Byeon I-jung (邊以中, 1546–1611) was a scholar-official and soldier of mid-Joseon who served as a recruitment commissioner (somosa) recruiting volunteer troops during the Imjin War. He was from Jangseong in Jeolla Province, and his family seat was Hwangju (黃州). His courtesy name was Eonsi (彦時), and his pen name was Mangam (望庵).
He was a disciple of Yi I (Yulgok) and Seong Hon (Woegye), and he was the father-in-law of Kim Ja-jeom. From Jangseong, South Jeolla Province.
Life
He was born in 1546 at Jangan village (長安) in Jangan-ri, Eupseo-myeon of Jangseong Hyeon, Jeolla Province (present-day Jangseong-eup). His father was Byeon Taek (邊澤), a chambermaster (chambong), and his mother was from the Hamp'ung Yi clan (咸豊李氏), a granddaughter of Yi Geung (李兢), who served as vice minister of the Board of Personnel. He studied literature and scholarship early on under Yi I (Yulgok), and he also studied under Seong Hon (Woegye).
In 1568 he passed the Jeunggwangsi saengwon examination. In 1573 (the 6th year of King Seonjo), he passed the regular civil service examination (silgisi) and placed in the second rank of the munkwa. In June 1592 he was appointed Chalbang (courier station inspector) of Eochen. In February 1593 (the 26th year of King Seonjo), he became a recruitment commissioner and attacked the Japanese garrison at Juksan, but he was defeated heavily.
On February 12, 1593, based on the contents of his own writings, the Illustrated Explanation of Cannon and Fire Arrows (《銃筒火箭圖說》) and the Illustrated Explanation of Fire Carts (《火車圖說》), he manufactured 300 hwacha carts. He sent 40 of them by boat to Haengju Fortress in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, where they helped General Gwon Yul, who was fighting there, to achieve a great victory. During this process, he pressed the common people to build carts and to contribute oxen, and the people could not bear the hardship.
Afterward, he became Joyo Eosa (investigator of the coastal areas). While stationed at Yangcheon Mountain, he used a clever strategy to repel Japanese forces, and he earned merit in battle many times. In November 1593, as Jeolla Province Jodosa, he procured several hundred thousand seok of military grain and supplied it to the troops of the Ming dynasty.
Thus, during the Imjin War, he served as a recruitment commissioner for Jeolla Province (the post for recruiting volunteer troops) and as Jodosa. He recruited soldiers, weapons, and volunteers, procured military grain, and was stationed at Suwon to guard against the enemy in the Gihos region.
In 1595 (the 28th year of King Seonjo), he became Buhogun; in 1599 (the 32nd year), magistrate of Seonsan; in 1600 (the 33rd year), Jeonjeok of the Sungkyunkwan; in 1601 (the 34th year), a Nangcheong of the Bibyeonsa; and in 1603 he took up the post of magistrate of Haman. In 1605 he resigned and returned to his hometown of Jangseong, where he spent the rest of his life.
Byeon I-jung's grave is located at 17-11 Gaip-gil, Hyeongyeong-myeon, Muan (San 44-5, Gaip-ri, Hyeongyeong-myeon). Although he was born and raised in Jangseong, where he studied and where he died, his grave is about 50 km away from his hometown in this place. It is said that this was because he had found this place to be an auspicious site while serving as Jeolla Province somoeosa, and that he left a will asking to be buried here after his death. Mangam Seonsaeng, who was born in Jangseong in 1546 and ended his life at the age of 66 (in 1611), was first buried in Jangseong, but a few years later his son reinterred him at this site, known as Hwahaeryongju (花蟹弄珠, an auspicious site where a crab plays with a pearl).
His disciples included Kim U-geup (金友伋), known as Chudam.
After death
After his death he was posthumously granted the title of vice minister of the Board of Personnel, and he was enshrined at Bongam Seowon in Jangseong. His writings include the Mangam Collection (《望菴集》) and the Gyerye Gojing (《家禮考徵》).1,2
Works
- 《銃筒火箭圖說》 (Illustrated Explanation of Cannon and Fire Arrows)
- 《火車圖說》 (Illustrated Explanation of Fire Carts)
Achievements
- In 1590 (the 23rd year of King Seonjo), together with Jeolla scholars such as Byeon Seong-on (卞成溫) and Gi Hyo-gan (奇孝諫), he founded Pilam Seowon in Jangseong to honor the scholarly virtue of Kim In-hu (Haseo), a mid-Joseon scholar and Neo-Confucian scholar who was the only person from Honam enshrined in the Munmyo and who is revered as the leader of Honam Confucians.
- He was well versed in Neo-Confucianism and classical studies, and he was also skilled in military strategy, earning great merit during the Imjin War and the Jeongyu War. During the Imjin War, he contributed greatly to weapons and military grain supply as a recruitment commissioner. The making of hwacha carts based on his Illustrated Explanation of Cannon and Fire Arrows and Illustrated Explanation of Fire Carts remains a major achievement in the history of Joseon science.
- In the epitaph written by Kang Hang (Sueun) and the tomb inscription written by Yi Jeong-gu (Woksa), high praise is given to his scholarship, character, excellent strategy, and creativity.
Cultural properties
- Bongam Seowon in Jangseong – Jeollanam-do Provincial Monument No. 54 (Jangan-ri, Jangseong-eup, Jangseong County, South Jeolla Province)
Family
- Great-great-grandfather: Byeon Hyo-u (邊孝友)
- Great-grandfather: Byeon Ho (邊浩)
- Grandfather: Byeon Cheo-jeong (邊處楨)
- Father: Byeon Taek (邊澤)
- Mother: Hamp'ung Yi clan (咸豊 李氏), granddaughter of Yi Geung (李兢)
- First wife: Naju Oh clan (羅州 吳氏), daughter of Oh In-jun (吳仁俊)
- Eldest son: Jo-jol (조졸)
- Second son: Byeon Gyeong-yun (邊慶胤)
- Grandson: Byeon Myeong-ik (邊命益)
- Second wife: Jinsan So clan (晉山蘇氏), So Hyeong-seon (蘇亨善)
- Third son: Byeon So-yun (邊蘇胤)
- Fourth son: Byeon Hyo-yun (邊孝胤)
- Fifth son: Byeon Hu-un (邊厚運)
- Sixth son: Byeon Dal-yun (邊達胤)
- Eldest daughter's husband: Kim Ja-jeom (金自點)
Honors and commemoration
Notes