古佛 孟思誠 硏究

Study of Kobul, Maeng Sa-sŏng

Maeng Sa-sŏng was born in 1360, the 9th year of the reign of King Kongmin of the Koryo dynasty in Songdo, the present Kaesŏng. Kobul is his pan name. His grand father was Maeng Yu and his father was Maeng Hee-do. When young, he was very bright. At the age of 27, he ranked top at the civil exam. His family had a hard time in the process of the change of the regime from Koryo to Chosun. After that, he went through a variety of the important positions including ministries. He was frugal and honestly poor. And, he served the people with his political philosophy that the people should be ruled not with a law or force but with a virtue. He also emphasized filial piety. He worked for the publication of books such as the encyclopedia of law, the history of Koryo, the annals of Taejong, the book of geography and the book of royal family tree.