Manuscript of Gyeongmong yogyeol (The Secret of Expelling Ignorance) by Yi I

Basic information

Designation

Treasure No.602

Category

Books & Records

Era

조선 선조 10년(1577)

Designated year

1976

Location

강릉시, 강원특별자치도— 강원도 강릉시 율곡로3139번길 24 (죽헌동, 오죽헌)

Coordinates

37.778278, 128.876652

Gyeongmong yogyeol (The Secret of Expelling Ignorance) was written in 1577 (the 10th year of King Seonjo’s reign) when Yi I was forty-two years of age and was staying in Haeju, retired from his government office. The book was written as a textbook for initiating youth to learning. Yi I was a scholar and a statesman of mid-Joseon. After passing the special session of the civil service examination at the age of twenty-three, he served successively as the Hojo jwarang, Yejo jwarang and Ubu seungji, with his career culminating in his appointment as the Ijo panseo (minister of the Board of Personnel) at the age of forty-seven. His Neo-Confucian thinking had a tremendous influence on the course of Joseon’s history. He proposed to the king a series of reforms through his ‘Simuyukjo’ and asked to expand the army. After his death, his memorial tablets were placed in twenty Confucian shrine-academies across the country. His posthumous title is Munseong, and his works include Seonghakjibyo (Essentials of the Learning of the Sage), Gijasilgi (The True Story of Jizi) and Maneonbongsa (Memorials in Ten Thousand Words) in addition to Geongmongyogyeol. This manuscript is the original written in Yi I’s own hand. The manuscript is elegantly written in semicursive characters on Korean mulberry paper. The contents are divided into several sections, from ‘Ipji (Setting the Goals)’ to ‘Cheose (Social Life)’ in this ten-sheet book. In 1788 (the 12th year of King Jeongjo’s reign), the book was read by the king who, then, wrote a preface for it and had an official -Yi Byeong-mo (1742-1806) - attach the text to its head. Gyeongmong yogyeol was widely circulated among common people since mid-Joseon and was read extensively as a primer, along with Dongmongseonseup (First Lessons for the Young and Unenlightened), until the turn of the 19th century. Gyeongmong yogyeol was printed several times using woodblocks or movable types. This autograph in Yi I’s handwriting was passed down in the family of an aunt of his, along with other personal artifacts. This autograph is considered of an inestimable value.

Location