Yi I facts for kids

Yi I
Quick facts for kids Korean name
Hangul	이이
Hanja	李珥
Revised Romanization	I I
McCune–Reischauer	Yi I
Art name
Hangul	율곡
Hanja	栗谷
Revised Romanization	Yulgok
McCune–Reischauer	Yulgok
Courtesy name
Hangul	숙헌
Hanja	叔獻
Revised Romanization	Sukheon
McCune–Reischauer	Sukhŏn

Yi Yi (Hangul: 이이; Hanja: 李珥; December 26, 1536 – February 27, 1584) was a very smart thinker, writer, and a follower of Confucianism during the Joseon Dynasty in Korea. People often called Yi I by his pen name Yulgok, which means "Chestnut valley". He was also a politician and learned a lot from a famous scholar named Jo Gwang-jo.

A Look at Yi I's Life

Yi I was born on December 26, 1536, in Gangneung, Gangwon Province. His family was the Deoksu Yi clan. His father, Yi Won-su, held an important government job. His mother, Shin Saimdang, was a very talented artist and calligrapher.

When he was young, Yi I studied with Baek In-geol. It is said that by age seven, he had already finished learning the main Confucian books. He passed the government's special literary exam when he was just 13 years old.

After his mother died when he was 16, Yi I went to Kumgang-san mountains. He stayed there for three years, studying Buddhism. When he was 20, he left the mountains and focused on studying Confucianism.

He got married when he was 22. The next year, he visited another famous scholar, Yi Hwang, at Dosan. Yi I passed special exams with the highest scores. His winning essay, Cheondochaek ("Book on the Way of Heaven"), was seen as a masterpiece. It showed his deep knowledge of history, Confucian ideas about government, and Taoism. He kept getting top scores on civil exams for nine times in a row!

Yi I's father passed away when he was 26. From age 29, Yi I worked in many different government jobs. In 1568, he visited the Ming Dynasty (an old Chinese kingdom) as a document officer. He also helped write the Myeongjong Annals, which were historical records. When he was 34, he wrote Dongho Mundap. This was an eleven-article paper explaining his belief that a fair government was possible.

Because he had so much experience in different government roles, Yi I understood politics very well. The king trusted him deeply. By the time he was 40, Yi I became one of the most important people in government. He sent many papers and ideas to the royal court. But in 1576, political arguments grew very strong. His efforts to help did not work, so he went back home.

After returning home, he spent his time studying and teaching his students. He also wrote several books.

Yi I returned to government work when he was 45. He held various minister positions. During this time, he wrote many things about important political events. He tried hard to calm the political arguments that were happening. However, King Seonjo did not take a clear side. This made it hard for Yi I to stay neutral in the conflicts. He left his government job in 1583 and died the next year.

There is a story that Yi I had a special building built near the Imjin River. He told his family to burn it down if the king ever had to run away from Seoul to the north. This would create a guiding light for the king. This story is said to have happened during the Imjin War, when Japan invaded Korea.

Yi I's Teachings

Yi I was known not only as a thinker but also as someone who wanted to improve society. He did not fully agree with all the ideas of Yi Hwang, another famous scholar. Yi I's way of thinking focused more on practical and real-world things. He believed that learning from experience and studying were very important.

Unlike Yi Hwang, who did not like being involved in politics, Yi I was an active government official. He thought it was important to use Confucian ideas and rules to run the government well. He believed that leaders should study hard and improve themselves. This would help them govern properly.

Yi I was also known for his good ideas about national security. He suggested that Korea should build up and strengthen its army. He thought this was important because a Japanese attack might happen. However, the government did not accept his idea. He died before the Imjin War actually began.

Selected Writings

Here are some of the books and papers Yi I wrote:

• Questions and Answers at East Lake (hangul:동호문답, hanja:東湖問答) - This book has eleven articles about how to improve the government.
• Memorial in Ten Thousand Words (hangul: 만언봉사, hanja: 萬言封事) - This work offered ideas about Confucian learning, self-improvement, and how to use these ideas in government.
• The Essentials of the Studies of the Sages (hangul: 성학집요, hanja: 聖學輯要) - This book explains the basic rules of Confucian behavior, how to improve oneself, and how to govern a country.
• The Secret of Expelling Ignorance (hangul: 격몽요결, hanja: 擊蒙要訣) - This is a step-by-step guide for learning.
• Daily Records of Lectures before the Throne (hangul: 경연일기, hanja: 經筵日記) - This book records important political events and happenings.
• The Complete Works of Yulgok (hangul: 율곡전서, hanja: 栗谷全書) - This collection of his writings was put together after he died.

Yi I's Legacy

Yi I on the currently used 5,000 won banknote.

A street in central Seoul called Yulgongno is named after him. His picture is also on the 5,000 won banknote in South Korea.

The Taekwon-Do pattern Yul-Gok is named in his honor. This pattern has 38 movements. These movements represent his birthplace, which is on the 38th degree latitude. The "Yulgok Project," a plan to modernize the South Korean military, is also named after him.

Family

• Father: Yi Won-su (이원수, 李元秀) (1501 - 1561)
• Mother: Shin Saimdang (1504 - 1551) (신사임당)
• Wife: Lady No of the Goksan No clan (? - 1592) (곡산 노씨)
  • Daughter: Lady Yi (이씨)
    • Son-in-law: Kim Jip (김집, 金集) (1574 - 1656)

Yi I in Popular Culture

• An actor named Jung Joon-won played Yi I in the 2017 SBS TV show Saimdang, Memoir of Colors.

See also

In Spanish: Yi I para niños

• Korean Confucianism
• Yi Hwang
• Korean philosophy
• List of Joseon Dynasty people
• History of Korea