Yi Mae-chang Tomb

This is the tomb of Yi Mae-chang (1573–1610), born in the mid-Joseon period as the illegitimate daughter of Yi Yang-jong, a local clerk of Buan. Mae-chang was her pen name; because she was born in a gyeyu year, she was also called Gyesaeng or Gyerang. She learned classical Chinese from her father and excelled in poetry and calligraphy, and is regarded as a renowned gisaeng second only to Hwang Jin-i and as one of Joseon's leading female poets. She is also said to have been close to poets such as Heo Gyun, author of The Tale of Hong Gildong, and Yu Hui-gyeong. When she died in the summer of 1610, the second year of King Gwanghaegun, she was buried together with her geomungo, and her best-known poem, 'Pear Blossom Rain' (梨花雨), is included in the sijo anthology Gagok wollyu. She left many poems during her lifetime, but most were lost; in 1668, 58 poems preserved from memory by the clerks of Buan were gathered and printed from woodblocks at Gaeamsa Temple as the collection Maechangjip. Located in Bongdeok-ri, Buan-eup, the tomb is well preserved, with a single stele standing in front of it.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Buan, Jeonbuk

Designation

Provincial Monument · 시도기념물