Yi Si-jin Grave, Chungju

Yi Si-jin (1578–1633) was a filial son recorded in the Joseon-dynasty book Dongguk Sinsok Samgang Haengsildo (Illustrated Guide to the Three Bonds, Newly Compiled) and was granted a state commendation (jeongnyeo) for his filial conduct. The Yi Si-jin Grave Site, Chungju, comprises graves built from the early seventeenth century to the mid-twentieth century, ranging from that of Yi Si-jin, a sixth-generation descendant of the Hyojagong branch of the Grand Prince Imyeong line of the Jeonju Yi clan, to that of Yi Myeong-gyu, a thirteenth-generation descendant. The burial ground follows the ridge of a hill, with the graves of five generations of direct eldest-son descendants arranged in sequence: Yi Si-jin, his eldest son Yi Man-jae, Yi Man-jae's eldest son Yi Se-eon, Yi Se-eon's eldest son Yi Eok-ryeong, and Yi Eok-ryeong's eldest son Yi Hyeon-chang. The graves of collateral descendants — Yi Se-eon's second son Yi Hak-ryeong, together with Yi Je-hong, Yi Sa-won and Yi Myeong-gyu — are also found nearby, set slightly off the ridge line. The graves of the five direct generations each retain a burial mound and stone furnishings — an offering table, a spirit-repose stone, an incense-burner stone, a stone stele and ornamental stone pillars. The offering tables, spirit-repose stones and incense-burner stones date from when the graves were first built, while the stelae and stone pillars were mostly erected together by the clan association in 2003; the stelae at the graves of Yi Si-jin and Yi Je-hong, however, are original to their time. Yi Si-jin's grave has two stone stelae, an ornamental stone pillar, a spirit-repose stone, an offering table and an incense-burner stone; one stele was erected in 2003, and the stone pillar appears to date from the same time. The mound is trapezoidal in plan, measuring about 6 m by 6 m and 1.5 m high. Yi Si-jin's wife of the Jeonju Hwang clan and his second wife of the Pungsan Sim clan are buried together with him. Yi Si-jin (1578–1633) was a sixth-generation descendant of the Grand Prince Imyeong line of the Jeonju Yi clan. Yi Man-jae's grave lies directly below that of Yi Si-jin, and is furnished with an offering table, a spirit-repose stone and an incense-burner stone (original to its construction) together with a stone stele and an ornamental stone pillar (both from 2003). The mound is close to trapezoidal in plan, measuring about 5.2 m by 8 m and 1.6 m high. When the grave was first built no stele was erected; instead an inscription was carved on the front of the offering table reading: "Grave of Yi Man-jae of Jeonju, Jeolchung General and acting Deputy Commander of the Yongyang Guard, together with his wife, Lady Suk of the Papyeong Yun clan, buried to the left, facing the gye direction." Yi Man-jae was the eldest son of Yi Si-jin (1625–1705). Yi Se-eon's grave lies below that of Yi Man-jae. It is furnished with an offering table and an incense-burner stone (original to its construction) together with a stone stele and an ornamental stone pillar (from 2003). The mound is close to triangular in plan, measuring about 5 m by 6.5 m and 1.5 m high. When the grave was first built no stele was erected; instead the front of the offering table was inscribed: "Grave of Yi Se-eon of Jeonju, licentiate of the National Academy, together with his wife, Madam of the Juksan Bak clan, buried to the left, facing the gye direction." Yi Se-eon (1646–1708) was Yi Man-jae's eldest son. Yi Eok-ryeong's grave lies directly below that of Yi Se-eon. It is furnished with an offering table and an incense-burner stone (original to its construction) together with a stone stele and an ornamental stone pillar (from 2003). The mound is a rounded form about 4 m in diameter and 1 m high. When the grave was first built no stele was erected; instead the front of the offering table was inscribed: "Grave of Yi Eok-ryeong of Jeonju, holder of the Tongsarang rank, together with his wife, Madam of the Gimhae Kim clan, buried to the left, facing the gye direction." Yi Eok-ryeong (1672–1722) was Yi Se-eon's eldest son. Yi Hyeon-chang's grave lies to the lower right of Yi Eok-ryeong's grave, directly below that of Yi Hak-ryeong; in 2009 the mound was rebuilt when his wife, of the Miryang Bak clan, was interred together with him. It is furnished with an offering table, a spirit-repose stone, an incense-burner stone, a stone stele and an ornamental stone pillar, all erected in 2009. The mound is a rounded form about 3 m in diameter and 1.2 m high. Yi Hyeon-chang (1695–1771) was Yi Eok-ryeong's eldest son. The Yi Si-jin Grave Site preserves its original form well from the time of its construction. Yi Si-jin's gravestone, believed to have been erected in the twelfth year of King Sunjo's reign (1812), together with the offering table, incense-burner stone and stepped terrace stones, survives in good condition, and the site is considered to provide important material for the study of grave customs of the late Joseon period. It is also highly significant as tangible evidence of the filial conduct of Yi Si-jin recorded in the Dongguk Sinsok Samgang Haengsildo.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Chungju, Chungbuk

Designation

Provincial Monument · 시도기념물