Yi Simwon (李深源, 1454 – 1504) was a royal family member, civil official, and Neo-Confucian scholar of the mid-Joseon period. His courtesy name was Baekyeon (伯淵), and his pen names were Seonggwang (醒狂), Mukjae (默齋), and Taepyeong Jinil (太平眞逸). He was a great Confucian scholar who suffered misfortune together with his younger brother during the reign of Yeonsangun.1 He was a great-grandson of Grand Prince Hyoryeong Bo, a grandson of Prince Boseong Gap, and the eldest son of Pyeongseong Dojeong Wi (posthumously granted the title Prince Pyeongseong). He studied under Kim Jong-jik and later also under Kim Gwang-pil, Kim Jong-jik's disciple. He was a senior fellow student of Jo Gwang-jo (Jeongam). From the reign of Seongjong, he advocated the removal of the Hungu faction, the appointment of the Sarim faction, and the recruitment of conscientious people living in seclusion in the provinces. He reported the misconduct and corruption of his aunt's husband, Im Sahong, to Seongjong, and was then accused by his grandfather, Prince Boseong, but Seongjong understood his loyalty and dismissed the accusation.
Through his public declaration of support for the Sarim faction, he led public opinion calling for the rehabilitation of Danjong's consort, Queen Jeongsun.2 He was later implicated in the Gabo Purge and was executed together with his two sons.
In 1519 (14th year of Jungjong), through memorials submitted by Jo Gwang-jo, Jeong Gwang-pil, and others, he was pardoned and posthumously granted the title Prince Jugye.3 Afterwards, he was posthumously granted the title Hongnok Daebu, and a commemorative gate honoring his loyalty was erected. His deeds were recorded in books such as the Myeongsinrok, Samgang Haengsil, and Gukgo Bogam, highlighting his scholarship and loyalty.3
Life
Study of Neo-Confucianism
Yi Simwon was born in 1454 (2nd year of Danjong). He was a great-grandson of Taejong's second son, Grand Prince Hyoryeong, a grandson of Prince Boseong Yi Gap, and the eldest son of Prince Pyeongseong Yi Wi. His mother was of the Chae clan of Incheon (仁川蔡氏), the daughter of Magistrate Chae Sinbo (蔡申保). Chae Su (蔡壽), a fellow disciple under Jeompi-jae Kim Jong-jik, was his maternal uncle. In the 6th year of King Sejo (1460), at the age of seven, he began his studies despite his young age, and by the 12th year of Sejo (1466), at age thirteen, he already showed depth of learning. He was intelligent, quick, and learned, and his mind never slackened in studying the classics; at that time he was praised as the outstanding talent among the royal clan. At age eighteen, in the 1st year of Yejong (1469), his writing had reached a correct and lofty level, and he was foremost among the royal relatives. Also at age eighteen, in 1469, although he was of royal status, he became a disciple of Kim Jong-jik. Yi Simwon associated with Kim Gwang-pil as a fellow disciple under Hanwondang Kim Gwang-pil and Jeompil-jae Kim Jong-jik. He studied together with Choi Bu, Jeong Yeo-chang, Kim Il-son, Nam Hyo-on, and others, and Kim Gong-ryang, Yun Tak, Yi Ja, Song Se-chung, and others were his disciples.
At age twenty-four, in 1477 (8th year of Seongjong), he submitted a memorial on the Confucian regulations for clothing and the abolition of the longevity-wishing ceremony. In the following year, he submitted a memorial on the state of the nation, and argued that the meritorious subjects of King Sejo's reign, who were greedy and skilled in profit rather than cultivating virtue, should not be employed. At that time, officials of the Office of Special Advisers and the Royal Secretariat impeached Yu Ja-gwang, Im Won-jun, and the father and son Im Sahong, but were instead imprisoned themselves. Yi Simwon then disclosed in detail the crimes of these men before the king. Seongjong had them confronted with each other, and when their crimes were confirmed, he exiled them and released the officials, restoring them to their posts. Because of this incident, Yi Simwon came under attack and suppression from the meritorious subjects of Sejo's reign, that is, the Hungu faction. Over five occasions, through audiences and memorials, he submitted memorials on institutional reform, and also, after his aunt's husband Im Sahong and his son had been punished, he remonstrated that they were treacherous petty men, not to mention their greed and deceit. His grandfather, Prince Boseong Yi Gap, sharply rebuked his grandson Simwon for impeaching his son-in-law, and because he was said to have been disrespectful when explaining Sahong's treachery in detail to his grandfather, he was accused of unfilial conduct and was ultimately banished to Jangdan. Seongjong soon summoned Simwon to the palace and tried to employ him, but this repeatedly failed due to opposition from the Hungu faction. In the 16th year of Seongjong, he was granted the office of Myeongseon Daebu Jugye Bujeong, and in the 18th year of Seongjong he passed the royal relatives' examination first and rose to Jeongui Daebu. In the 19th year of Seongjong, the king, regretting his ability, tried to employ him, but the opposition, who were the Hungu faction, strongly objected to his employment on the charge of unfilial conduct.
