Iunryong Seonmugongsingyoseo Mit Gwanryeon Historical Documents

Basic information

Designation

Treasure No.1212

Category

Books & Records

Designated year

1994

Location

진주시, 경상남도— 경상남도 진주시 남강로 626-35 (남성동, 국립진주박물관)

Coordinates

No precise coordinates are available, so this item is not shown as a map marker. To be added later.

This royal certificate was issued by King Seonjo in the 3rd year of King Seonjo’s reign (1604) to Yi Un-ryong (penname: Donggye, 1562∼1610), who performed a meritorious deed in the Battle of Okpo during the Japanese Invasion of Korea in 1592. Yi Un-ryong passed the military service national examination in the 18th year of King Seonjo’s reign (1585) and subsequently got appointed Seonjeongwan (military staff guard) and Okpomanho (Okpo Sub-area Commander). When the Japanese Invasion broke out, he requested Yi Sun-sin, Naval Commander of the West Jeolla Province, to dispatch a military force while stopping Won Gyun, Naval Commander of the East Gyeongsang Province, from fleeing. He made a huge contribution in destroying some 50 enemy ships in the Battle of Okpo. Later, at Yi Sun-sin’s recommendation, he was appointed Naval Commander of the West Gyeongsang Province, leading the naval army in Gyeongsang-do till the end of the war. According to the royal certificate, the King commended Yi Un-ryong’s meritorious deed in defeating the Japanese army in the Battle of Okpo. The King granted an honorary post called 3rd-rank Meritorious Subject to him and had his portrait drawn and handed down to future generations. The King promoted Yi Un-ryong and his family's social status by one grade and allowed his family's firstborn sons to possess lands permanently as stipend. The notice of appointment states the appointment of Yi Un-ryong as Naval Commander of the West Gyeongsang Province in the 29th year of the reign of King Seonjo (1596) of the Joseon Dynasty. These documents are valuable materials in studying meritorious subjects during the Joseon Dynasty as well as in studying the Japanese Invasion of Korea. They are also important in studying figures of that time.