Yi In-no

Yi In-no (李仁老, 1152 – 1220) was a civil official, scholar, poet, and writer of the middle to late Goryeo period. His courtesy name was Misu (眉叟), and his earlier name was Deugok (得玉). His art name was Ssangmyeongjae (雙明齋), and his family seat was Incheon (仁川). He survived the turmoil of the military regime period, and he is also the author of the Pahanjip (破閑集), the oldest extant collection of poetry criticism in Korea.

Life

Yi In-no was the great-grandson of Yi O, Pyeongjangsa (平章事). His father was Yi Baekseon (李伯仙). His great-uncle on his father's side, Yi Gongsu, was Munha Sijung (門下侍中), and Yi Jijeo was his first cousin once removed. His great-great-grandfather Yi Jasang was a younger brother of Yi Jayeon; among the descendants of Yi Jayeon, the consorts and royal concubines of Munjong, Sunjong, and Seonjong continued to be produced. Although he came from a munbeol gwijok family, he lost his parents at an early age and his family fell into decline, so he was raised by Hwaeom Seungtong (華嚴僧統) Yoil (寥一).

In 1170, during the reign of Uijong, the Jeong Jung-bu Rebellion broke out, and to escape the chaotic world he took refuge in Buddhism. Afterward he returned to secular life, passed the mungwa in the 10th year of Myeongjong (1180), became a Jiksagwan (直史官), and then served for fourteen years in the Sagук (史局) and the Hallimwon.

During the reign of Sinjong he served as Yebu Wonoedanglang (禮部員外郞), and early in the reign of Gojong he served as Biseogam Uganui Daebu (秘書鑑右諫議大夫). He was clever from childhood and excelled in writing and calligraphy, but because he had a quick temper he was not greatly employed.

Even while in office, he grew weary of reality, formed friendships across age differences (忘年友) with , Im Chun (林椿), Jo Tong (趙通), Yi Dam (李湛), Hwangbo Hang (皇甫抗), and Ham Sun (咸淳), enjoyed poetry and wine, and, emulating the of China, called themselves the Seven Sages of Gangjwa (江左七賢) or the Seven Sages of Haejwa (海左七賢).