In 1494, King Yeonsan ascended the throne, and only four years later, in 1498, he faced the Muosahwa, the first literati purge in Joseon. ...
1. Background of the Muosahwa — Sparks of Conflict in the 4th Year
When King Yeonsan ascended the throne in 1494, he was only 19 years old. From the outset, the court was divided between the Hungu faction, who had held power since King Sejo, and the Sarim faction, rising Neo-Confucian scholars who emphasized moral principles. Yeonsan’s authority was still fragile, forcing him to rely on the Hun-gu officials, while the Sarim’s moral criticism and outspoken scholarship became destabilizing elements. This imbalance and tension eventually ignited the conflict.
2. The Memorial to the Loyal Emperor — When Literature Became Politics
Kim Jong-jik, the spiritual leader of the Sarim, had written the "Memorial to the Loyal Emperor" during his lifetime. On the surface, it lamented the fate of the Chu emperor in China, but its allegory was unmistakable: the unjust death of the emperor echoed the tragedy of King Danjong of Joseon. This implied criticism of King Sejo’s seizure of the throne. When Kim’s disciple Kim Il-son recorded the piece in the royal annals, the Hungu faction denounced it as a treasonous document that undermined the dynasty’s legitimacy. A scholarly essay thus became the spark for a political purge.
3. Unfolding of the Muosahwa — Clash Between Hungu and Sarim
In 1498, when the "Memorial to the Loyal Emperor" entered the hands of the Hungu faction, the conflict escalated dramatically. Leaders like Yun Pil-sang and Yu Ja-gwang insisted the essay directly denied King Sejo’s legitimacy. King Yeonsan, whose throne was still insecure, accepted their interpretation, leading to a sweeping purge of the Sarim. Though Kim Jong-jik had already passed away, his grave was desecrated in a posthumous execution (bugwan-chamsi), while Kim Il-son, Cho Wi, Kwon O-bok, and many others were executed or exiled. The secrecy and independence of the royal annals collapsed, as what should have safeguarded truth became a weapon of political repression. The court was filled with fear, and the Sarim were devastated.
4. Impact of the Muosahwa — Political, Intellectual, and Historical Significance
The immediate outcome of the Muosahwa was the resurgence of Hungu dominance and the downfall of the Sarim. The Sarim were politically silenced, and the freedom of speech and historical recording was severely restricted. Yet in the long run, the Sarim regrouped in local academies and Confucian schools, strengthening their scholarly base. After the Jungjong Restoration, they returned to politics and eventually became Joseon’s ruling elite. Thus, the Muosahwa was not merely a purge but a turning point that reshaped Joseon politics. It also demonstrated how even allegorical literature and historical writing could be perceived as threats to authority, underscoring the perilous tension between truth and power.
5. Historical Lessons — The Tension Between Records and Power
The Muosahwa was not simply triggered by a single essay. Underlying it were factional rivalry, an unstable monarchy, and political calculations to secure authority. What stands out most is that power, by its nature, fears records and expression, often choosing to suppress them. The records of historians and the writings of scholars were intended to preserve lessons for posterity, yet King Yeonsan and the Hungu branded them as treason and unleashed brutal purges. In the short term, the throne and the Hungu faction were strengthened, but in the long term, legitimacy eroded, setting the stage for tyranny. The Muosahwa thus warns of the catastrophic consequences when rulers fear truth, while also affirming that the scholarly pursuit of truth cannot ultimately be silenced.
Conclusion
The Muosahwa, the first purge under King Yeonsan, became a defining moment in Joseon’s political history. A piece of writing, read as subversive, became the pretext for the persecution of scholars and the distortion of historical records. It was not merely a political conflict, but a revelation of the deep tension between authority, free expression, and historical memory.
The Muosahwa reminds us that whenever rulers fear truth, they often respond with suppression. Yet history also shows that truth cannot be erased. Although the Sarim were crushed at the time, they rebuilt their strength and eventually reshaped Joseon politics. The purge thus stands as both a historical tragedy and a lesson for the present: freedom of expression and the preservation of truth are indispensable to a just society.
Today, revisiting this event matters because its lessons still resonate. Power may try to silence records, but records endure, and later generations scrutinize them to reflect on past wrongs. The Muosahwa demonstrates the dangers of unchecked authority, while highlighting the enduring value of truth and scholarly integrity. It is a lasting reminder of why freedom of expression and democratic principles must be protected.
References
- National Institute of Korean History Database.
- Lee Tae-jin, Sarim and Hungu in the Joseon Dynasty, Seoul National University Press, 2004.
- Han Young-woo, Rediscovering Our History, Kyungsewon, 2019.
- Jung Du-hee, “Study on the Literati Purges in King Yeonsan’s Reign,” PhD diss., Korea University, 2007.
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