Teaching East Asia: Korea Teaching East Asia: Korea | Page 52

RESOURCES
TEACHING RESOURCES ESSAYS
Yi I (Yulgok) 1536-1584: 5,000 won
Y
i I is known for his wisdom and for being one of Korea’s most fa-
mous Confucian scholars. Commonly known by his pen name,
Yulgok, he was a disciplined and dedicated scholar, statesman,
philosopher, and devoted family man.
He was fortunate to have been born to an educated family. His father
was a scholar and a high government official, and his mother, Shin Saim-
dang, was highly regarded for her knowledge of the Chinese classics and
her talent as an artist and poet. With the good guidance of his mother, Yul-
gok completed his basic studies of the Confucian classics by the age of
seven. He began writing poetry at age eight, and by the early age of thirteen,
he passed the literary civil service exam and became acknowledged as a
chinsa, a kind of titled scholar. He continued his education by studying
Buddhism and Daoism.
After his mother died when he was sixteen, Yulgok went into mourn-
ing for three years in the Kumgang Mountains, studying Buddhism. After
his retreat, he returned to continue his studies in Confucianism and
received top honors in exams, and by the time he was twenty-nine,
he passed his last civil service examination and was ready for service in
government. He rose in the ranks of governmental service and became
one of the central figures in politics by the time he was forty. His work,
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Book on the Way to Heaven, was considered a literary masterpiece and
revealed his knowledge of history, Confucian philosophy, and Daoism.
Another of his famous books wa s titled A Key to Annihilating Ignorance.
Aside from being a philosopher, Yulgok was also a social reformer. He
thought it was important to implement Confucian values in government
administration. He emphasized learning and self-cultivation as the basis for
good government. Although he espoused a society based on the Confucian
social order, he appreciated the dignity of every human being, regardless of
his or her position in society. He also had great foresight about national
security. He feared that the Japanese might invade Korea and proposed a
policy to strengthen the army, but it was rejected. His concerns were well-
grounded because, soon after his death at age forty-eight, the Japanese in-
vaded Korea in what is known as the Imjin War (1592–1598). ■
Editor's note: Lesson plan is on the next page.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Connor, Mary. The Koreas: Asia in Focus. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO, LLC, 2009.
Saccone, Richard. Koreans to Remember. Elizabeth, NJ: Hollym International Corp., 1993.
Editorial Board of the Diamond Sutra Recitation Group. King Sejong the Great: The Ever-
lasting Light. Pohang, Korea: Yong Hwa Publications, 2007.
——.The Practice of Hongik Ingan: Lives of Queen Seondeok, Shin Saimdang and
Yi Yulgok. Seoul, Korea: Jae-woong Kim Publisher, 2011.
MARY CONNOR taught United States History and Asian Studies for thirty-five years. She
is the author of Asia in Focus: The Koreas (2009) and the recipient of the Organization of
American Historians Tachau Award; the Prime Minister’s Award from the Republic
of South Korea; and the Daekyo Enopi Award, a newly established, prestigious award
available to American educators. She is also Past President and Program Director of the
Korea Academy for Educators (2004–2012), a nonprofit organization that informs
educators about Korean history and culture and the Korean-American experience.
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