이허겸 李許謙
Founding ancestor of the Incheon Yi clan; Left Vice Director of the Secretariat and Marquis of Soseong under King Hyeonjong; grandfather of Yi Ja-yeon
| Life | 미상 ~ 미상 |
| Era | 고려 전기 |
| Clan | 인천 이씨 |
Life & career
Yi Heo-gyeom (李許謙, dates unknown) is revered as the founding ancestor of the Incheon Yi clan, a provincial magnate and in-law of the royal house in early Goryeo, and the grandfather of Yi Ja-yeon. Korean Wikipedia records the tradition that he was originally surnamed Heo (許) and that his ancestor Heo Gi (許奇), sent to Tang China as an envoy, accompanied Emperor Xuanzong in flight during the An Lushan rebellion and was granted the imperial surname Yi (李). Sources differ on whether Heo Gi was his ninth- or tenth-generation ancestor, so it is presented here only as tradition.
Under King Hyeonjong he is said to have been made Left Vice Director of the Secretariat, Pillar of State and Marquis of Soseong with a fief of 1,500 households. Soseong is an old name for the Incheon area, which is why the clan is also called Gyeongwon, Inju or Soseong. His daughter married Kim Eun-bu of the Ansan Kim, and the three daughters of that couple all became consorts of Hyeonjong in 1022; their sons later became Deokjong, Jeongjong and Munjong, making Yi Heo-gyeom the maternal great-grandfather of three kings. His wife is recorded as a Gyeongju Kim.
His son Yi Han (李翰) became Right Vice Director, and Yi Han's sons were Chancellor Yi Ja-yeon and Yi Ja-sang. Yi Ja-yeon's three daughters became consorts of Munjong and raised the clan to the top rank of Goryeo in-law houses, while the line of Yi Ja-sang produced figures such as Yi Gong-su and Yi In-ro. His shrine Wonin-jae was set up in Incheon in the early 19th century, moved beside his tomb precinct in 1994 because of housing development in Yeonsu-dong, and is designated Incheon Cultural Heritage Material No. 5. Much of the detail about the founder rests on genealogies and tradition, so please check clan association records as well.
The Heo Gi Tradition and the Founder
The Incheon Yi clan holds that Heo Gi, a Silla envoy to Tang in the reign of King Gyeongdeok, was granted the surname Yi for escorting Emperor Xuanzong during the An Lushan rebellion. Yi Heo-gyeom is revered as the founder; Korean Wikipedia calls him Heo Gi's tenth-generation descendant in one article and ninth in another.
Granddaughters Who Became Consorts
Yi Heo-gyeom's daughter married Kim Eun-bu, and their three daughters became Hyeonjong's consorts in 1022. Their sons became Deokjong, Jeongjong and Munjong, so he is recorded as the maternal great-grandfather of three kings.
Wonin-jae
The shrine Wonin-jae was built in Incheon in the early 19th century, relocated and restored beside his tomb in 1994, and designated Incheon Cultural Heritage Material No. 5. The name is read as 'the source of the Inju (Incheon) Yi'.
Grave
His tomb precinct is said to be in the Yeonsu-dong area of Incheon, with the shrine Wonin-jae (Incheon Cultural Heritage Material No. 5) beside it. The exact address was not confirmed.
Descendants
Sons Yi Han, Yi Nul and Yi Jin; grandsons Yi Ja-yeon and Yi Ja-sang. Yi Ja-yeon's line produced Yi Ja-gyeom, Yi Ja-hyeon and Yi Ja-ui, and Yi Ja-sang's line produced Yi Gong-su and Yi In-ro.
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