Sin Don (신돈, 辛旽; 21 January 1322 – 21 August 1371) was a

Korean Buddhist Korean Buddhism is distinguished from other forms of Buddhism by its attempt to resolve what its early practitioners saw as inconsistencies within the Mahayana Buddhist traditions that they received from foreign countries. To address this, the ...

monk and scholar during the

Goryeo Dynasty Goryeo (; ) was a Korean kingdom founded in 918, during a time of national division called the Later Three Kingdoms period, that unified and ruled the Korean Peninsula until 1392. Goryeo achieved what has been called a "true national unificati ...

; His Dharma name was Pyeonjo and became a teacher and advisor of Gongmin of Goryeo.

Summary

He was a Buddhist monk. He had the full confidence of King Gongmin, and he tried to reform the society of Goryeo. King Gongmin judged Shin Don clever. In 1365, King Gongmin gave him the nickname "Cheonghan Geosa" and the noble title ''Jinpyeonghu'' (''Chinpyŏng Marquess'') He appointed a ''shinjin sadaebu'' (hangul: 신진사대부) (a group of new high-level officials) with an air of freshness and drove out some people who had acquired power. Also, he promoted setting up the ''Jeonmin Byeonjeong Dogam'' (hangul: 전민변정도감, hanja: 田民辨整都監), a kind of government office to reform the land and nation in 1366. Thus, he was met with opposition by some powerful families. While surrounded by flatterers, he didn't have any supporters. Finally King Gongmin executed him in 1371.

Criticism

King Gongmin's attempt to regain the leadership of the state through the introduction of the Sin Don has achieved some success. However, for this purpose, King Kongun had almost entrusted Sin Don with full authority, and had to face criticism by making a lame political operation allowing Sin Don to do an equal example with the king.

In popular culture

*Portrayed by Son Chang-min in the 2005-2006 MBC TV series '' Sin Don''. *Portrayed by Yoo Ha-joon in the 2012-2013 SBS TV series '' The Great Seer''.

References

Shin Don

1322 births 1371 deaths Goryeo Buddhist monks Assassinated Korean people People murdered in Korea Korean revolutionaries People from South Gyeongsang Province Goryeo writers Yeongsan Shin clan {{Buddhist-clergy-stub

Summary

Criticism

In popular culture

See also

References