Scholar honored for filial piety as one of the three honored at the Samhyogak in Cheongju; pen name Yangil-dang; enshrined at Geomam Academy
| Life | 1588 ~ 1649 |
| Era | 조선 중기 |
| Clan | 아주 신씨 |
Shin Ji-ik (申之益, 1588-1649) was a mid-Joseon scholar of the Aju Shin clan, courtesy name Sungeo and pen name Yangil-dang. He was a younger cousin of Shin Ji-je, a royal secretary known as Ojae, and had a reputation for learning. He lost his father early and served his widowed mother with great devotion.
When his mother was ill he bathed and prayed to the Big Dipper, and is said to have cut his finger to let her drink his blood. In mourning he is recorded as weeping until he fainted and keeping to mourning dress. For this conduct he, his cousin Shin Hyeop and his son Shin Sim were honored in 1703 (Sukjong 29) at the Samhyogak in Solgol, Gayang-ri, Miwon-myeon, Cheongwon.
His grandson Shin Eung-tae (Shin Eung-tae) was a disciple of Song Si-yeol and an outstanding scholar; Song wrote Shin Ji-ik's account of conduct, and his story was recorded in the Samganglok. He is enshrined at Geomam Academy in Cheongju, and the Samhyogak became Cheongju local heritage No. 15 in 2015. The Samhyogak notice writes his son's name as 'Shin Cheom-sim', so spellings differ by source.
The Samhyogak is a memorial gate honoring Shin Hyeop, Shin Ji-ik and his son Shin Sim, in Sangdang-gu, Cheongju, designated Cheongju local heritage No. 15 on 17 April 2015.
Geomam Academy was founded in 1694 with Jo Heon as chief figure and enshrines Han Il-hyu, Ji Yeo-hae, Shin Ji-ik and others. It was demolished in 1871 and rebuilt by Confucian scholars in 1958, when Shin Eung-tae was added.
His elder cousin Shin Ji-je served as royal secretary and was known as Ojae, and the Uiseong regional encyclopedia presents Shin Ji-je as enrolled as a merit subject of the Imjin War. A line running three generations, from the filial cousin Shin Hyeop and son Shin Sim honored with him to the scholarly grandson Shin Eung-tae, is a feature of the Cheongju Aju Shin.
His burial place is not given in the sources consulted. The Samhyogak and Geomam Academy are in Sangdang-gu, Cheongju.
His son Shin Sim and grandson Shin Eung-tae continued the line through learning and filial conduct.