이진상 李震相

Confucian scholar from Hangae village who advanced the theories that mind is principle and that principle alone issues forth; founder of the Hanju school; pen name Hanju

Life & career

Yi Jin-sang (李震相, 1818-1886) was a late-Joseon Confucian scholar from Seongsan, courtesy name Yeorwoe, pen name Hanju. He was born in Daepo-dong, Yudong-myeon, Seongju (now Hangae village in Wolhang-myeon) as the son of Yi Won-ho. He studied the Tonggam jeolyo with his father at eight and, urged by his uncle Yi Won-jo at seventeen, devoted himself to Neo-Confucianism and studied the Seongni Daejeon deeply. He passed the licentiate examination in 1849 but gave up the higher examination, and in 1884 was appointed to the Office of Royal Investigation as a recluse but did not take office.

Building on the principle-centred views of Zhu Xi and Yi Hwang, he argued that only principle issues forth (iibal iltu) and further that the mind is principle (simjeuk-ri). This caused a stir in scholarly circles, and he was at times regarded as heterodox and drew opposition from Dosan Seowon, but his doctrine spread across south-western North Gyeongsang and north-eastern South Gyeongsang and formed the Hanju school. His works include the Ihak jongyo, Sarye jibyo and Myochungnok, collected in the Hanju-jip. Korean Wikipedia introduces him only briefly as the one who completed the principle-centred school.

He was also interested in practical affairs. In 1857 he drafted but did not submit a memorial urging the abolition of ceremonial deference to Qing, in 1862 submitted a response during the southern uprisings, and in 1866 wrote the Myochungnok, a proposal for reform of state institutions. He campaigned in 1871 against the abolition of private academies, planned a militia at the 1876 Ungyo incident but withdrew when peace was made, and wrote against the Joseon chaengnyak. He is also judged to have been relatively open to Western learning, advocating using practical learning alongside Confucianism. His school passed through his only son Yi Seung-hui, Gwak Jong-seok and Jang Seok-yeong; the Hanju Head House stands in Daesan-dong, Seongju, and the Sambong Study Hall built by local Confucians in 1897 survives in the same village. Some writings list his seat as the Seongju Yi, which appears to reflect the historical confusion when the several Yi clans of the Seongju area were once all called Seongju Yi.

Simjeuk-ri and Iibal Iltu

He argued that only principle issues forth and that the mind is principle.

Concern for Statecraft

He proposed institutional reform in the Myochungnok, opposed the abolition of academies and held an anti-Western orthodox stance.

Grave

His tomb was not confirmed. The Hanju Head House and Sambong Study Hall in Daesan-dong, Seongju, are related sites.

Descendants

He had one son, Yi Seung-hui (independence activist), and five daughters (Namu Wiki).

Other 성산 이씨 figures