Kim Si-seup

Kim Si-seup was a Korean scholar and author during the early Joseon period. He was born in Seoul in 1435 and belonged to the yangban class. He was a prodigy who learned to read at eight months and mastered the Confucian classics at five years old. He passed the civil service examination at 15 and became a government official. However, he was disillusioned by the political turmoil and corruption that plagued the court, especially the usurpation of King Sejo from his nephew Danjong. He resigned from his post and became a Buddhist monk at 21, devoting himself to writing and teaching. He wrote the first novel in Classical Chinese in Korea, titled Geumo Sinhwa (New Stories from Mount Geumo), as well as other books such as Siphyeondamyohae, Tangyugwanseorok, and Tangyuhonamnok. His works reflect his eclectic interests and profound insights into human nature, society, and morality. He also expressed his criticism of the unjust and oppressive system that he witnessed. He was a pioneer of Korean literature and culture, and influenced many later writers and thinkers. He died in 1493 at Yongjang Temple in Gangneung, where he spent most of his life.