Kanjin
Kanjin | |
|---|---|
간진 | |
| Born | Kang Kara (강 가라) circa 590 BC Choganri, Zeolla, Meseda |
| Died | circa 520 BC (Age 70-71) Hanzeong, Meseda |
| Resting place | Siin-ui Myo, Jaegyu, Metzetta |
| Nationality | Mesedan |
| Occupation | Potter, Civil Servant, Philosopher |
| Known for | Philosophy and poetry |
Notable work | Proverbs of Kanjin, Annals of Pang |
| Movement | Kanjinism |
| Spouse(s) | Zwe Sana |
| Children | Kitae and Un |
Kanjin (Kang Juin, literally "Master Kang"), born Kang Kara (c. 590 BC - c. 520 BC) was a Metzettan philosopher during the Meseda-jo period. He is the most famous of all Metzettan philosophers. His teachings have become known as Kanjinism and were collected by an apprentice of his in The Proverbs of Kanjin some time after his death. Kanjin himself is known to have authored many essays and poems.
After some time spent in decline, Kanjinism was revived by Emperor Tando who made Kanjin's complete works required reading for officials working in his court and generals in his armies.
Name
Kanjin is the latinized form of "Kang Juin" meaning Master Kang and was coined by Catholic missionaries arriving in 1604. His name at birth was Kang Kara, in Metzettan tradition the family name (Kang) comes first. Metzettans referred to his as "Master" as a sign of respect for his immense wisdom and status. Kang was at the time the most common clan name in Metzetta, lending Kanjin an everyman quality that allowed him to speak for the silent majority.
Biography
Early life
Kanjin was born in a small village known as Choganri in the countryside of Zeolla in the north of Meseda around 590 BC. His father, Kang Oh made ceramics as his father had done before him and had served in the military as a young man. Often being required to carve Hangul into various items Oh was uniquely placed to teach his children how to read and write which was not common amongst the lower classes at the time. Later in life Kanjin would be the first man to advocate for all Metzettan children to be taught how to read, a practice that would not be adopted until centuries after his death. As a teenager Kanjin assisted his father in making ceramics before leaving home to train as a civil servant in Jaegyu while his brother remained to take over the family business.
While residing in Jaegyu his reputation as a thinker and poet grew while he completed his training as a civil servant and he was eventually appointed the governor of a small town named Pyongsek in western Zeolla. He proved a skilled diplomat, improving trade between neighbouring towns, reducing crime and providing jobs for the destitute. Kanjin's skills did not go unnoticed and he was tasked by a high-ranking official to travel around Zeolla and Wassi mentoring other governors in his style of leadership. After travelling for two years he was appointed as Meseda's ambassador to Hyuntoji and made several trips there.
The Emperor's court
In his new ambassadorial role Kanjin was given a residence in Hanzeong and liaised with the Emperor himself, who at the time of this appointment was Emperor Nama of the House of Zwe. When Emperor Nama passed, his successor Empress Pang promoted Kanjin again to fill the role of joining her official advisors with a speciality in diplomacy and crime. Kanjin was sent to Oyashima and Daekang on behalf of the Empress on diplomatic missions and she became increasingly impressed with his philosophy and powerful rhetoric. Under instructions from the Emperor herself Kanjin began to assemble a volume of text that came to be known as The Annals of Pang, an extremely important resource for historians as it offers a detailed snapshot of the political landscape at the time. Kanjin took on several apprentices to pass on his knowledge and returned to Jaegyu on several occasions to lecture training civil servants as his way of repaying his own teachers.
Later life and death
In his final decade or so of life Kanjin's travels reduced and he seldom left Hanzeong. He was laid to rest in Siin-ui Myo, "The Poet's Mausoleum."
Philosophy
When asked how one should live their lives well, Kanjin replied with the following advice;
- Pledge your loyalty to the one true Emperor, who watches over your nation.
- Respect your two loving parents, who raised and nurtured you.
- Master the three scholarly arts; tanso, zijo and seoye.
- Embody the four heavenly virtues; geo-ban, salajida, juinui son and gwangye.
- Study the five classic texts; The Iyagi-seda, the classic recording of history; The Moyang-yeongu, the classic study of forms, Bomgwa Yeoleum, the classic anthology of poetry; Hayan Tonglo, the classic tale of morals; and the Jiwi Banghyang, the classic teaching of order.
- Visit the six monumental shrines of Meseda and offer tribute to the gods. They can be found in Hanzeong, Galko, Zeolla, Hitui, Panyonggi and Hansang.
- Grow the seven gentlemen of the garden; zelkova, magnolia, snapdragon, lavender, hibiscus, chrysanthemum and bamboo.