Meritorious general of the Yi Si-ae rebellion, enfeoffed Lord Hamseong; mid-founder-level ancestor of the Hampyeong Yi, posthumous title Jangyang
| Life | 1423 ~ 1495 |
| Era | 조선 전기 |
| Clan | 함평 이씨 |
Yi Jong-saeng (1423-1495) was an early Joseon military official of the Hampyeong Yi clan, with courtesy name Gyeji and posthumous title Jangyang. The eldest son of Yi Geuk-myeong, the 10th generation, he stands as the 11th-generation figure from whom many branches of the clan descend. He is said to have passed the military examination in 1460 and begun his career winning merit under Sin Suk-ju.
When Yi Si-ae's rebellion broke out under King Sejo in 1467 he led the van and broke the rebel lines, and was recorded as a Jeokgae merit subject and enfeoffed Lord Hamseong. The hanja of Hamseong is written 咸城 or 咸成 depending on the source. He later served as provincial army commander in several provinces, including Gyeongsang Right, as well as Left Magistrate of Hanseong and Deputy Commander of the Five Garrisons.
After death he was posthumously made Minister of War, and the epitaph is said to have been written by Choe Bu. He appears in the Haedong Myeongsin-nok and the Haedong Myeongjang-jeon, and most of the notable Hampyeong Yi figures are counted among his descendants. His son Yi Ryang (Yi Yang) was likewise a navy and army commander.
Yi Jong-saeng was the eldest son of Yi Geuk-myeong of the 10th generation, and his younger brother Yi Jong-su opened the Champan-gong branch. Yi Geuk-myeong (1388-1454) is said to have been posthumously made Minister of War and Lord Hampyeong (per a Namdo Ilbo series).
After passing the military examination in 1460, Yi Jong-saeng served as an aide under Sin Suk-ju in the northern campaign and is said to have risen through captain of the Naegeumwi to Right Gyeongsang army commander and Deputy Commander of the Five Garrisons.
In the 1467 rebellion he led the van as a guard commander and routed the rebels; the Sejo Sillok is said to record a royal order praising him for leading the troops to take the enemy position. He was recorded as a Jeokgae merit subject, with second-class rank given in some sources.
He is also said to have distinguished himself in the 1479 expedition against the Jianzhou Jurchens. The rebellion also produced merit subjects such as Seon Hyeong.
His son Yi Ryang (1446-1511), as Left Jeolla naval commander, built a stone breakwater off Yeosu to stop Japanese raiders, and Janggun-do island there is said to take its name from it. The Hamseong-gun branch is described as spread across Muan, Jeongeup, Buyeo, Yesan, Hwaseong and Namyangju.
Later figures introduced as belonging to this branch include Yi Gak, executed during the Imjin War, and Yi Sam of King Yeongjo's reign.
The exact location of his tomb was not confirmed.