As a royal relative with a deep understanding of Neo-Confucianism, he was influenced by Jeong Geuk-in of Jeongeup while serving in the Jongak (宗學), the royal educational institution.2 He said, "Jeong Geuk-in of Taein, Jeong Yeo-chang (鄭汝昌) of Hamyang, and Kang Eung-jeong (姜應貞) of Eunjin are companions of the sages." He then advocated the removal of the Hungu meritorious subjects.2 Afterwards, stimulated by this, a public opinion emerged among Sarim figures calling for the rehabilitation of those involved in the Danjong incident. Seven days later, Nam Hyo-on, a Confucian student of Seonggyungwan, raised the restoration of "commoner" Queen Hyeondeok.2
While serving as Jugye Bujeong, his aunt's husband Im Sahong enjoyed the favor of Seongjong, but knowing that he was a deceitful man, Simwon requested a private audience with Seongjong despite being Sahong's aunt's husband's blood relative, and accused Sahong of his schemes and misconduct. His grandfather, Prince Boseong Gap, who became indignant upon learning of this, said that he should be deprived of his status and resented him, and conspired with Im Sahong to attack his grandson. Then, he had his son Pyeongseong Dojeong Wi impeach him on the grounds of unfilial conduct, but Seongjong, knowing his sincere loyalty, did not listen.
Execution
During the reign of Yeonsangun, when the disciples of Kim Jong-jik suffered misfortune, his aunt's husband Im Sahong was Yeonsangun's closest confidant, but because he had studied under Kim Jong-jik's disciple Kim Gwang-pil as well, he suffered misfortune together with his two sons.
As a scholar, he too gave up wealth and honor, spent his time in literary pursuits in the countryside, and devoted himself to educating younger scholars. Among those produced under his tutelage were Kim Gong-mang and others. After the Jungjong coup, he was rehabilitated and posthumously granted the title Prince Jugye of Hongnok Daebu. In Chungcheongnam-do Gongju-gun Gyeryong (now Gyeryong City), where his family home was located, a loyalty commemorative gate was erected.3 In 1509, Jo Gwang-jo and others proposed the enshrinement of Jeong Mong-ju and Kim Gwang-pil in the Confucian temple. At that time, when Yi Simwon was also mentioned together with them, Jeong Gwang-pil opposed it, and the king also agreed.4
Rehabilitation and Opinions on Enshrinement in the Confucian Temple
In August 1509, he was rehabilitated under the leadership of Jo Gwang-jo. In August of that year, Jo Gwang-jo additionally requested that he be enshrined in the Confucian temple, but this was refused. When Jo Gwang-jo mentioned Yi Simwon, Jeong Gwang-pil opposed it, and the king also agreed.4 While the Chamchan-gwan Kim Jeong (金淨) was lecturing on the Daehak Yeonui, he proposed the enshrinement of Kim Gwang-pil in the Confucian temple.4
During the daytime lecture (晝講), Jo Gwang-jo reported, "Jugye Bujeong Simwon (深源), at barely twenty-some years of age, saw that Seongjong fell under the deceit of Im Sahong and failed to examine him. Because Sahong was his aunt's husband, he lived in the same house and knew all of his deceitful schemes, so he was deeply indignant. When Seongjong was unwell, he earnestly requested an audience, and the king conveyed an order: 'Unless it concerns the ancestral shrine, there is no need to hurry to an audience.' He then reported again, 'This matter greatly concerns the ancestral shrine.' Thereupon, the audience was immediately granted. He stated without omission the deceitful appearance of Im Sahong, saying, 'This man will ruin the nation and the family in the future, and he must not be tolerated at court,' and he shed tears. His patriotic heart came from utmost sincerity throughout, so he reported without considering kinship. Nevertheless, afterwards Seongjong could not keep Im Sahong far away, and even intermarried with him, failing to prevent the crisis. If the Mandate of Heaven and the will of the people had not returned (the Jungjong coup), the nation would almost have perished. At twenty years of age, with lofty and clear insight, though no one in the nation knew Im Sahong's deceit, he alone knew it, did not look back on his personal interests, and bravely reported loyal words before the king for the sake of the nation. From this, the integrity and righteousness of this man can be decisively known. Prince Boseong (寶城君), taking the side of his son-in-law Im Sahong, had Simwon's father (the son of Prince Boseong) report that Simwon was unfilial, but Seongjong did not punish him, and, loving his loyalty, filial piety, and profound learning, intended to appoint him as Daesaseong. Recently, the Chanjip-cheong (撰集廳) even tried to include him in the Chungsindo (忠臣圖), modeling his face and composing a text, but the secretary Kim Anro (金安老) blocked it. Kim Anro was the son-in-law of Chae Su (蔡壽). Simwon was a relative of Chae Su's, but since Chae Su was a frivolous man, how could a person of lofty spirit like Simwon associate with Chae Su? For this reason, Chae Su, harboring resentment, fabricated words, saying, 'Simwon did not greet his mother morning and evening, so how could he be a loyal and filial son?' Now, among the ministers who attended the audience, who does not know that this man is a great gentleman? Yet, because of one secretary's words, his loyal and righteous name has been erased and prevented from being transmitted to the world. Is this not a painful matter?"
