Mid-Joseon Neo-Confucian scholar who established the foundation of the Giho school; art name Yulgok
| Life | 1536 ~ 1584 |
| Era | 조선 |
| Clan | 덕수 이씨 |
Yi I (李珥, 1536-1584) was a scholar and civil official of the mid-Joseon period, with the courtesy name Sukheon (叔獻) and the art name Yulgok (栗谷). His clan lineage was Deoksu, and he was the son of Sin Saimdang.
Placing first in the civil service examinations many times, he was called the "Master of Nine First Places (Gudojangwongong, 九度壯元公)," and served as Daesagan, Minister of Personnel, and Minister of War. He proposed the theory of training an army of a hundred thousand (simman yangbyeongseol) and various practical reform measures.
Advocating the theories of "principle pervades, material force delimits (ityong giguk, 理通氣局)" and "material force issues and principle rides upon it (gibal isseung ildoseol)," he established the theoretical foundation of the Giho school, and authored works such as Seonghak Jibyo, Gyeongmong Yogyeol, and Dongho Mundap. He was enshrined in the Confucian shrine (Munmyo).
Family burial ground at Mount Jaun, Dongmun-ri, Beobwon-eup, Paju-si, Gyeonggi-do