Gaveyard of Jipo, Kim Ku
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LocationSan 3-1, Gosa-gil Byeonsan-myeon, Buan-gun, Jeollabuk-do
- CategoryCultural Heritage / Tangible Cultural Heritage
- Korean지포 김구 선생 묘역 일원
- Chinese止浦金坵先生墓域一圓
- FieldHistory / Premodern
- Contents TypeHistoric Site / Mausoleum
- Current LocationSan 3-1, Gosa-gil Byeonsan-myeon, Buan-gun, Jeollabuk-do
- Definition
- The tomb of Kim Ku (penname: Jipo), who served as a civilian official in the late Goryeo Period, in Unsan-ri, Byeonsan-myeon, Buan-Gun, Jeollabuk-do.
- Summary
- Kim Ku (1211 – 1278/penname: Jipo) was a civilian official during the end of the Goryeo Dynasty. He was posthumously presented with an honorary title of Munjeong. His childhood name was Beak-il, and he showed excellent skills in the composition of Chinese classics even in his early days. He passed Seonggyunsi Examination at the age of 17. He also passed the state examination for recruiting high-ranking officials as second grade in second class, at the age of 22 in 1233 (20th year of the reign of Goryeo’s King Gojong). He served as a Sarok in Jeongwonbu, a local administrator in Jeju, and then a scholar at Hallimwon (Royal Academy). In Wonjong's reign, he served as Vice Minister of Culture and Education by recommendation of Yu Gyeong. He accompanied a royal envoy visiting the Yuan Dynasty of China as an assistant in charge of diplomatic documents. He wrote a book entitled Bukjeongrok, a travel essay about his visit to Yuan. In 1263(4th year of the reign of Goryeo's King Wonjong), he served as Ganuidaebu, Jeongdangmunhak, and then Jungseosirangpyeongjangsa etc,.
He fended off Mongolia’s invasion with superb cleverness and nice skills in expressing his ideas in Chinese classics. Wang E, a well-known writer of Yuan, is said to have admired his writing skills. In 1271(15th year of the reign of Goryeo's King Wonjong), he served as Jicheomuibusa, Chammunhaksa, and then Panpandosasa,. Seeing that the country’s interpreters tried to get selfish gain instead of fulfilling their duties faithfully, he recommended the establishment of Tongmungwan (Interpretation Office) to teach young and upright officials and train them as interpreters of the Han language of China. He, together with Lee Jang-yong and Yu Gyeong, compiled true records of the reign of Kings Sinjong, Huijong, and Gangjong of Goryeo. During the reign of King Chungryeol, he took part in the compilation of the true records of King Gonjong.
His poems are contained in a book titled Bukjeongrok about his experience in the Yuan Dynasty of China and Yongnujip compiled by King Chungryeol. He also left a collection of writings entitled Jipojip. In 1534, his mortuary tablet was enshrined at Dodong Seowon in Buan.
- Location
- The tomb of Kim Ku (penname: Jipo) is in 3-1Beon-ji, Jijiposan, Unsan-ri, Byeonsan-myeon, Buan-Gun. Jeollabuk-do. And it is located at the ridge leading southwestward from the top of the hill to the northeast of Unsan Village about 2 km from Byeonsan-myeon Office, Buan. Located to the east of the tomb is Gyeongjijae [at 169-120 Unsan-ro, Byeonsan-myeon, Buan-gun], a building where a sacrificial rite is held for the spirits of the deceased ancestors of Buan’s Kim Clan where Kim Ku belongs. The Sindobi (a stone marker indicating the existence of a tomb of a king or a high-ranking official in a nearby place) for his tomb is located southwest of Gyeongjijae. A stone marker indicating the location of his tomb is set up at the entrance of Unsan Village about 1 km south from the tomb.
- Development
- The graveyard was built upon his death in 1278 (4th year of the reign of Goryeo’s King Chungryeol).
- Forms
- A stone embankment was set up to its southeast. There are stairs leading up to the tomb in the east. A curved fence was set up behind the tomb. A sacrificial altar is laid to the southwest. In front of the tomb, a set of stone statuses shaped like sheep and civilian official and mangjuseok (a stone column meant to mark the border between this world and the other world) stand on each side facing each other. The tomb is about 7m in diameter. Surrounding the tomb at its bottom is flat stone sized 20㎝~30㎝. A balustrade is placed in front of the tomb. The tomb ornaments include stone statues, incense burner stone, tombstone, stone lamps, and mangjuseok (a stone column meant to mark the border between this world and the other world). Behind the tomb is an altar for paying homage to the land god.
