Yi Sunshin
Yi Sunshin[1] (이순신:李舜臣, April 28, 1545 – December 16, 1598) was a Korean admiral renowned for his naval victories against the invading Japanese during the Korean War of 1592-1598.
Family & early life
Yi Sunshin was born on April 28, 1545 in the Geoncheon-dong area of Seoul. Yi was the third of the four sons begot by Yi Jeong (이정:李貞) and Chogyae Byeonssi (초계변씨:草溪卞氏)[2]. Despite their aristocratic yangban lineage, the family lived a modest life, since Yi's father opted to avoid pursuing the promising path of a Joseon Dynasty scholar official. The reason for this withdrawal of ambitions was Jeong's unpleasant memory of a violent political purge 20 years before, in which many government officials were killed, and many others, including Sunshin's grandfather, Yi Baek-rok (이백록:李百祿), were demoted to the lower ranks.[3][4]
The eldest son of the family was Heauishin (희신:羲臣); the second eldest, Yoshin (요신:堯臣); and the youngest, Ushin (우신:禹臣). When Chogyae Byeonssi was pregnant with her third child, Yi Baek-rok, who was now deceased, appeared to her in a dream and said, "that child will turn out to be extraordinary, so name him 'Sunshin'."[5] Thus, like his brothers, Yi Sunshin was named a "vassal" (shin) of one of the sage kings of ancient China (in his case, Shun).[6][7]
Not much is known about Yi's early life. The only significant detail regarding the time he grew up in Seoul is that he became friends with Yu Seongnyong (유성룡:柳成龍), who later would become a high ranking scholar official and contribute to Yi's appointment to admiralty.[7] After about 9 years in the capital city, Yi Sunshin followed his family to the Bam-bat-ma-eul village in Asan,[8] where their economic hardships could be better managed with support from their relatives on the mother's side.[9]
Despite being a newcomer, Yi was said to be well liked by the other children in the neighborhood. Among the various fun activities that Yi and his friends pursued were the war games, in which Yi was consistently picked as a captain by his peers.[6] Yi also carried bow and arrows around freely and enjoyed practicing archery. These boyish interests were rather a fitting contrast to his strict rearing at home, where Yi studied Chinese classics with his brothers.[9]
When Yi was 21, he married Sangju Bangssi (상주방씨:尙州方氏), who was the only offspring of Sangju Bangjin (상주방진:尙州方震), a high-rankingmilitary commander.[10] Bangjin recognized Yi's potential in the military profession.[11]
A survey conducted by Sooncheonhyang University in 2005 indicated that Koreans in general regard Yi Sunshin to be the greatest figure in Korean history.[12]
notes
- ↑ Note: For Korean names, the western equivalent of the last name comes first, and the first name comes last. There is no middle name in Korean - "Sun" is not a middle name.
- ↑ Note: Korean women keep their last name upon marriage
- ↑ 선비가문, 지혜에 담력 갖춘 지장: 이순신과 임진왜란의 재조명 by Yi Naewon, Washington Hangook Ilbo, 2003-04-29, date accessed: 2008-07-27
- ↑ 기묘사화 (己卯士禍), Korea Britannica Encyclopedia, Daum.net, date accessed: 2008-07-27
- ↑ 이순신의 탄생과, 그 무렵의 국내 정세, 성웅 이순신 project, Asan municipal government, date accessed: 2008-07-27.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 소년시절, 성웅 이순신 project, Asan municipal government, date accessed: 2008-07-28.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Hawley, 2005. pp. 118-122.
- ↑ 연대표, 성웅 이순신 project, Asan municipal government, date accessed: 2008-07-28.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 '제 2의 고향', 아산, 성웅 이순신 project, Asan municipal government, date accessed: 2008-07-28.
- ↑ 이순신, Korea Britannica Encyclopedia, Daum.net, date accessed: 2008-07-28
- ↑ 명장의 자질을 읽은 방진, 성웅 이순신 project, Asan municipal government, date accessed: 2008-07-28.
- ↑ Citizens Name Admiral Yi 'Greatest Korean', Chosun Ilbo, 2005-04-15, date-accessed: 2008-07-24