Yi Wŏn'gye


Yi Wŏn'gye, later posthumously promoted to Grand Prince Wanp'ung, was a warrior and painter in the late Goryeo period. He was the oldest child and son of Yi Chach'un, making him the older half-brother to Yi Sŏnggye, who later founded the Joseon dynasty.
After repulsing the Red Turban invasions and Japanese pirates, Yi was enfeoffed as the Prince Cheoksan and later Prince Wansan. Then, after the Joseon dynasty was established in 1392, he was posthumously enfeoffed as Count Wansan and later enfeoffed as a grand prince in 1872 during King Gojong's reign.

Biography

Early life

Born in 1330 at Heukseok village, Hwaryeong-bu in the Ssangseong Prefecture of the Yuan dynasty, Yi Wŏn'gye was the oldest child and son of Yi Chach'un and his first wife, Lady Yi of the Hansan Yi clan.
However, he lost his mother only at the age of 4 and he was raised by his father's second wife, Lady Ch'oe who was Yi Sŏnggye's biological mother. According to the Veritable Records of the Joseon Dynasty, Yi Wŏn'gye and his brothers always lived together in the same place since their childhood, causing their brotherly bond to be very strong. He mastered the scriptures of Confucianism, wrote poetry well, and was also good at horseback riding and archery.

During Red Turban rebellion and later life

In 1359, Red Turbans invaded from the Yuan dynasty, crossing the Yalu River. but immediately left after being repulsed. He also contributed for defeating the Red Turbans in Bakju and retook Gaegyeong during the second rebellion alongside Cho Ch'ŏn-ju and others under general An U 's command. Then, he received many honors and was enfeoffed Prince Cheoksan from the king in 1363. Later in 1375, he once again made contribution for the country.
He spent his old days in Wihwa-do and honoured as Prince Wansan while two years later after his death in 1388, he received his final title and honors for making big contribution during his lifetime. His title was later upgraded into Count Wansan and received Yangpyeong as his Posthumous name during the reign of his half-brother, King Taejo.

Tomb and ancestral rites

He was buried on the right side of Jeongneung tomb, which was also his father's tomb and was enshrined at Samui Temple, Bukcheong in 1901 while later moved to Seonwon Temple, Yiwon, Hamgyeongnam-do in 1909 alongside his last poem. However, after the Korean War, his descendants in South Korea held his ancestral rites every year on the first Sunday of the 10th months in the Korean calendar at Heunggyeongdan, in Neunggok-ma, Daesim-ri, Yangseo-myeon, Yangpyeong-gun, Gyeonggi Province since 1984.

Family

  1. Grand Lady of Samhan State, of the Gaeseong Gim clan
  2. #Yi Yangu, Internal Prince Wanwon, first son
  3. #Yi Ch'ŏnu, Internal Prince Wansan, second son
  4. #Lady Yi, of the Jeonju Yi clan, first daughter
  5. Grand Lady of Samhan State, of the Gyeongju Kim clan
  6. #Yi Cho, Internal Prince Wannampyeong, third son
  7. Grand Lady of Samhan State, of the Nampyeong Mun clan ; third daughter of Mun Ik-jŏm.
  8. #Yi Paegon, Prince Wallyeong, fourth son
  9. #Lady Yi, of the Jeonju Yi clan, second daughter
  10. #Princess Sinhye, of the Jeonju Yi clan, third daughter
  11. #Lady Yi, of the Jeonju Yi clan, fourth daughter

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