Yi Saek Shrine and Surroundings

This is the tomb of Yi Saek (1328–1396), pen name Mogeun, a literary figure and scholar of the late Goryeo period. Together with Jeong Mong-ju, pen name Poeun, and Gil Jae, pen name Yaeun, he is counted among the Three Eun, three scholars renowned for their learning and loyalty at the end of Goryeo. He passed the jinsa examination, a lower civil-service examination, in 1341, the second year of the restored reign of King Chunghye. In 1348, the fourth year of King Chungmok, he travelled to the Yuan dynasty and became a student at the Gukjagam, the Yuan Directorate of Education, where he studied Neo-Confucianism. On returning home, in 1352, the first year of King Gongmin, he submitted a memorial proposing reforms of the pressing issues of the day, including land-tax reform, the promotion of education, and the suppression of Buddhism. The following year he went to Yuan as a seojanggwan, a diplomatic recording official, and in 1354 passed both the hoesi and jeonsi state examinations; in 1355 he was appointed to the Hallim Academy of Yuan. After returning to Korea he took charge of personnel administration, and when the Red Turban rebels invaded in 1361 he escorted the king to safety, for which he was named a first-class meritorious subject. In 1391 he was enfeoffed as Duke of Hansan, and in 1395, the fourth year of King Taejo, he was ennobled as Hansanbaek. Yi Saek's tomb lies on the slope of Girinsan Mountain to the left of Munheon Seowon, a Confucian academy; the site is said to have been chosen by the monk Muhak. The mound is circular in form, and in front of it stand, in pairs on either side, stone mangju pillars, statues of civil officials, and stone horses, with a stele standing to the right. The stele is plain in form, and its face is inscribed 'Tomb of Master Mogeun, Yi Saek' (木隱先生 李穡之墓).

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Seocheon, Chungnam

Designation

Provincial Monument · 시도기념물