U Tak

U Tak (Korean: 우탁; 1262–1342), also known as Woo Tak, was a Korean Neo-Confucian scholar and philosopher during Korea’s Goryeo dynasty. He was also commonly known as Yeokdong Seonsaeng (역동선생; 易東先生). His art names were Baekun and Danam, his courtesy names were Cheonjang and Takbo, and his posthumous name was Moonhee.[1] U Tak helped spread Neo-Confucianism, which had come from the Yuan dynasty, in Korea.[2][3] He was a disciple of the Neo-Confucian scholar, An Hyang.[4]

U Tak belonged to the Danyang Woo clan. He was the 7th generation descendant of the Danyang Woo clan's founding ancestor, U Hyeon. U had two sons, U Won-gwang (우원광; 禹元光) and U Won-myeong (우원명; 禹元明).[5] U Tak is considered as the ancestor of the Moonheegong branch (문희공파; 文僖公派) of the Danyang Woo clan.

U Tak was a respected scholar and centuries after his death, a Joseon Confucian scholar, Yi Hwang, helped to establish the Yeokdong Seowon in honor of U Tak in 1570.[3][6]