Yi Hwang at the Age of 50
Yi Hwang is known as one of the most renowned Korean Confucian scholars of the Joseon Dynasty. After Yi resigned from government service, he built a residence at the site of the Dosan Seowon, a private Confucian academy. Yi prepared himself for retirement at the age of 50, and called himself by his literary appellation “Toegye,” which meant “dwelling near the creek after retreating” or more simply put, a “stream hermitage.” After retiring, Yi was most concerned about his academic pursuits, and is quoted as saying:

"I feel at ease after leaving the office, but I am worried that my studies will be affected. I am concerned about what I would do during the latter years of my life. For the first time, I have found a place to stay near the creek; I should give myself time to reflect on these thoughts.”

Yi is considered one of the greatest and most influential philosophers of the Joseon era. After retiring into solitude, Yi was constantly frustrated that a comfortable lifestyle might cause him to neglect his studies.

Motivation behind His Studies
Yi was born in 1501 in Yaeahn-hyun, now Ansan, Andong, North Gyeongsang Province. Yi’s father passed away when he was two years old and amidst the difficult times, his mother always stressed the importance of learning and behaving well. At the age of 12, Yi learned the Confucian Analects and at the age of 22 entered the Sung Kyun Kwan where he continued his academic endeavors. Eleven years later, Yi passed the civil service state examination and held many high ranking positions in the government throughout his career. After serving as the headman of the Punggi County in the Gyeongsang Province, Yi returned to his home in Andong in 1569. Over the course of his political career, Yi was appointed to over 140 different posts in the government but resigned 79 times, willingly leaving the life of wealth and honor to fully devote to his philosophic studies.

Toegye and Chu Hsi
Confucianism, founded by Confucius and expanded by Mencius, was later transformed into Neo-Confucianism based on the works of Chu Hsi. Yi added to Chu Hsi’s interpretations of Confucian principles and advocated the “theory of logic,” arguing that logical reasoning is the basis of Confucianism. While some neo-Confucius scholars of the 16th century advocated the “theory of practice,” which posited the importance of knowledge acquired from experience, Yi argued that one can learn about his true nature only when he understands the logic and reasoning of life. The essence of Toegye’s philosophy can be distilled down to the following idea: respecting all individuals as well as objects. Put another way, Yi’s teachings emphasized cooperation and unity between individuals and nature. Yi believed that most social and political problems including ecological destruction and conflict between nations could be solved by promoting a harmonious and balanced society. Toegye’s philosophy was introduced to Japan during the Imjin War or the Japanese Invasion of Korea during the Joseon Dynasty. Since then, Yi’s teachings became the foundation of modern Confucianism in Japan, and even today, international symposiums honoring the Yi’s work are being held around the world.

Yi is one of the most significant educational philosophers of the 16th century and was dedicated to research and teaching. In an effort to train the next generation of scholars, Yi founded a private Confucian institute called the Dosan Seowon. Over the years, Yi’s teachings have challenged people to reflect on why people engage themselves in learning. Undoubtedly, Yi has been called one of the most respected teachers in Korean history and his teachings will continue to encourage, motivate, and inspire Koreans to learn and better themselves.