U T'ak

This article is about the Korean Confucian scholar. For the traditional Moro weapon, see Utak.

In this Korean name, the family name is U.

U T'ak (Korean: 우탁; Hanja: 禹倬; 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 Yŏkdong Sŏnsaeng (역동선생; 易東先生). His art names were Paekun and Tanam, his courtesy names were Ch'ŏnchang and T'akpo, and his posthumous name was Moonhee. U T'ak helped spread Neo-Confucianism, which had come from the Yuan dynasty, in Korea. He was a disciple of the Neo-Confucian scholar, An Hyang.

U T'ak
Hangul	우탁
Hanja	禹倬
Revised Romanization	U Tak
McCune–Reischauer	U T'ak
Art name
Hangul	백운 or 단암
Hanja	白雲 or 丹巖
Revised Romanization	Baekun or Danam
McCune–Reischauer	Paekun or Tanam
Courtesy name
Hangul	천장 or 탁보
Hanja	天章 or 卓甫
Revised Romanization	Cheonjang or Takbo
McCune–Reischauer	Ch'ŏnchang or T'akpo
Posthumous name
Hangul	문희
Hanja	文僖
Revised Romanization	Munhui
McCune–Reischauer	Munhŭi

U T'ak belonged to the Danyang Woo clan. He was the 7th generation descendant of the Danyang Woo clan's founding ancestor, U Hyŏn. U had two sons, U Wŏn-gwang (우원광; 禹元光) and U Wŏn-myŏng (우원명; 禹元明). U T'ak is considered as the ancestor of the Moonheegong branch (문희공파; 文僖公派) of the Danyang Woo clan. By 1308, U held the Censorate office of royal inspector (감찰규정; 監察糾正; lamch'al kyujŏng), however he protested newly reigning King Chungseon's relationship with late king's former concubine, Lady Sukchang by bringing an axe to court and appealed to the king to reconsider his ways. U would retire early from the court after this incident.

U T'ak 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 T'ak in 1570.

See also

• An Hyang
• Danyang Woo clan