Yi Si-baek (Korean: 이시백, 李時白, 15 November 1581 (10th day of the 10th lunar month) – 9 June 1660 (2nd day of the 5th lunar month)) was a civil official of Joseon. His courtesy name was Donsi (敦詩), his art name was Joam (釣巖), his posthumous name was Chungik (忠翼), and his family seat was Yeonan. He was a disciple of Yi Hang-bok (Oseong) and Kim Jang-saeng (Sagye).
He served seven times as a minister and rose to left state councillor, then right state councillor, and finally Chief State Councillor, yet he distributed his wealth and power to the weak common people and was known for his integrity. The obituary of Yi Si-baek in the Veritable Records of the Joseon Dynasty praises him highly, stating: "His purity, loyalty, prudence, and integrity were something that none of the other ministers of his time could match." He was recorded in the list of incorruptible officials.
Life
He was the son of Yi Gwi. In his youth he studied under Yi Hang-bok (Baeksa), and later he also studied under Kim Jang-saeng (Sagye).
While still a scholar, he was credited for his merit in the Injo Restoration, was recorded as a second-rank meritorious subject of the Jeongsa merit list, and was enfeoffed as Lord Yeonyang (延陽君).1 When the Yi Gwal's Rebellion broke out in 1624, he became Hyeopsusa and guarded the road at Icheon, and he defeated the rebel army at Ahyeon, for which he was recorded as a Jinmu meritorious subject. During the Jeongmyo Horan, he served as defense commissioner of Suwon and safely evacuated King Injo to Ganghwa Island. After 1629 he became Pan'gyeolsa, and then served successively as magistrate of Yangju and Governor of Ganghwa. In 1633 he served as Vice Minister of War, and in 1636 he became Magistrate of Gyeongju, but the king recalled him, and he concurrently served as Vice Minister of War and Commander of the Garrison of Namhansanseong.
When the Byeongja Horan broke out in 1636, he, as Commander of Namhansanseong, defended the western gate of the fortress, and during the siege he received praise from King Injo. When Crown Prince Hyeon died and King Injo attempted to make his second son, Grand Prince Bongnim, crown prince, Yi Si-baek insisted that the grandson of the late crown prince (the eldest son of Crown Prince Sohyeon) should be installed as heir according to the principle of primogeniture. After this incident, King Injo, worried about the future, summoned Yi Si-baek to the Eodang Hall where the crown prince was present, and told the crown prince, "Regard him as your arms and legs," and had him pour wine. Later, when the crown prince ascended the throne as Hyojong, he greatly employed Yi Si-baek.
In 1638 he was promoted to Minister of Works, concurrently serving as Jiuigeumbusa, and that same year he became Minister of War. However, because of the matter of sending a younger son as a hostage to the Qing dynasty, he was exiled to Yeosan. In 1639 he was released and became Chungyongsa. After 1644 he passed through the posts of Mayor of Hanseong, Pan'uigeumbusa, Minister of Justice, and Minister of Works, and in 1646 he again became Minister of War.2 In 1649 he served as Minister of Revenue, and then passed through Minister of Personnel, Left Chamchan, and Left Chanseong. In 1650 he became Right State Councillor, in 1652 Left State Councillor, and in 1653, during the reign of Hyojong, he went to Beijing in the Qing dynasty as envoy of gratitude (as Left State Councillor). When he arrived at the border fortress of Shanhai Pass, many Qing people and Han Chinese gathered and watched, saying, "The virtuous minister of Joseon is coming." After returning, he rose to Chief State Councillor.
In his youth he studied under Seong Hon, Kim Jang-saeng, Yi Hang-bok, and others, and Seong Hon and Yi Hang-bok foresaw him as "a person who will become a pillar of the nation in the future." It is said that he had a dignified appearance and great physical strength, and was wise but always humble and did not show off, and was full of compassion. In family and national affairs he emphasized principle and the distinction between public and private matters and worked diligently, and he valued a clean life and conduct and practiced them himself.
Together with his younger brother, Minister of Revenue Yi Si-bang, he worked hard on reform of the government's policies, and in particular, upon receiving a proposal from Kim Yuk, he had the Daedong law implemented in the Honam region as well.3
When Yi Si-baek died, officials and common people mourned, saying that a loyal minister had passed away, and the government offices and the city markets (shijeon) closed for three days in mourning. The king (Hyeonjong) sent many items, including medicines, coffins, and ritual objects, to be used in the funeral, and specially ordered that sacrifices be held in the towns through which the funeral procession passed to express mourning. It is said that when the funeral procession departed for Gongju, torches that lit the darkness stretched for ten ri.4
Family
- Grandfather: Yi Jeong-hwa (李廷華)
- Father: Yi Gwi (李貴)
- Mother: daughter of Jang Min (張旻), Inbong Jang clan
- Younger brother: Yi Si-dam (李時聃) – adopted by his uncle Yi Ja (李資) as heir
- Younger brother: Yi Si-bang (李時昉)
- Half-younger brother: Yi Si-eung (李時應)
- Half-younger brother: Yi Si-hyeong (李時衡)
- Younger sister: Yi Yeo-sun (李女順) – Buddhist name Yeson (禮順); married to Kim Ja-gyeom, elder brother of Kim Ja-jeom
- Younger sister: wife of Byeon Gyeong-yun
- Younger sister: wife of Kim Gyeong-yeo
- Younger sister: wife of Kim Seol
- Wife: Yun Ji-suk (尹止淑, 1579 – ?), Namwon Yun clan5
- Eldest son: Lord Yeonchang (延昌君) Yi Heun (李忻)5
- Grandson: Yi Sang-ju (李相胄)
- Grandson: Yi Sang-jeo (李相著)
- Granddaughter: wife of Yi Tae-jang
- Granddaughter: wife of Yeo Min-je
- Second son: Yi Han (李憪)5
- Grandson: Yi Hong-jeo (李弘著) – biological father: Yi Yeol
- Third son: Yi Yeol (李悅)5
- Grandson: Yi Mun-jeo (李文著)
- Grandson: Yi Yu-jeo (李有著)
- Grandson: Yi In-jeo (李仁著)
- Granddaughter: wife of Jeong Si-il
- Granddaughter: wife of Jeong Sun-yang
- Eldest daughter: Yeonan Yi (1617 – ?)5
- Son-in-law: Jo Rae-yang (趙來陽)
- Great-grandchild (來孫): Left State Councillor Yi Hu – son of Councillor Yi Myeong-hui (李命熙), younger brother of Minister of War Yi Yu (李瑜)
Related works
Television drama
Film
Park Ssi-jeon
Meanwhile, in the famous military romance novel Park Ssi-jeon, he is also described as the husband of Lady Park.
References
- This article includes content based on the Global World Encyclopedia distributed under the GFDL or CC-SA license by Daum Communications (now Kakao).
Notes