이원조 李源祚
Neo-Confucian scholar and official from Hangae village; magistrate of Jeju and Minister of Works; pen name Eungwa; posthumous title Jeongheon
| Life | 1792 ~ 1871 |
| Era | 조선 후기 |
| Clan | 성산 이씨 |
Life & career
Yi Won-jo (李源祚, 1792-1871) was a late-Joseon Neo-Confucian scholar, official and poet from Seongsan, first named Yi Yeong-jo, courtesy name Juhyeon, pen name Eungwa. Born in Daesan-ri, Wolhang-myeon, Seongju (Hangae village), he was a great-grandson of Yi Seok-mun, a bodyguard of Crown Prince Sado. The second son of Yi Hyeong-jin, he was adopted by his uncle Yi Gyu-jin and is known as a disciple of Jeong Jong-no. His ancestors moved from Seongju town to Daesan-ri, and in 1721 his great-great-grandfather Yi I-sin settled near today's Eungwa Head House.
He passed the local examination twice in 1809 and the special civil examination, became Remonstrator in 1837 and petitioned for famine relief in Yeongnam. He served as magistrate of Gangneung in 1840 and Jeju in 1841, then as Vice Minister of War and, in 1850, governor of Gyeongju, where he was dismissed after a secret inspector's impeachment and later reinstated. From 1852 he was repeatedly appointed Chief Remonstrator, then Inspector-General, and became Mayor of Hanseong in 1865, Minister of Works in 1869 and Chief of the Office of Royal Investigation in 1871. King Cheoljong valued him so much that posthumous honours were repeatedly granted to his father and ancestors.
In Jeju he associated with the exiled Kim Jeong-hui and is said to have left a record of Jeju (the title is given as Tamnarok or Tamnajip depending on the source, while Wikipedia lists the Eungwa Munjip and Eungwa Japrok). In 1851 he retired home and built the pavilion Mangwijeong in Pocheon valley in Gacheon, spending his later years reading amid nature; his poem Pocheon Gugok made the valley's name known. As the uncle who urged his nephew Yi Jin-sang to devote himself to Neo-Confucianism, he also provided the background to the rise of the Hanju school. His posthumous title is Jeongheon. His collected works were compiled and published in 1926.
Career
He was Remonstrator in 1837, magistrate of Jeju in 1841, governor of Gyeongju in 1850, Mayor of Hanseong in 1865 and Minister of Works in 1869.
Mangwijeong
He returned home in 1851, built Mangwijeong in Pocheon valley and spent his time reading.
Grave
His tomb was not confirmed. The Eungwa Head House in Hangae village and the pavilion Mangwijeong in Gacheon (North Gyeongsang Cultural Heritage Material No. 462) are associated sites.
Descendants
Great-grandfather Yi Seok-mun, grandfather Yi Min-gyeom, father Yi Hyeong-jin and adoptive father Yi Gyu-jin. His nephew was Yi Jin-sang (Hanju).