Yi San-bo (李山甫, 1539 – 1594) was a Korean scholar-official of the Joseon period. Yi Ji-ham was his uncle. Yi San-hae, who served as Chief State Councillor, was his cousin. He was a disciple of his uncle Yi Ji-ham. His courtesy name was Jungeo (仲擧), his alternative name was Jangdeok Gunja (長德君子), and his pen names were Myeonggok (鳴谷) and Myeonggok Seonsaeng (鳴谷先生). Early in the Imjin War, as a Senior Official of the Military Supply Office (撫軍司堂上), he became Inspector-General (檢察使) and for about a year contributed by transporting military provisions. He received orders to relieve the starving people and died from overwork in the line of duty.
In 1604 he was added to the Merit Subjects of Hoseong, and on August 27, 1614 (the 6th year of Gwanghaegun's reign), he was added to the First-Class Wiseong Wonjong Merit Subjects (衛聖原從功臣).
Career
In 1568 he passed the Chunggwang literary examination and served as magistrate of Haemi, Right Remonstrator of the Office of Remonstrance, and Junior Secretary of the Sungkyunkwan, among other posts, and he was dispatched as Royal Inspector (巡按御史) to the Northern Province. Afterward he held posts in the Hongmungwan, but was attacked by the Easterners and demoted to Corrector of the Jongbusi. He later served as Vice Minister of the Right Royal Secretariat and Daesagan, among other posts.1
His family seat was Hansan (韓山). His courtesy name was Jungeo (仲擧) and his pen name was Myeonggok (鳴谷). He was a descendant of Yi Saek (李穡, pen name Mokeun), and his father was Yi Ji-mu (之茂). His mother was the daughter of Gu Seung-yu (구승유), magistrate of Gimje (Neungseong Gu clan, Nangjanggong branch). He studied under his uncle Yi Ji-ham (之菡). In 1568 (the 1st year of Seonjo) he passed the Chunggwang literary examination and served as Junior Secretary (전적), magistrate of Haemi, and Right Remonstrator, among other posts. After returning from patrolling the Northern Province as Royal Inspector (巡按御史), he held posts including Compiler (修撰), Junior Remonstrator (持平), Royal Secretary (舍人), Responding Scholar (應敎), and Director of the Office of Royal Lectures (直提學). He was impeached by the Easterners and demoted to Corrector of the Jongbusi (宗簿寺正). After serving as Vice Minister of the Right Royal Secretariat and Daesagan, he was in 1585 promoted to Minister of Justice... specifically, he was made Grand Minister of the Censorate (大司憲) by Seonjo, who valued his loyalty, after he rebutted Vice Director Kim U-ong (金宇顒), who had criticized Yi I (李珥) and Jeong Cheol (鄭澈). However, while discussing the merits of Yi I, Jeong Cheol, and Park Sun (朴淳), he was transferred to Governor of Gyeongsang Province and Governor of Hwanghae Province. In 1589, when the Gichuk Purge broke out following the rebellion plot of Jeong Yeo-rip (鄭汝立), he handled the affair as Grand Remonstrator, and the following year he went to Ming China as envoy for the Emperor's birthday. In 1591, a dispute between the Easterners and Westerners over the appointment of the Crown Prince led to the Westerners, including Jeong Cheol, suffering, and he was implicated while serving as Governor of Hwanghae Province and dismissed. When the Imjin War broke out, he accompanied Seonjo in his flight (扈從), and afterward served as Vice Minister and Minister of Personnel. To procure military provisions, he went out as Inspector-General of the Northern Province and the Samnam (三南) provinces. He served as Senior Assistant Councillor (左參贊) and died in 1594 while trying to deal with the great famine.
In 1604 he was given the Second-Class Honor of the Hojong Merit Subjects, posthumously enfeoffed as Lord of Hanheung (韓興府院君), and posthumously conferred the post of Chief State Councillor.1 His posthumous name was Chunggan (忠簡).