A set of civilian official-shaped stones face each other from each side of the tomb. The shape was engraved roughly on a rectangular cylinder stone. The shoulders are attached close to the ears without showing the neck, looking unnatural. The eyes and the nose are portrayed to be oversized. The lip is thick. They appear to have the two hands gathered at the chest, holding a scepter. The wide sleeves of the robe worn by them reach down to the knee. Each of the mangjuseok facing each other is made of one stone including the top ornament. The tuft of hair looks like a magic bead. The stone platform looks like an upward-facing lotus flower. Carved at the bottom is a base stone with two-tiered octagonal columns. The altar stone for land god and the incense burner platform stone are judged to date back to the same period with the civilian official-shaped stone. The altar for paying homage to the land god behind the tomb is composed of sangseok (a stone with a flat surface shaped similar to a baduk (go) table on which sacrificial food is laid), and it says "Place of spitir tablet for the god of the earth" in front of sangseok.
- Inscription
- The tomb of Kim Ku, Gwangjeongdaebu Cheomuisirangsa Bomunseo Daehaksa Dongsuguksa Panmunhanseosa
“As it is written in Liji (Book of Rites), “You cannot stand without basis and cannot do anything without capability.” Generally, the loyalty and faith is the □(basis?), and righteousness is capability. I saw □(basis?) of loyalty and faith come to reality at the capability of righteousness from Lord Munjeong.
His name is Ku, and his childhood name is Baek-il, Ja is Chasan, and from Buryeong-Hyeon. His father Kim Jung was □□ famous Confucian scholar before, passed away as Jihu. His mother is from Buan Kim clan, daughter of □□.
He was smart even in his early days. Growing up, he displayed talent in writing. He passed Seonggyunsi Examination at the age of 17, and passed the state examination for recruiting high-ranking officials as second grade in second class, at the age of 22. Lord Jeongsuk of Kim[Kim In-gyeong] was the head examiner of that examination, and he also passed the examination as second grade. So he told past event about giving garments and alms bowl, and favored Lord Kim Ku. Kim Ku appreciated with offering □gye[□ paper], which is the role model of 4-6 lettering cadence writing even to this day.
In 1236, he was appointed local administrator in Tamna. There, he was acclaimed for his uprightness and capability. After finishing his tenure in Tamna, he returned to the Capital and accompanied a royal envoy dispatched to the Yuan Dynasty of China as an assistant in charge of diplomatic documents. There, he became widely known □. In the fall of 1241, he was assigned to a post at Hallimwon (Royal Academy). His position moved 3 times during 6 years, but no sound of the bell string heard. His poem and write for appealing was outstanding like clouds, it was more remarkable with □.
In the summer of 1247, he was assigned to a royal secretary. Since then, he had continued to be promoted and became a Grade 3 official. All the posts he was assigned to were important ones, requiring uprightness. He was a great writer, so the King did not want him to be assigned to a post outside the royal palace. He was assigned to Euncheongguangrokdaebu Sangseojwabokya in the winter of 1269(10th year of the reign of Goryeo’s King Wonjong). And in □, he entered Chuwon and added Jwasangsi. And next year, assigned Jeongdangmunhak with golden seal and embroider(great honor and high ranking position), and served as Sudaeui Jungseopyeongjangsa.
In 1275, 2nd year of the reign of present king(Goryeo’s King Chungryeol), the Yuan Dynasty of China issued a new Royal edict, changing all titles of government officials. Goryeo had to comply with it, and he received his title complied with. Between that, he conducted Samasi(lower examination) and Yebusi[春闈], those who passed the examinations were all well-known scholars, He acted in good faith at □, displayed a neat appearance, and spoke to others politely. He did not appear to be clever in handling private matters but was shrewd in handling things as an official. During his 10-year tenure as Prime Minister, he did not seek selfish gains. His main concern was the state of the country, daring to express his thoughts forthrightly. All people respected and liked him. This was his basis.
Goryeo started to act as a vassal state in its relationship to the Yuan Dynasty of China in 1231. Lord Munsun [Lee Gyu-bo], a great scholar, assumed the role of wring letters to the Chinese emperor as instructed by the King. But later, an interruption occurred in this assignment due to some serious problems. As Kim Ku came to assume the role, his choice of words was excellent, and the content of what he wrote struck a chord. Those in China who read the letters he wrote for the King felt as if he was speaking to them in person. Such eventually led to the comfortable relationship between the two countries. It was all thanks to his capability.
Alas! The basis of the loyal retainer and his capability based on righteousness still linger on people’s eyes and ears like the clear sound of a bell. One of his good-hearted descendants asked me to write this epitaph to pass it to the forthcoming generation by having it engraved on a stone. I have been a friend of his for years with special friendship so I could not reject the request.
He passed away at the age of 68 in September 26, 1278(4th year of King Chungryeol’s reign) at his home in Gwangri, Gaegyeong, after being sick in bed. The King expressed his deep condolence and presented him with a posthumous honorary title. On November 23, they buried him at the foot of a hill in Chosan.
