Hall of Worthies scholar and civil official, Jeongnan merit subject; founder of the Munyeol-gong branch (pen name Jonyangjae)
| Life | 1404 ~ 1459 |
| Era | 조선 전기 |
| Clan | 한산 이씨 |
Yi Gye-jeon (李季甸, 1404-1459) was an early-Joseon civil official from Hansan, with courtesy name Byeongbo (屛甫), pen name Jonyangjae (存養齋) and posthumous title Munyeol (文烈). A grandson of Yi Saek and son of Yi Jong-seon, he was the father of Yi Pa and Yi Bong and the uncle of the martyred minister Yi Gae. He is honored as founder of the Munyeol-gong branch that split from the Yanggyeong-gong line.
He passed the examination in 1427 (Sejong 9), became a Hall of Worthies scholar and compiled the Gangmok tonggam hun'ui with Kim Mun and others. In 1452 (Munjong 2) he took part in compiling the Sejong sillok and rose through dongbu seungji and jwabu seungji to chief royal secretary (dosungji). He won merit in the Gyeyu Coup and became a Jeongnan merit subject, and because he did not cooperate in the Six Martyred Ministers affair he is recorded as also receiving the Jwaik merit title.
Although his nephew Yi Gae was executed as one of the Six Martyred Ministers, Sejo ordered that he not be punished by association, and under Sejo he served as Minister of Revenue, War and Personnel and rose to Panjungchubu-sa. When he died in 1459 while governor of Gyeonggi, Sejo suspended court audiences and the market for two days and sent 70 seok of rice and beans and 100 reams of paper as funeral gifts. That within one family one man gave his life for Danjong's restoration while another became a merit subject of Sejo is among the most striking scenes in Hansan Yi history. From his line came Tojeong Yi Ji-ham and Agye Yi San-hae.
Assessments of him are mixed. His scholarly achievements are recognized, but his cooperation in the Gyeyu Coup and becoming a merit subject are discussed in contrast with Yi Gae of the same family. Regardless of that choice, his descendants flourished and became the root of the Hansan Yi revival in mid-Joseon. The Munyeol-gong branch is one branch of the Yanggyeong-gong line, with the 9th-generation Yi Gye-jeon as founder.
After passing in 1427 he worked in the Hall of Worthies and took part in compiling the Sejong sillok under Munjong, then rose through the royal secretariat to chief secretary.
His nephew Yi Gae was executed for plotting Danjong's restoration, while the uncle became a merit subject of Sejo. The record says Sejo did not punish him by association.
Yi Ji-ham and Yi San-hae came from the line of his son Yi U. Yi U was Yi Ji-ham's great-grandfather, and Yi Gye-jeon was Yi San-hae's fifth-generation ancestor.
The exact tomb location was not confirmed here.
He had sons Yi U, Yi Pa and Yi Bong. Yi Ji-ham and Yi San-hae came from the line of Yi U.