이능일 李能一
Founding ancestor of the Seongsan Yi clan; a late-Silla magnate of the Seongju area who helped Wang Geon found Goryeo; Count of Seongsan
| Life | 미상 ~ 미상 |
| Era | 신라 말·고려 초 |
| Clan | 성산 이씨 |
Life & career
Yi Neung-il (李能一, dates unknown) is revered as the founding ancestor of the Seongsan Yi (星山李氏), a magnate of late Silla and early Goryeo. The Digital Seongju Culture Encyclopedia explains that his name was originally Neung or Neung-pil and that he received the character il (one) for helping Taejo unify the Three Han, and that he was enfeoffed as Count of Seongsan, from which his descendants became the Seongsan Yi. A magnate of Bonpi County (today's Seongju) in late Silla, he is said to have been able to stay in Seongju because he was a founding merit subject of Goryeo.
Wikipedia records that in 925 he joined the campaign against Gyeon Hwon and became a general of the headquarters, leading some 600 militia with Choe Eon. He then helped Wang Geon for about twelve years, and after reunification in 936 was named a merit subject and had the character il added to his name. In 940 his portrait was painted in the merit hall of Sinheungsa in the capital, and when counties were reorganised the area around his home was grouped into Gyeongsan Prefecture with Seongsan County as his fief, hence the seat name Seongsan. Namu Wiki adds that he distinguished himself at the battles of Jomulseong and Illicheon, which was not cross-checked.
The Digital Seongju Culture Encyclopedia says he married Taejo's daughter Lady Jeongsun, became a son-in-law of the throne and rose to Minister of Works, though there is a note that other lines, such as the Imujae line, are unrelated, so the genealogy has several theories. He first lived in Gyeongsan-ri, Seongju-eup, and in the fifth generation Yi Gyeon-su moved to Jeonggok in Bongye-ri, Byeokjin; the shrine Gyeongwonsa in Gyeongsan-ri honours the founder. Descendants of Gyeon-su's son Yi Gwang split into the Inju-gong, Gimsan-gong, Jeongeon-gong and Bongik-gong branches, and those of the second son Yi Jik became the Giguk-gong branch. In 1914 the clan assembly set the seat to Seongsan, the Silla-era place name, following the founder's home.
His Name and the Title of Count
He received the character il in his name and was enfeoffed as Count of Seongsan, from which his descendants took Seongsan as their seat.
Helping Unify the Later Three Kingdoms
He joined the 925 campaign against Gyeon Hwon, became a general of the headquarters and helped Wang Geon for twelve years.
Differing Genealogical Views
Some accounts mention lines such as that of Yi Mu-jae that are unrelated to Yi Neung-il, so the genealogy has several theories.
Grave
The founder's tomb was not confirmed here. He is honoured at the shrine Gyeongwonsa in Gyeongsan-ri, Seongju-eup.
Descendants
After the fifth-generation Yi Gyeon-su, the line split through his sons Yi Gwang (Inju-gong, Gimsan-gong, Jeongeon-gong and Bongik-gong branches) and Yi Jik (Giguk-gong branch).
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