He was from Cheongla-myeon, Boryeong (保寧), South Chungcheong Province, and his tomb is located at Gomansan, Gojeong-ri, Jugyo-myeon, Boryeong. 1539 (Jungjong 34) – 1594 (Seonjo 27). A scholar-official of the mid-Joseon period. Family seat Hansan (韓山). Courtesy name Jungeo (仲擧), pen name Myeonggok (鳴谷). He was the 7th-generation descendant of the posthumously honored Chief State Councillor Saek (穡), and the son of Ji-mu (之茂). He studied under his younger uncle Ji-ham (之菡). In 1567 (Myeongjong 22) he passed the Sima examination, and in 1568 (Seonjo 1) he passed the Chunggwang literary examination in the third rank. On the recommendation of the Seungmun Office, he entered the Chunchugwan, and afterward served as Junior Secretary, magistrate of Haemi, and Right Remonstrator. By royal command he patrolled the Northern Province as Royal Inspector (巡按御史) and, on returning, served as Compiler, Lecturer (校理), Junior Remonstrator, Assistant Remonstrator (獻納), and Junior Secretary of the Ministry of Personnel (吏曹正郞), among other posts. In 1577, after the death of his foster mother, he resigned from office and returned to Seocheon. He later served again as Royal Secretary, Chief Remonstrator (執義), Grand Remonstrator, Responding Scholar, and Director of the Office of Royal Lectures. Because he stated the faction views to the end, he was impeached by the Easterners and demoted to Corrector of the Jongbusi. One year later he was reassigned as Chief Remonstrator, and then served as Vice Minister of the Right Royal Secretariat, Grand Remonstrator, and Right Royal Secretary. In 1585, when Vice Director Kim U-ong (金宇顒) rebutted the actions of Yi I (李珥) and Jeong Cheol (鄭澈), Seonjo greatly praised his loyalty and promoted him directly to Grand Minister of the Censorate. Later, when he discussed the merits of Yi I, Park Sun (朴淳), and Jeong Cheol, he was impeached by the Office of Remonstrance and transferred to Governor of Gyeongsang Province and Governor of Hwanghae Province. In 1589, when the Gichuk Purge occurred following the rebellion plot of Jeong Yeo-rip (鄭汝立), he restored order from the post of Grand Remonstrator, and the following year, after returning from Ming China as envoy for the Emperor's birthday (聖節使), he again became Grand Minister of the Censorate. In 1591, while serving as Governor of Hwanghae Province, Jeong Cheol and other Westerners suffered over the question of naming the Crown Prince (建儲問題), and he was implicated and soon dismissed, returning to his hometown of Boryeong to spend his time reading. The following year, when the Imjin War broke out, he accompanied Seonjo in his flight (扈從), and served as Grand Remonstrator, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, and Minister of Personnel, among other posts. When the Ming army stayed in Liaoyang (遼陽) without advancing, he persuaded the Ming general Yi Yeosong (李如松) to bring the Ming forces into Joseon, making a great contribution. Next, to procure military provisions, he went out as Inspector-General of the Northern Province and the Samnam regions, and the people, who admired his past good governance, cooperated actively, and the matter was resolved without incident. In 1594, when a great famine struck, he worked tirelessly day and night for relief by the order of the Crown Prince, and then fell ill and died. In 1604 he was recorded as a Second-Class Merit Subject of the Hojong (扈從功臣), posthumously conferred the post of Chief State Councillor, and posthumously enfeoffed as Lord of Hanheung (韓興府院君). His character was simple and upright, and he was not swayed by considerations of gain or loss, and he devoted his mind and body to public affairs. He is enshrined at Hwaam Seowon (花巖書院) in Boryeong and Geonam Seowon (建巖書院) in Seocheon, and his posthumous name is Chunggan (忠簡).
