Early Years
Jang Yeong-sil's birth is recorded only in the genealogy of the Jang family and in the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty. According to these records, his father, Jang Seong-hwi, was the 8th generation of the Jang family who came from China. Jang Seong-hwi was the 3rd of 5 brothers and all of the brothers previously were ministers of Goryeo. There are many historical records about his elder brother, Jang Seong-bal, who was born in 1344 and his grave located at Ui-seong in the province of Gyeongbuk. The Annals state that his mother was a gwangi (gisaeng), thereby their (Yeong-sil's and their mother) social status was a gwanno, (a servant in civil service district courts). Yeong-sil's talent was so excellent that he was sent to the royal court. From above, we may infer that Yeong-sil was born in a family of high official status but when General Yi Song-gye unleashed a coup d'état, which gave rise to the Joseon Dynasty, Jang Seong-hwi became a political prisoner and Yeong-sil and his mother became gwannos.
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