Yi Saek

Yi Saek was a prominent Korean writer and poet who lived during the late Goryeo and early Joseon dynasties. He was born in Hansan, Goryeo, to a noble family of the Hansan Yi clan. He showed great talent in learning and writing from an early age, and passed the civil service examination at the age of 18. He then went to China to study Neo-Confucianism under the famous scholar Liu Ji. He returned to Goryeo in 1356 and became a professor at the Sungkyunkwan, the national academy. He also served as a high-ranking official in various government posts, and was patronized by several kings of Goryeo. He was influential in spreading Neo-Confucianism in Korea, and taught many disciples who later became the founders of the Joseon dynasty, such as Jeong Do-jeon and Gwon Geun. However, Yi Saek himself remained loyal to the Goryeo dynasty and did not participate in the coup that overthrew it. He also advocated for the coexistence of Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism, and respected the diversity of cultures and religions. He was known for his elegant and refined style of poetry and prose, and wrote many works in both Korean and Chinese languages. He also translated and annotated many classical texts from China. His works cover a wide range of topics, such as history, philosophy, ethics, aesthetics, education, politics and religion. He is regarded as one of the greatest literary figures and Neo-Confucian scholars in Korean history. He died on his 69th birthday in 1396, and was buried in Seoul. His tombstone was inscribed with his art name, Mogeun, which means hermit of the pasture.