Heo Ju

Heo Ju (許周, 1359 – 1440) was a civil official active in the late Goryeo and early Joseon periods. His family seat was Hayang (河陽). His courtesy names were Baekbang (伯方) and Baekgong (伯公). His grandfather was Heo Yunchang (許允昌), Director of the Office of Justice (都官正郎). His father was Heo Gwiryong (許貴龍), Vice Minister of the Board of Revenue (版圖判書). His mother was a daughter of Yi Gil (李吉), Vice Director of the Office of Ceremonial Affairs (通禮副使).

Life

He passed the civil service examination in the late Goryeo period and rose to Junior Secretary of the Office of Law (典法正郎). In 1385 (the 11th year of King U), as Magistrate of Yangju (知襄州事), he built fortifications to prepare against Japanese pirate raids. In 1388 he served as Magistrate of Ganseong (知安城郡事) and Chief Secretary (掌令). In 1390, as Vice Minister of Works (工部摠郎) and Inquisitor of the Right Circuit of Gyeonggi (京畿右道廉問計定使), he took part in the land reform carried out by the faction of Yi Seong-gye (李成桂).

In 1392, when Joseon was founded, he was appointed Minister of the Inner Palace (內府卿). Because his relatives occupied high offices, his family came to dominate Joseon as a powerful clan.

In 1397 (the 6th year of King Taejo), he concurrently served as Vice Censor-in-Chief of the Office of Censors (司憲中丞), and in the same year became Director of the Office for Clarifying Slave Ownership (奴婢辨正都監都廳事), where he fairly adjudicated lawsuits over the ownership of slaves.

In 1399 (the 1st year of King Jeongjong), after the Office for Clarifying Slave Ownership was abolished, he served as Judge of the Water Management Office (判司水監事) and Director of the Board of Punishments (知刑曹事).

In 1401 (the 1st year of King Taejong), as Judge of the Office of Agriculture (判典農寺事), he became Provincial Inspector of Gyeongsang Province (慶尙道按廉黜陟事), but because he failed to grasp the condition of newly reclaimed land, he was exiled to Yangju the following year.

In 1405 he served as Vice Minister of the Board of Punishments (刑曹參議), and the next year became Senior Vice Minister of the Board of Revenue (戶曹左參議) and Judge of Hongju (判洪州事), but resigned due to illness. In 1409 he served as Governor of Jeolla Province, and the following year as Vice Chief State Councillor (參知議政府事), Governor of Hanseong (漢城府尹), and Governor of Gyeonggi Province. He then retired due to illness.

In 1416 he was reinstated as Chief Administrator of the Kaesong Office (開城留後司留後). In 1418 (the year of King Sejong's accession), while serving as Chief Administrator of Hanseong (判漢城府事), he again resigned due to illness. He excelled in literary composition and was upright in character, handling public and private affairs clearly. He also strictly observed family rites, performing all ancestral ceremonies according to Zhu Xi's Family Rituals (朱子家禮). His posthumous name was Gansuk (簡肅).

Family

• Grandfather: Heo Yunchang (許允昌)
• Father: Heo Gwiryong (許貴龍)
• Mother: Heungyang Yi clan (興陽李氏), a daughter of Yi Gil (李吉)
  • Younger brother: Heo Jo (許稠)
  • Younger brother: Heo Cheok (許倜)
  • Younger sister: married into the Jo family, wife of Jo Anpyeong (趙安平)
  • Wife: Hapcheon Yi clan (陜川李氏), a daughter of Yi Wonsang (李元樀)
    • Son: Heo Seong (許誠)
    • Daughter: married Gwon Sun (權循)