Hong Daeyong, styled Damheon was a philosopher, astronomer and mathematician of the late Joseon Kingdom.
16 Facts About Hong Daeyong
2.
Hong Daeyong was a friend of Park Ji-won, who was another leader of the Profitable Usage school.
3.
Hong Daeyong was born in 1731 in Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province.
4.
In 1765, Hong Daeyong followed his uncle Hong Daeyong Eock, who was in Joseon missions to Imperial China.
5.
In China, Hong Daeyong witnessed a brilliant development of Qing Dynasty and experienced culture shock.
6.
Hong Daeyong maintained the rotundity of the Earth and Earth's rotation, which was rejected by Traditional Confucianists who thought the sky was globular and the ground was square.
7.
Hong Daeyong wrote Catechism of Eusan mountain, which contains the concepts of Earth's rotation and the equality among species and the infinity of outer space.
8.
In mathematics, Hong Daeyong wrote Interpretation and Usage of Mathematics.
9.
Hong Daeyong wrote Travel Essay of Yanjing in 1765 and 1766, a journal about his travel to China.
10.
In 1774, Hong Daeyong was recommended for a mentor of Crown Prince, who afterwards would be King Jeongjo.
11.
Crown prince demanded Hong Daeyong to go into government service and be his own staff members, but Hong Daeyong indicated his refusal in a roundabout way.
12.
Hong Daeyong wrote Journal as the Mentor of Crown Prince, which contains their debate contents.
13.
However, his mother's health condition deteriorated in 1782, so Hong Daeyong abandoned a service and came back to Seoul.
14.
In 1783, mother regained her health, but Hong Daeyong had a sudden stroke.
15.
Hong Daeyong wouldn't make it by morning, and breathed his last breath the next day.
16.
Hong Daeyong's works, including Catechism of Ui mountain, Interpretation and Usage of Mathematics, Journal as the Mentor of Crown Prince were compiled to collection, Books of Relaxed House.