Sin Don

Sin Don
Hangul	신돈
Hanja	辛旽
Revised Romanization	Sin Don
McCune–Reischauer	Shin Ton
Pen name
Hangul	청한거사
Hanja	淸閑居士
Revised Romanization	Cheonghan Geosa
McCune–Reischauer	Ch'ŏnghan Kŏsa
Courtesy name
Hangul	요공
Hanja	耀空
Revised Romanization	Yogong
McCune–Reischauer	Yogong
Dharma name
Hangul	편조
Hanja	遍照
Revised Romanization	Pyeonjo
McCune–Reischauer	P'yŏnjo

Marquess Jinpyeong

Shin Don
Marquess Jinpyeong; Shin Don
신돈
Personal
Born	1322
Died	1371 (aged 48–49)
Religion	Korean Buddhism
Nationality	Goryeo
Dharma names	Pyeonjo
Senior posting
Period in office	Goryeo

Shin Don (신돈, 1322~1371) was a Korean Buddhist monk and scholar during the Goryeo Dynasty; His Dharma name was Pyeonjo and he became Teacher and advisor to 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.^{[citation needed]}

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.^[1]