이개 李塏
One of the Six Martyred Ministers; Hall of Worthies scholar who took part in creating Hunminjeongeum (pen name Baegokheon)
| Life | 1417 ~ 1456 |
| Era | 조선 전기 |
| Clan | 한산 이씨 |
Life & career
Yi Gae (李塏, 1417-1456) was an early-Joseon scholar-official and one of the Six Martyred Ministers. A native of Hansan, his courtesy names were Cheongbo (淸甫) or Baekgo (伯高) and his pen name was Baegokheon (白玉軒); he was a great-grandson of Yi Saek. His grandfather was Yi Saek's third son Yi Jong-seon, his grandmother a daughter of Yangchon Gwon Geun, his father Yi Gye-ju and his mother a daughter of Jin Myeong-rye. He is said to have written well from childhood.
He passed the royal-audience civil examination in 1436 (Sejong 18) and became a Hall of Worthies scholar in 1441, taking part as jeojak-rang in compiling the Myeonghwanggyegam. With Sin Suk-ju, Seong Sam-mun and others he took part in creating Hunminjeongeum, and in 1444 he was rewarded by Sejong for helping translate the Yunhoe into the vernacular script. In 1447 he placed first in the upper class of the re-examination and took a reading leave, and that year helped compile the Dongguk jeongun with Kang Hui-an, Choe Hang and Seong Sam-mun. Under Munjong, as left munhak he taught the Sohak to Crown Prince Hongwi (later Danjong) and received Munjong's earnest request to guide the prince well.
When Danjong was deposed in 1455, he joined Seong Sam-mun, Bak Paeng-nyeon and others in 1456, as jikjehak of the Hall of Worthies, in plotting Danjong's restoration. The plan was exposed by the informing of Kim Jil, and he was arrested. Sejo tried to win him over as an old friend and had him tortured with hot irons, but he is said to have defied him by asking where in the code such a punishment was found. On the way to the execution ground he composed a poem saying that to die where life is held as light as a feather is a glory. He was executed by dismemberment at 39 (Korean count). In 1758 (Yeongjo 34) he was posthumously made Minister of Personnel, and his posthumous title, first Uiyeol, was changed to Chungan.
His poetry and calligraphy were known in his own time, and his bond as a teacher of Danjong is explained as the background to his joining the plot. With his direct line extinct, his memorial rites have been carried on by later generations and the shrine-academies. He appears in dramas such as Han Myeong-hoe, Wang gwa bi and The Princess' Man, and is widely known to the public as one of the Six Martyred Ministers.
Hall of Worthies Scholar
He entered the Hall of Worthies in 1441, compiled the Myeonghwanggyegam and took part in creating Hunminjeongeum and compiling the Dongguk jeongun. Sejong rewarded him for his part in rendering the Yunhoe into the vernacular script.
The Plot to Restore Danjong
In 1456 he plotted Danjong's restoration with Seong Sam-mun, Bak Paeng-nyeon and others; Kim Jil's informing exposed it, and he was arrested and executed with his son. His brother-in-law Heo Jo is said to have hanged himself at home.
Posthumous Honors and Shrines
In 1758 he was posthumously made Minister of Personnel and enshrined at Nakbin Seowon in Daegu, Munheon Seowon in Hansan, Nowun Seowon in Chungju, Minjeol Seowon in Gwacheon and Chungnyeolsa in Uiseong.
Grave
His body is said to have been quietly recovered by someone and buried near Noryangjin along with the other martyrs. The photo is titled 'Tomb of Yi Gae' and was released by the Academy of Korean Studies.
Descendants
His direct line ended, but the descendants of his uncles Yi Gye-jeon and Yi Gye-won continue. Tojeong Yi Ji-ham was his cousin's great-grandson and Yi San-hae and Yi San-bo were more distant clan descendants.