nd year of King Gongyang), he passed the regular civil service examination and became Assistant Instructor of the Office of Ceremonies (典儀寺丞).

When Joseon was founded in 1392, he served as Left Remonstrance Official (左補闕) and Assistant Director of the Office of Court Ceremonies (奉常寺丞), concurrently serving as Drafter of Royal Edicts (知製敎), and devoted himself to rectifying the system of rites and music. In 1397, as Secretary (典籍), he revised the ritual for the Seokjeon (釋奠) rites. In 1399 (1st year of King Jeongjong), as Left Remonstrance Official, he again concurrently served as Drafter of Royal Edicts. When King Taejong ascended the throne, he was recruited as Assistant Director of the Office of Censors (司憲府雜端), but his blunt remarks went against the king's wishes, and he was demoted to Magistrate of Wansan (完山判官). Afterward, his unbending character was recognized again, and in 1402 (2nd year of Taejong) he became Junior Secretary of the Ministry of Personnel (吏曹正郎), and in 1404 Guard Commander (護軍) and Academic Secretary of the Hall of Worthies (集賢殿直提學), and then Left Literary Secretary of the Crown Prince's Tutorial Office (世子侍講院左文學). In 1406 he became Vice Magistrate of the Office of Gyeongseung (敬承府少尹), and the following year, as Academic Secretary of the Office of Special Advisers (藝文館直提學), he concurrently served as Literary Secretary of the Crown Prince's Tutorial Office. When the crown prince went to the Ming dynasty, he was promoted to Director (執義) and accompanied him as Recording Secretary (書狀官). At this time, he carefully investigated the various institutions of Ming. Then, on the return journey, he modeled the Confucian shrine of Joseon on the Confucius Temple at Gwolri (闕里) where they had stopped, enshrining Heo Heng (許衡) in the Joseon Confucian shrine and expelling Yang Xiong (揚雄).

In 1408, he served as Judge of the Office of Supplies (判司贍寺事) concurrently as Deputy Chamberlain of the Crown Prince's Tutorial Office (世子侍講院右輔德), but he was implicated in the Jo Daerim Incident (趙大臨事件) and exiled to Chunju (春州). However, he was soon reinstated as Magistrate of the Office of Gyeongseung (敬承府尹). In 1411 he became Vice Minister of Rites (禮曹參議) and concurrently served as Director of the Ritual Standardization Office (儀禮詳定所提調). At this time, he newly established the Sabu Schools and contributed greatly to determining the various royal ceremonies and the general mourning rites (喪制). Most of the many rites and music systems established during the reign of Taejong were, to a great extent, accomplished by his hand. Later, after serving as Vice Minister of the Ministries of Personnel and War, he became Governor Inspector of Pyeongan Province (平安道巡察使), where he thoroughly investigated and reported on the public grievances within the province, and he also remonstrated against tax exemptions and the king's hunting excursions. In 1415 he served as Magistrate of Hanseong (漢城府尹) and Academic Secretary of the Office of Special Advisers; in 1416 as Vice Minister of Rites and Director; and in 1418 as Commander of the Gaeseong Yuhusa (開城留後司留後) and Governor of Gyeonggi Province. After King Sejong's accession, as Magistrate of Gongan (恭安府尹) and Minister of Rites, he proposed the Law Prohibiting Lawsuits by Commoners against Officials (部民告訴禁止法) and had it implemented. He also served as examiner and recruited many talented people.