The family of Yi Jehyeon came from Gyeongju (慶州) county of Gyeongsang province. His courtesy name is Jungsa (仲思), and his pen name is the Ikjae (益齋) and Yeogong (櫟翁). He was born as a son of Yi Jin (李瑱, 1244-1321), who served as a Honorary Chancellor (檢校侍中 Geomgyo sijung). He interacted with Chinese literary scholars while he stayed in the Hall of the Ten Thousand Scrolls (萬卷堂 Mangwondang) of King Chungseon (忠宣王, r.1298-1308), and wrote Yeogongpaeseol (櫟翁稗說 Miscellaneous Words of Yeogong [Old Man Acorn]).
1. Life
Yi Jehyeon was very mature since youth and showed extraordinary talents that distinguished him from other children. In 1301, he passed the advanced scholar examination (成均試) of the National Academy (國子監) with the highest score, and entered the government office immediately after passing the civil service examination. Yi studied under Kwon Bo (權溥, 1262-1346), who was a great scholar and had great authority at this time, and married his daughter. Afterward, he served in various offices of the court. In 1314, he was ordered by King Chungseon to go to Yanjing (燕京), the capital of the Yuan Dynasty of China.
King Chungseon attempted to pursue reform during his reign, but when his policies failed, he passed on the throne to his son King Chungsuk (忠肅王, r.1313-1330). Later he stayed in Yanjing, where he built a library called Mangwondang and discussed the history of ancient and modern times as well as the scriptures with the prominent figures of the Yuan dynasty. As famous literary scholars of the Yuan dynasty frequently visited Mangwondang, King Chungseon called Yi to Mangwondang to represent the scholars of Goryeo dynasty and to debate with the scholars of the Yuan dynasty. While staying in the Great Yuan, Yi interacted with prominent Chinese literary scholars. Yi also broadened his knowledge and his insights by traveling through the entire Yuan Dynasty three times. It is told that Yi’s poems were widely read by Chinese writers during this period.
Yi Jehyeon returned home after staying in Yuan for six years. In 1321, he went into mourning for his father Yi Jin who passed away. After the mourning, he went back to serve the government and became premier under the King. However, when Jo Jeok (曺頔, ?-1339) started an uprising and the country fell to a state of disorder, he confined himself to his home and concentrated on his creative endeavors. Yi wrote the Yeogongpaeseol during this time. After King Chungmok’s death in 1348, he endeavored to crown King Kongmin as the king of the country. In 1351, when King Kongmin (恭愍王, r.1351-1374) ascended the throne, Yi was appointed as the minister and oversaw the government for reform politics. He died at the age of 81 in 1367 and was given the title of Munchunggong (文忠公).
2. Writing
Yi Jehyeon is regarded as a figure who fulfilled many achievements with his literary talent. As his anthology, he wrote ten chapters in four volumes of Ikjaenango (益齋亂藁 Random Jottings of Ikjae) and the Yeogongpaeseol. Seo Geojeong (徐居正, 1420-1488) said in his a book, Donginsihwa (東人詩話 Remarks on Poetry by a Man from the East), “he [Yi] was so good at lyrics that each word and each phrase were in tune with the rhythm.” He praised Yi’s ability to freely compose lyrics when even Chinese poets struggled to do so. For example, Yi left eleven poems of the Soakbu (小樂府 A Small Collection of Folk Songs), and translated some of the widely known Goryeo folk songs of that time to a specific type of Chinese poems with seven syllables four line. His translation remains to be few of the only record the Goryeo folk songs.
Yeogongpaeseol was published in one volume (four chapters) in 1342. It included critical essays along with descriptions of historical facts. Some scholars believe that Yi would have wanted the title to be read as “Nagongbiseol” (櫟翁稗說 same Chinese characters, but different pronunciation of Yeogongpaesepl) for its purpose, but it is generally read as “Yeogongpaeseol” nowadays. Yeogongpaeseol starts with the critical recognition of Goryeo’s political reality. He thought that in order to retain the order of Goryeo, it was urgent to make fundamental reforms in domestic politics and economy leading to establishment of stable national finances, and the enhancement of the public welfare. Reflecting on the period during which Goryeo was humiliated by the Yuan dynasty, he showed his resistance to the corrupted status of Goryeo’s flunkeyism (事大主義 sadaejuui) and even revealed the tyranny of the Military Regime.
Yi Jehyeon was a representative politician and scholar of the Goryeo dynasty. He served as the prime minister (門下侍中 munhasijung), which was the highest official in Goryeo. Moreover, his extensive intelligence and his varied works of poetry were already recognized at that time. Though Goryeo was suffering from the aftermath of the military regime and was in a difficult situation under the political interference of the Yuan dynasty, Yi made efforts to reestablish the presence of the state and to resolve social contradictions, while he also made great efforts to preserve the sovereignty of Goryeo, traveling back and forth between Goryeo and the Yuan Dynasty.
Yi is said to have made great achievements in literature and scholarship. Yi Saek (李穡, 1328-1396) said that Yi Jehyeon was at the highest level in ethics and composition and that his writing was particularly similar to that of Han Yu (韓愈, 768-824), a member of The Eight Masters in Tang and Song Dynasty. Above all, Yi advocated ancient writings to enable the sadaebu (士大夫 the literati) to establish their character and to form their morals as a sadaebu. He played a major role during the transition between the late Goryeo and early Joseon by preparing for the new era of sadaebu’s literature.
Yi also played an important role in the acceptance and development of Confucianism as many of the Chinese literary scholars he interacted with in Mangwondang had a deep understanding of the doctrines of Chu-Tzu. Yi met with these Chinese scholars to deepen his understanding of the doctrines of Chu-Tzu and spread his knowledge in Goryeo, establishing the foundation for the Sung Confucianism to develop.
Reference
Im, Hyeongtaek, “Goryeomal Ikjae ui Gomunchangdo (Ikjae’s Classical Singing Guide during Late Goryeo),” Jindan Hakbo (Journal of Korea) 51, 1981.
Jeong, Gubok, Yi Jehyeon ui Yeoksa Uisik (Yi Jehyeon’s Historical Consciousness), Jindan Hakbo (Journal of Korea) 51, 1981.
