Kil Chae

Kil Chae was one of the three noted Confucian literary scholars of Korea's late Koryo dynasty known collectively as The Three Recluses. Educated in the school of Chong Mongju, he passed the State Examination and became Minister of Annals shortly before the kingdom fell to the leaders of what would become the Choson dynasty. Refusing to serve the new regime, he retired and at one point reportedly lived in a cave. Later, when Taejong (with whom Kil had played as a child) became king and asked Kil to accept a position in the new government, he refused. Chong Mongju, another of The Three Recluses, was murdered. Only Yi Saek managed to remain active without compromising his principles. Kil Chae’s pen name was Yaun, which has been translated as “Hiding Blacksmith” (He evidently lived among blacksmiths.) and also as “Seductive Recluse.” Only two of his sijo have come down to us.