Abstract

This study examines the Chungju seclusion and poetic works of Hong Junghyeon (洪重鉉, 1660-1726), known by his pen name Cheoniljae (天一齋), focusing on how his retreat from public life shaped his consciousness of seclusion (eungeo) and reclusion (eunil). The research centers on Jeosanrok (樗散錄), the section of his collected works Cheoniljae Yugo (天一齋遺稿) that contains poems written during the early years of his withdrawal, to trace the evolution of his inner world and selfawareness. After being released from exile following the Gapsul Hwanguk (the political purge of 1694), Hong Jung-hyeon refused to return to government service and retired to Chungju, where he built the Cheoniljae studio and led a secluded life. His collected works consist mainly of poems composed during this period, revealing his transformation from political disillusionment to an introspective pursuit of peace and self-sufficiency. In particular, Jeosanrok vividly captures his feeling of being “useless” to the world and his subsequent quest for tranquility and harmony with nature. Through depictions of Chungju’s landscapes and everyday scenes, he established a cheosa-type worldview that valued inner freedom and the serenity of nature over worldly success or material wealth. By illuminating the largely overlooked literary world of Hong Jung-hyeon, this study provides a concrete example of late Joseon reclusion literature, demonstrating that such works were not mere escapism but rather expressions of self-reflection and moral autonomy in times of political turmoil.