Yi Ji-beon

Yi Ji-beon (李之蕃, 1508¹ – 1 December 1575) was a civil official and scholar of the reign of King Myeongjong of Joseon, from the Hansan clan. His courtesy name was Hyeongbaek and his pen name was Seongam (省菴). He was a descendant of Yi Saek² and the eldest brother of Yi Ji-ham.

He was the elder brother of the scholar Toejeong Yi Ji-ham and the father of Seonjo-era minister Yi San-hae. He showed exceptional filial devotion to his parents. He excelled in scholarship and was well versed in astronomy and geography. During the reign of Myeongjong, he became a Sapyeong of the Jangnyewon, but when Yun Won-hyeong, who was then holding political power, behaved tyrannically, he withdrew from office, built a house at Gwidam in Danyang, and lived there cultivating his spirit.

He rode an ox to enjoy the scenery along the river, and on the cliff at Gwidam he tied vines across both ends to hang a model of a flying crane, on which he rode back and forth, so people regarded him as an immortal. Afterward, in the reign of Seonjo, he served as magistrate of Cheongpung and as Jeong of the Naejasi, among other posts², and his son Yi San-hae rose to Chief State Councillor.

Footnotes

This article includes content based on the Global World Encyclopedia, distributed under the GFDL or CC-SA license by Daum (now Kakao).

Footnotes

Footnotes