This article includes a
list of references,
related reading, or
external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks
inline citations. (March 2024) |
Mun Ik-jeom | |
Hangul | 문익점 |
---|---|
Hanja | |
Revised Romanization | Mun Ikjeom |
McCune–Reischauer | Mun Ikchŏm |
Art name | |
Hangul | 사은 or 삼우당 |
Hanja | |
Revised Romanization | Saeun, Samudang |
McCune–Reischauer | Saŭn, Samudang |
Courtesy name | |
Hangul | 일신 or 익첨 |
Hanja | |
Revised Romanization | Ilsin, Ikcheom |
McCune–Reischauer | Ilsin, Ikch'ŏm |
Posthumous name | |
Hangul | 충선 |
Hanja | |
Revised Romanization | Chungseon |
McCune–Reischauer | Ch'ungsŏn |
Mun Ik-jeom ( Korean: 문익점; 8 February 1329 – 13 June 1398 [1]) was a politician of the Goryeo period and a Neo-Confucian scholar. His given name was Ikcheom (익첨; 益瞻), his courtesy name was Ilsin (일신; 日新), and his art names were Saeun (사은; 思隱) and Samudang (삼우당; 三憂堂).
Moon Ik-jeom was born in Gangseong-hyeon, Jinju-mok, Gyeongsang Province (modern day Danseong-myeon, Sancheong County, South Gyeongsang Province) in 1329. His father was Moon Suk-seon, who had passed the civil service examination but did not work for the government. Ik-jeom started working for the government as a historical recorder in 1360. In 1363, he went to Yuan China as a delegation member from Goryeo dynasty. On the way back to Korea he stole cottonseed in his writing brush cap to bring it secretly into Korea. In 1364, he went back to his home town Jinju to spread the seed and successfully grew one of the seeds he had brought back and continued to grow the number of plants significantly. Within ten years, Korea was able to produce cotton and was able to distribute it to the citizens. He died in 1398.