Ijanggon Myodo Painting Stele, Changnyeong

This stele stands about 50 metres below the tomb of Geumheon Yi Jang-gon, on the site of a former road, in the form of a memorial stele erected along the approach to a tomb. Yi Jang-gon (1474–?), courtesy name Huigang, of the Byeokjin Yi clan, was a disciple of Hanwondang Kim Goeng-pil. In the first year of King Yeonsangun (1495) he placed first in the saengwon examination, and in the eighth year of King Yeonsangun (1502) he passed the munkwa examination. While serving as a reader in the Office of Special Advisors, he was implicated in the Gapja Literati Purge and banished to Geojedo Island. From there he fled to Hamheung, changed his name, and lived as the son-in-law of a member of an itinerant outcast group, before returning to court after the restoration of King Jungjong. At the time of the Gimyo Literati Purge in the 14th year of King Jungjong (1519), he, as Minister of War, took part in the interrogation together with Chief State Councillor Jeong Gwang-pil and others, and defended Jo Gwang-jo and his associates. For this he was criticised by the entrenched meritorious-official faction and withdrew to his hometown, where he spent the rest of his life. He is known as one of the Eight Worthies of Gimyo, and is honoured at Yeonam Seowon Confucian academy in Changnyeong. The headpiece of this memorial stele bears, in seal script, the title "Memorial Stele of Master Yi of Geumheon", while the main inscription is titled "Memorial Stele Inscription for Right State Councillor Geumheon Yi, of the Great Ming's Joseon Kingdom". The inscription text was composed in 1781 by Daesan Yi Sang-jeong (1711–1781), and the calligraphy was written by Songhaong Jo Yun-hyeong (1725–1799), who was then magistrate of Seongju. The stele was erected in the sixth month of 1783. The stele takes the general form of a memorial stele, consisting of a capstone, a stele body, and a tortoise base. The stone is of a sandstone type and is generally fragile. Its dimensions are as follows: overall height 260 cm; the capstone 96 cm wide and 60 cm deep; the stele body 80 cm wide, 145 cm high and 30 cm thick; and the tortoise base 55 cm high and 110 cm wide.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Changnyeong, Gyeongnam

Designation

Cultural Heritage Material · 문화유산자료