Yi San-bo (李山甫), a scholar-statesman who lived in loyalty and integrity. He said that whether a country governs well or badly can be known by looking at its people. He said that even if a nation has a powerful army and sage-like rulers, if the people suffer from hunger, its government is a bad one. Yi San-bo, who flatly declared that no one is born destined for poverty, was a loyal subject during the Imjin War (壬辰倭亂). He was born in Boryeong (保寧) in 1539, the 34th year of King Jungjong (中宗). His courtesy name was Jungeo (中擧), his pen name was Myeonggok (鳴谷), and his posthumous name was Chunggan (忠簡). His family seat was Hansan (韓山). He passed the literary examination in 1568, the first year of King Seonjo (宣祖), and after serving as magistrate of Haemi (海美縣監) and Right Remonstrator (正言), among others, he went out as Royal Inspector (御史) to the Northern Province. Afterward he served as Junior Secretary of the Ministry of Personnel (吏曹正郞), Royal Secretary (舍人), Chief Remonstrator (執義), and Grand Remonstrator, and when the Gichuk Purge occurred he showed great loyalty. The Gichuk Purge was caused by a scholar of Jeolla Province who, out of desire to seize political power, first frequented the school of Yi Yulgok (李栗谷) and enjoyed high renown, but after Yi Yulgok died he sided with the Easterners, reviled Yi Yulgok, and flattered the Easterners in order to rise to power by any means. Knowing his conduct, King Seonjo disliked him, and he, who had risen to the post of Compiler, abandoned his office and lived in seclusion in Jeonju (全州), secretly making plans to conquer the court. He rose in revolt in Hwanghae Province and Jeolla Province, but failed and hid on Jukdo (竹島) in Jinan (鎭安), where he committed suicide. At this time Yi San-bo, as a scholar, was of violent conduct and fickle loyalty, and he led the call to impeach Jeong Yeo-rip (鄭汝立) and took the lead in suppressing his plot beforehand. Afterward he rose to Grand Minister of the Censorate, then abandoned his office and spent his days at home reading the Confucian classics and histories. While he was living leisurely, the Imjin War (壬辰倭亂) broke out. He immediately went to the court, worried about the affairs of the nation and studied countermeasures, and he followed King Seonjo to Uiju (義州), and then, after serving as Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel (吏曹參判), became Minister of Personnel (吏曹判書). Our nation's territory was trampled by Japanese invaders and the cries of the people rose high. Yi San-bo stressed, with single-minded devotion to saving the nation, that all the people should rise up and drive out the barbarians. At last, when reinforcements came from Ming China and gradually pushed back the barbarians, he was appointed Inspector-General by royal command and went down to the Samnam region to gather provisions to feed the Ming troops, who had run out of supplies. Because of the great disturbance in the nation, grain was not stored anywhere. He ran east and west, devoting his whole effort to gathering provisions for the Ming soldiers who had come to help our country, and he overcame the crisis. King Seonjo was pleased with his diligence and firmness. During the Imjin War, the people of our country endured long hardship and held on well, and when the barbarians withdrew, the people were at last able to live in peace. Then came days without a single drop of rain. The people, already worn down by long suffering, were stricken by drought and forgot the attraction of life. At court, King Seonjo, worried about the drought, sent Yi San-bo to the regions where the drought was most severe to restore order among the suffering people. He received the royal command and went down to the countryside, but did not know where to begin. "What could help more than giving food to the hungry?" he said, and had the grain shared out to be eaten, while he himself did not even properly eat his meals, so his attendant officials were worried. He did not properly eat even one meal a day. So when the civil officials who followed him could not bring themselves to lift their chopsticks, he would say, "How good it would be if we could eat our fill! Even when we try to eat, we cannot eat until we are full..." and then leave again for the county where the drought was worse. When he appeared, the county magistrates greeted him, and eating was not the issue. "Who was born carrying poverty?" He stood on the side of the poor, and because the Minister of a great nation shared their hardships, even people who had buried rice in the ground dug it up and shared it to eat. "Let us overcome the drought. Let us eat whatever can be eaten and survive." Following his conviction, the people patiently worked on through hunger. Thus everyone gained strength, but he collapsed from exhaustion and died of illness. When word spread that a Minister of the great nation had died fighting the drought, everyone grieved, and he was granted the post of Chief State Councillor as a merit subject and posthumously enfeoffed as Lord of Hanheung (韓興府院君).
On August 27, 1614 (the 6th year of Gwanghaegun's reign), he was recorded as a First-Class Wiseong Wonjong Merit Subjects (衛聖原從功臣).
Footnotes