Yi Gyu-gyeong (

Korean Korean may refer to: People and culture * Koreans, ethnic group originating in the Korean Peninsula * Korean cuisine * Korean culture * Korean language **Korean alphabet, known as Hangul or Chosŏn'gŭl **Korean dialects and the Jeju language ** ...

: 이규경;

Hanja Hanja (Hangul: ; Hanja: , ), alternatively known as Hancha, are Chinese characters () used in the writing of Korean. Hanja was used as early as the Gojoseon period, the first ever Korean kingdom. (, ) refers to Sino-Korean vocabulary, ...

: 李圭景; 1788 – year of death unknown) was a Silhak scholar in the

Joseon dynasty Joseon (; ; Middle Korean: 됴ᇢ〯션〮 Dyǒw syéon or 됴ᇢ〯션〯 Dyǒw syěon), officially the Great Joseon (; ), was the last dynastic kingdom of Korea, lasting just over 500 years. It was founded by Yi Seong-gye in July 1392 and r ...

from the late 18th century to the mid-19th century who succeeded the accomplishments of Silhak and sought erudition. He was born in

Jeonju Jeonju () is the 16th largest city in South Korea and the capital of North Jeolla Province. It is both urban and rural due to the closeness of Wanju County which almost entirely surrounds Jeonju (Wanju County has many residents who work in Jeonj ...

and his courtesy name was Baekgyu (伯揆). His pen name is Oju (오주; 五洲) or So-un-geosa (소운거사; 嘯雲居士). His grandfather was Editor-Compiler Yi Deokmu (이덕무; 李德懋) and his father was Yi Gwanggyu (이광규; 李光葵). Yi dedicated his life to writing his own books and reading many books from Korea and China. He was deeply interested in studying astronomy, geography, history, literature, culture, religion, paintings, calligraphy, and customs while remaining out of public office. In particular, he published ''Oju yeonmun jangjeon sango'' (, Random Expatiations of Oju) which was received to be the best encyclopedia in the 19th century. Consistent with analysis and dialectics, his style of writing and academic characteristics gave birth to works of detailed scientific techniques that were distinguished from other works of the Joseon dynasty, contributing to an expansion in the scope of Silhak to natural history.

Family background

Yi's studies was influenced by his ancestors. His grandfather, Yi Deokmu, was scholarly and well-versed in the

Hundred Schools of Thought The Hundred Schools of Thought () were philosophies and schools that flourished from the 6th century BC to 221 BC during the Spring and Autumn period and the Warring States period of ancient China. An era of substantial discrimination in China ...

. His writings created a new style to describe the heart of the people and social conditions in detail. When King Jeongjo opened the

Kyujanggak The Kyujanggak, also known as Gyujanggak, was the royal library of the Joseon Dynasty. It was founded in 1776 by order of King Jeongjo of Joseon, at which time it was located on the grounds of Changdeokgung Palace. Today known as Kyujanggak Roy ...

, he appointed well-known scholars whose duties were to compile, proofread and transcribe books, such as Geomseogwan (檢書官). Yi Deokmu was called the Four Geomseo along with

Yu Deuk-gong Yu Deuk-gong (; 1749–1807) was a Korean scholar during the Joseon Dynasty. He is remembered today for his work in recovering the history of Balhae, which had not generally been considered part of Korean history before his time. See also *Histo ...

(유득공; 柳得恭),

Bak Jega Bak Jega (; 1750–1805) was a scholar of school of Practical learning (Silhak) in the late Joseon Dynasty. He was a student of Bak Jiwon. Background Bak Jega was a famous Silhak scholar in the late Joseon Dynasty. He was a student of ano ...

(박제가; 朴齊家) and Seo Isu (서이수; 徐理修). Yi won the King’s favor. He participated whenever there were letters to compile at Kyujanggak. His son, Yi Gwanggyu, succeeded his father as a Geomseo, serving at Kyujanggak for a long time. Yi Gyu-gyeong was influenced by such family tradition and the Silhak of the

Qing dynasty The Qing dynasty ( ), officially the Great Qing,, was a Manchu-led imperial dynasty of China and the last orthodox dynasty in Chinese history. It emerged from the Later Jin dynasty founded by the Jianzhou Jurchens, a Tungusic-speak ...

that prevailed at that time.The Academy of Korean Studies (2017). ‘Yi Gyugeong’, in Encyclopedia of Korean Culture, 2nd ed. The Academy of Korean Studies.
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Silhak scholar

The late Joseon dynasty, during which Yi Gyu-gyeong lived, saw the development of commerce and handicrafts as the agricultural productivity increased. Active in the mid-19th century, he sought erudition as a new turning point from

Neo-Confucianism Neo-Confucianism (, often shortened to ''lǐxué'' 理學, literally "School of Principle") is a moral, ethical, and metaphysical Chinese philosophy influenced by Confucianism, and originated with Han Yu (768–824) and Li Ao (772–841) ...

