Jeong Yak-yong

Jeong Yak-yong
Korean name
Hangul	정약용
Hanja	丁若鏞
Revised Romanization	Jeong Yak-yong
McCune–Reischauer	Chŏng Yagyong
Art name
Hangul	다산
Hanja	茶山
Revised Romanization	Dasan
McCune–Reischauer	Tasan
Courtesy name
Hangul	미용 or 송보
Hanja	美鏞 or 頌甫
Revised Romanization	Miyong or Songbo
McCune–Reischauer	Miyong or Songbo
Posthumous name
Hangul	문도
Hanja	文度
Revised Romanization	Mundo
McCune–Reischauer	Mundo

Jeong Yak-yong (Korean: 정약용; also Chong Yagyong; 1762 – 1836) was a Korean agronomist, philosopher, and poet. He is also known by his art name Dasan (다산; lit. tea mountain). He was one of the greatest thinkers in the later Joseon period, wrote highly influential books about philosophy, science and theories of government, held significant administrative positions, and was noted as a poet. He was a close confidant of King Jeongjo and his philosophical position is often identified with the Silhak school, and his concerns are better seen as explorations of Neo-Confucian themes.

Jeong was born in Namyangju (then Gwangju), Gyeonggi Province, where he also died. He spent 18 years in exile in Gangjin County, South Jeolla Province, from 1801 until 1818, on account of his membership of the Southerners faction, and also because of his elder brother's Catholic faith. Korean Catholics sometimes claim that Jeong was baptized with the name John Baptist, but there is no documentary proof of this.

Jeong Yak-yong came from the Naju Jeong clan. At birth he was given the courtesy title (初字 choja) Gwinong (歸農), and later he was also known by the courtesy names Miyong (美鏞) and Songbu (頌甫)美庸); among his art names were Sa-am (俟菴), Tagong (籜翁), Taesu (苔叟), Jahadoin (紫霞道人), Cheolmasanin (鐵馬山人), Dasan (茶山), Yeoyudang (與猶堂, the name of his house).

The exterior of Jeong Yakyong's birthplace
The interior of Jeong Yakyong's birthplace