Choe Chiwon

Choi Chiwon (Korean pronunciation: [tɕʰʷe tɕʰiwʌn]; 857–10th century) was a noted Korean Confucian official, philosopher, and poet of the late Unified Silla period (668-935). He studied for many years in Tang China, passed the Tang imperial examination, and rose to high office there before returning to Silla, where he made ultimately futile attempts to reform the governmental apparatus of a declining Silla state.

In his final years, Choi turned more towards Buddhism and became a hermit scholar residing in and around Korea's Haeinsa temple.

Choi Chiwon was also known by the literary names Haeun "Sea Cloud" ([hɛːun] hanja: 海雲 ), or, more commonly, Goun "Lonely Cloud" ([koun] hanja: 孤雲 ). He is recognized today as the progenitor of the Gyeongju Choi (hanja: 崔 ) clan.

Early life and study in Tang

Choi Chiwon was born in the Saryang district of the Silla capital of Gyeongju in 857. He was of the so-called "head rank six" (yukdupum hanja: 六頭品 ) class, a hereditary class in Silla's stringent bone rank system affixed to those of mixed aristocratic and commoner birth. As a member of head rank six, Choi was restricted in the level of office he could attain.