academic method “Gewu Zhizhi (格物致知)”, which was an epistemological concept of

Confucianism Confucianism, also known as Ruism or Ru classicism, is a system of thought and behavior originating in ancient China. Variously described as tradition, a philosophy, a Religious Confucianism, religion, a humanistic or rationalistic religion, ...

that dominated the then society, and academia in the period of transition from agricultural to industrial society. Studying and recognizing objects with Neo-Confucian academic methodology inevitably led to difficulties in obtaining specific information on existing objects and interpreting various phenomena. In particular, as the state-led mining development project broadened to the private sector after the mid-18th century. The boundaries of society-led industries started expanding in all areas, and society posed the need to transition the recognition standard of the subjects who recognize social issues. Among them, the pursuit of encyclopedia-based studying and the borrowing of the erudite academic method were of interest to Silhak scholars who tried to suggest various academic turning points, noting the changing social conditions at the time. Yi defined his academic identity as erudition and continued. His erudition did not simply mean “having extensive knowledge”. He tried to recognize objects and issues accurately and firmly in many ways

Achievements

Characteristics of Yi Gyu-gyeong's studies

Yi inherited numerous books and reading notes accumulated by his grandfather and father. Based on them, he pioneered a wider academic world. From what is now known, there are traces of continuous writing from 1800 to 1855. In particular, his book ''Oju yeonmun jangjeon sango'' is a 50-year-long masterpiece which was amended and supplemented until just before his final breath. It represents the early and mid-19th century books. Ojuyeonmunjangjeonsango

''Oju yeonmun jangjeon sango''

The list of Yi's books shows that he had a wide range of interests and concentrated on editing practical books. Of course, even though he did not personally experience and experiment in various fields, but he did organize the books of Silhak for future generations to use which were in fashion in the early Joseon dynasty. He also organized professional technical books of the

Ming The Ming dynasty (), officially the Great Ming, was an imperial dynasty of China, ruling from 1368 to 1644 following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan dynasty. The Ming dynasty was the last orthodox dynasty of China ruled by the Han pe ...

and Qing Dynasties, and books written by western missionaries. By doing so, he made great achievements in providing the basis for information aggregation and scientific analysis methods.

Literature

Yi left nearly twenty books including his masterpiece ''Oju yeonmun jangjeon sango''. This focused on the compiling of practical books rather than on the traditional

Confusianism Confucianism, also known as Ruism or Ru classicism, is a system of thought and behavior originating in ancient China. Variously described as tradition, a philosophy, a religion, a humanistic or rationalistic religion, a way of governing, or a ...

, and gathered the knowledge of those days in encyclopedia style.

Scientific achievements

*''Shim-Yubang'' (心遊方), a book on ships of the east and the west *''Oju-Seojong'' (五洲書種), a schematic of the tactics of attacking with fire and inundation tactics *''Yigadoseoyak'' (李家圖書約), a collection of illustrations of waterwheels, steamships, wagons and weights and measures *''Gwaksa, Hoeyo'' (露縣、會要) which contains symptoms and treatment of epidemics *''Baek-Un-Pil'' which contains measures on agricultural management *''Oju-Seojong-Bakmul-Gobyeon'' (五洲書種博物攷辦) which summarizes the types, characteristics and refining methods of minerals

Humanistic and sociological achievements

*''Shiga-Jeomdeung'' (詩家點燈), a collection of notes on poets and poetry from Joseon and China *''Namgyoyeokgo'' (南交繹考), a record of trade between Joseon and Annam (Vietnam) *''Bojegiseo'' (普濟奇書), a collection of records of famine reliefs

Legacy

Yi is regarded as an erudite scholar who flourished Silhak in the late

Silhak by succeeding Silhak accomplished by his grandfather Yi Deokmu, without holding a government post during his lifetime. He compiled various specialized books, including ''Oju yeonmun jangjeon sango'', known as the best encyclopedia of the 19th century. He opened up the horizons of Korean erudition by organizing information on all creation of those days in an encyclopedia. It is meaningful in that it set an example of the erudite study of ancient documents by freely studying, categorizing and describing objects in a vast but systematic manner, freeing from the existing Neo-Confucian reasoning method.Yi, Gyu-gyeong (2019). Oju-Yeonmunjangjeon-Sango: All creation - Insect and Fish. Translated by Jeon, Byeong Cheol and Lee, Gyu-pil, Introduced by Joo, Kang-Hyun. Korea National Maritime Museum. The new knowledge and innovative ideas that Yi suggested so that they could be widely communicated to objects of all ages and countries seem to have been seriously and desperately accepted by early enlightenment leaders.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Yi, Gyu-gyeong 1788 births Year of death unknown Jeonju Yi clan 19th-century Korean writers