Baek Dong-soo

Baek Dong-su or Baek Dong Soo (백동수, 白東脩; 1743–1816) was a Korean martial artist and swordsman of the Suwon Baek clan. He became a folk hero when his group protected King Jeongjo from assassination attempts. He was known as the best warrior in Chosun. He is a person who firmly walked his own way despite of his low social class for he was a Seo-er(child of a concubine).

In this Korean name, the family name is Baek.
Baek Dong-soo
Hangul
Hanja
Revised RomanizationBaek Dong-su
McCune–ReischauerPa'ek T'ong-su
Art name
Hangul
Hanja
Revised RomanizationYanoi, Injae
McCune–ReischauerYan'oe, Inch'ae
Courtesy name
Hangul
Hanja
Revised RomanizationYeongsuk
McCune–ReischauerYŏngsuk

1771, He passed the military service examination. But the Chosun government didn't hire him. Given the social climate of the time, it had to be taken into account that there was discrimination based on social status.In 1773, He gave up on getting an official position and leaving Seoul to live in seclusion, Go into hiding in a rural village Inje in Gangwon.[1]

In 1788, at the age of 45, Baek Dong-soo was appointed to a government position as the head of the Royal Guards by King Jeongjo, who had just ascended to the throne. From then on, Baek Dong-soo trained elite soldiers for the king while serving as his personal guard. In 1789, King Jeongjo ordered Baek Dong-soo and his two friends, Yi Deok-mu and Park Jae-ga, to write a book on martial arts. Within a year, they completed Muyedobotongji. That book is a classic work that combines the best martial arts techniques from across East Asia, featuring detailed illustrations and explanations. It is highly regarded as a classic martial arts masterpiece both as literarily and as a stand-alone instruction manual in the realm of East Asian martial arts.[2]

His life became the basis for the Korean comic book "Honorable Baek Dong-soo" written by Lee Jae-hoon which was turned into a television series.

Family
  • Great-grandfather:
    • Baek Si-gu (백시구, 白時耉; 1649–1722)
  • Grandfather:
    • Baek Sang-hwa (백상화, 白尙華; 1691–1768)
  • Father:
    • Baek Sa-goeng (백사굉, 白師宏; 1721–1792)
      • Younger brother: Baek Dong-gan (백동간, 白東侃)
  • Wife: Lady, of the Jinju Yu clan (부인 진주 유씨, 夫人 晉州 柳氏; 1738–1790)
    • 1st son: Baek Sim-jin (백심진, 白心鎭)
    • 2nd son: Baek Seong-jin (백성진, 白性鎭)

Film and television

Literature

The 2010 comic Honorable Baek Dong-soo by Lee Jae-heon, the series is about how Joseon historical figure Baek Dong-soo grew to become a swordsman and folk hero. Baek was one of the three authors of Muyedobotongji, a pivotal martial arts work commissioned by King Jeongjo.

See also

References
  1. Kim, Yong-ho (2008-02-27). "문화재청 > 월간문화재사랑 상세 > 진정한 조선의 무사 야뇌 백동수를 말한다" [Baek Dong-soo, a true Joseon warrior.]. CULTURAL HERITAGE ADMINISTRATION (in Korean). Retrieved 2023-04-09.
  2. Kwak, Nakhyun (2013). "Baek Dong Su's life and view of Martial arts". 온지논총 (in Kanuri) (37): 189–214.
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