His first wife, daughter of Nasiryeongdongjeong Park [not recorded], passed away ahead of him. Their daughter married a Lee [not recorded], a Grade 7 Official. His second wife, daughter of retired officer Choi [not recorded], gave birth to three sons and a daughter. The eldest passed the state examination at an early age and became a vice local administrator in Wansan. The daughter married an official. The second son[Jong-hwa] serves as an official at Suchanggung Palace. He remains single and lives with his mother. The youngest son[Chung-jang] became a monk and a disciple of Monk Anhwa of the Jogye Order of Goryeo Buddhism.
They all went through the funeral with fulfill heart, but they didn't broke their health. Alas, they were dutiful to their parents. His virtuous deeds, the beauty of his writings, the talents that he displayed as a government official, and the examples set by his family, etc. are recorded in government documents, genealogy, the King’s letter that presented him with a posthumous honorary title, and history books. Thus, I will not list them one by one here. I will just state the day he passed away, the day he was buried in his tomb, and the number of his children. I hope not to be castigated by my words out of joint.Thus grave an inscription.
He was comparable to a phoenix feather or a dragon scale.
His writing is so beautiful that even the blue sky and bright sun is not sufficient for compliment
His government post was consistent with house of □[Royal Academy?] and yellow palace[minister].
He passed away before reaching 70 but lived as a righteous person and did not care about himself.
I wrote an inscription about his virtuousness, and the content will be engraved on a stone so that they may be handed down forever.
Date: November 1278 (4th year of King Chungryeol’s reign)
匡靖大夫簽議侍郎賛成事寶文署大學士同修國史判文翰署事金坵墓誌
礼云無本不立無文不行盖無信□也義理文也□ 諸忠信之□行乎義理之文者吾於文貞公見
之矣 公諱坵舊名百鎰字次山扶寧縣人父諱挺□□古名儒終于祗侯母夫人金氏
□□女 公生而敏悟□長善屬文年十七中成均試二十二擧春官擢乙科第二人及第時座主金
貞肅公亦是第二人因語傳衣鉢古事大加寵進長啓以謝之至今爲四六牙龜歲丙申出倅耽羅
以廉明稱秩滿還京充書狀官使北甚□延譽至辛丑秋入直翰林院三遷六年之間耳不聆鈴索之
聲詞疏雲秀出興益奇丁未夏權補橫班自此年除遷歲至于三品□歷悉是淸華而未甞出外良
以大手筆不可一日暫離於朝廷故也己巳冬授銀靑光祿大夫文昌左相□年入樞院兼左常侍又明年加
金紫爲政堂文學歷拜叅知政事守大尉中書平章事 今上卽祚二年乙亥奉 大元國詔勅改定官號
換授今職其間掌衡司馬主席春闈所薦皆名士搢紳相賀至如□眞行潔貌厚言沉拙於私敏於官相
位十年不以自營爲計憂在祉稷敢言無所避而人盡愛敬此公之本也又自辛卯事大以來隴西文
順公以巨儒擅章奏厥後變故紛出是任大難 公觸事下筆語義俱妙巧說所未到曲形于紙使數
千里外之見者如對面言以致今日之安此 公之文也噫忠信之本義理之文鏘鏘在人耳目足
爲不杇而賢嗣郎官又欲銘于石以壽泉臺之傳請囑勤勤予與郎官甞數年同質于
此情好不渝義不敢拒勉强以書然甚慚 公春秋六十有八至元十五年九月二十六日寢疾
卒于松京廣里之私第 上深不遺之歎下□將斯之悲贈賻以寵之諡誄以傷之以十
一月二十三日葬于椒山之麓哀榮終始□是乎偹矣先娵朴氏內侍令同正朴 之女
先公沒有一女適祗侯李 後夫人崔氏禮賓卿致仕崔 之女有三男一女長曰□弱冠登科見爲
宗山牧副使一女適寶文署校勘郎 仲男壽昌宮錄事未有室侍大夫人季則落髮
依曹溪師安和大禪師凢是持喪盡情唯不至毁滅嗚呼孝矣哉若夫
公之德 行文章之美官資揚歷之詳与夫家世之懿有政籍有家諜
有諡誄有史家此不細備姑記其卒之日葬之時附以闈庭子女之數期不失詰法尔
銘曰
羽之鳳 鱗之龍 欲美其文章則靑天白日不可譽 欲叙其官爵則□堂黃閣始
而終 壽將縱心
義篤匪躬 盍銘厥德 傳之無窮
至元十五年戊寅十一月 誌
출전: 『역주 고려 묘지명 집성』하(2001)
- Current Status
- The graveyard of Kim Ku was designated as Jeollabuk-do Monument No. 127 on Oct. 23, 2009 and has been managed by Buan Kim clan.
- See Also