Pak Chiwŏn (philosopher)

Pak Chiwŏn
Born(1737-03-05)March 5, 1737
Hanseong, Joseon
DiedDecember 10, 1805(1805-12-10) (aged 68)
Hanseong, Joseon
Other namesYŏnam
Philosophical work
Era18th-century philosophy
RegionKorean Confucianism
SchoolSilhak
Notable worksCollection of the Rock of swallow(Also called Yŏnam chip),
The Jehol Diary
Pak Chiwŏn
Hangul
박지원
Hanja
朴趾源
RRBak Jiwon
MRPak Chiwŏn

Pak Chiwŏn (Korean박지원; Hanja朴趾源; 1737–1805), styled Yŏnam (연암; 燕巖; lit. 'Rock of swallow'), was a philosopher and novelist in the late Joseon dynasty. He has been regarded as one of the greatest thinkers of the so-called "Practical Learning (silhak)" movement. Pak Chiwŏn belonged to the "School of Profitable Usage and Benefiting the People" (이용후생파; 利用厚生派; Iyong Husaengp'a) to promote the industrialization of his country and the development of trade by positively introducing western technologies to Joseon Korea. Pak Chiwŏn proposed that Joseon import advanced technologies from the Qing dynasty, and promote mercantilism.

The scholars Pak Chega, Yu Deukgong and Yi Tŏngmu were influenced by Pak Chiwŏn.