Pak Chiwŏn (philosopher)

Pak Chiwŏn
Born(1737-03-05)5 March 1737
Hanseong, Joseon
Died10 December 1805(1805-12-10) (aged 68)
Hanseong, Joseon
Other namesYeonam
Philosophical work
Era18th-century philosophy
RegionKorean Confucianism
SchoolSilhak
Notable worksCollection of the Rock of swallow(Also called Yeonamjip),
The Jehol Diary
Pak Chiwŏn
Hangul
박지원
Hanja
朴趾源
Revised RomanizationBak Jiwon
McCune–ReischauerPak Chiwŏn

Pak Chiwŏn (Korean: 박지원; Hanja: 朴趾源; 1737–1805), styled Yeonam (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 Husaengpa) 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 Bak Jega, Yu Deukgong and Yi Deokmu were influenced by Pak Chiwŏn.