Historical Documents held at Yi Sin-ui Head Family

These documents were written and issued, or received, by Un-bu, a direct descendant of Yi Sin-ui (1551–1627), a mid-Joseon civil official, and have been kept ever since at Yi Sin-ui's head family house. Yi Sin-ui lost his parents at an early age and studied under his elder brother. In 1582 his scholarship and conduct were recognised and he was recommended for office, launching his official career. When the Imjin War broke out (Japan's invasion of Korea beginning in 1592), he led some 300 men from his hometown against the invading Japanese forces and distinguished himself in battle, earning repeated promotions. In 1617, when Yi Hang-bok, Jeong Hong-ik and others were exiled for opposing the tyranny of King Gwanghaegun, he submitted a memorial protesting their banishment and was himself sent into exile as a result. He left behind writings including the Seoktanjip. Of the roughly 130 old documents, most concern petitions and lawsuits or are household-register materials, with many dating from between the reigns of King Sunjo and Emperor Gojong. Of these, 57 items across seven categories have been designated Tangible Cultural Heritage: one Roll of Merit Subjects (issued to him on his appointment as a Seonmu Wonjong merit subject, an honour for service in the Imjin War), 38 household-register certificates (junhogu), 12 household-register documents (hojeok danja), one petition (soji), three property-division documents (bunjaegi), and one special grant deed (byeolgeup myeongmun). The collection is highly valued as historical source material.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Buk-gu, Jeonnam & Gwangju

Designation

Provincial Tangible Heritage · 시도유형문화유산