Chief State Councillor Jeong Gwang-pil (鄭光弼) also reported, "No one knows Simwon's affairs as well as I do. When the Seongjong Sillok was compiled, I happened to be in charge of compiling Simwon's records. Im Sahong was Simwon's aunt's husband, yet Simwon, indignant and not caring for himself, twice requested an audience with the king and earnestly stated Im Sahong's deceit. It was through Simwon that Seongjong came to clearly know Im Sahong's deceit. His words were borne out, but because of this, he himself was killed, and my throat chokes when I speak of it."
Minister of Justice Choi Suk (崔淑) also reported, "Jugye's integrity is extremely excellent. The state must establish the bonds of moral duty and esteem integrity; then, a person of such clear and penetrating insight, who does not consider his own interests for the sake of the nation, should be transmitted to later generations." The king said, "I cannot understand why Simwon's affairs were not recorded. Let the great ministers deliberate on honoring him and granting him a posthumous title." Thereupon, he was posthumously granted a title and a gate was erected to honor him.5
Afterwards
His tomb is located in the ancestral grounds at Pocheon-ri, Jangdan County, Gyeonggi-do. The tomb of his father, Prince Pyeongseong Yi Wi, is located at Dongbuldang-gok Imjwa (東佛堂谷壬坐) in the village of Kang Dae-wi (康大衛),井水里 (Jeongsu-ri), Dongmyeon, Jangdan County, Gyeonggi-do.
His writings were collected and preserved by Myeongyang Bujeong Yi Hyeon-son (鳴陽副正 李賢孫), a disciple of his who was also of the royal clan, after they had been lost during the turmoil. Upon his death, Yi Hyeon-son handed them to Yi Simwon's wife, and she passed them to her outside grandson, Chupa Song Gi-su (秋坡 宋麒壽). Song Gi-su was the great-grandfather of Song Si-yeol and the great-great-grandson of Song Se-chung, the son-in-law of Yi Simwon.
Song Se-chung (世忠), the elder brother of Song Se-ryang, the great-great-grandfather of Song Si-yeol, married the daughter of Prince Jugye Yi Simwon, the great-grandson of Grand Prince Hyoryeong.6
Works
Evaluation
By nature, he was stern and upright.
Scholarly lineage
He was a figure of the Jeong Mong-ju–Kim Jong-jik school, a disciple of Jeompi-jae Kim Jong-jik, and after Kim Jong-jik's death, he also studied under Kim Jong-jik's disciple Kim Gwang-pil.
Baek I-jeong, An Hyang → Yi Je-hyeon → Yi Saek → Jeong Do-jeon
→Yi Sung-in
→Jeong Mong-ju→Kwon Geun
→Kwon U→King Sejong the Great
→Jeong In-ji
→Gil Jae→Kim Suk-ja→Kim Jong-jik→Jeong Yeo-chang
→Kim Gwang-pil→Jo Gwang-jo
→Kim An-guk
→Kim Jeong-guk
→Jugye Bujeong Yi Simwon
→Son Jung-don→Yi Eon-jeok
→Kim Il-son
→Kim Jeon
→Nam Gon
Other
Im Hui-jae, who died together with him in the purges, was the son of Im Sahong and his first cousin on the maternal side. Nam Gon, who was also a disciple of Kim Jong-jik and was active as a Sarim faction member, criticized Yeonsangun and was exiled, was the first cousin on the maternal side of his aunt's husband Im Sahong, and was a co-in-law of his.
Song Se-chung (世忠), the elder brother of Song Se-ryang, the great-great-grandfather of Song Si-yeol, married the daughter of Prince Jugye Yi Simwon, the great-grandson of Grand Prince Hyoryeong.6
References
- Jeongam Jip (靜菴集)
- Daedong Yasung
Notes