[Korea Root] 'Munmu Gyeombi Joseon Painter' Changju (滄洲) Lee Seong-gil

The Tomb and Tombstone of Lee Seong-gil [Pocheon City]

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[Asia Economy Reporter Ra Young-cheol] Changju (滄洲) Lee Seong-gil (李成吉, 1562?1621) was a government official and painter who excelled in both literary and martial arts. He is recognized as a highly artistic figure who left behind numerous poems and paintings, including .

His courtesy name was Deokjae (德哉), and his pen name was Changju (滄洲). He was from Goseong (固城) and the grandson of Woonson (雲孫), one of the renowned scholars of the Eulsa era (乙巳名賢). Known for his carefree nature, he refrained from going out at the age of 17 and devoted himself to reading, reportedly mastering the classics and histories.

He lived in Myeongsan Village, Hyeonnae (縣內), passed the Jinsa examination (進士試) in the Gajeong era’s Gichuk year (1529), and passed the civil service examination the same year. In 1589 (22nd year of King Seonjo), he ranked first in the Samosi (司馬試) and became a Jinsa, then passed the Jeunggwang (增廣) civil service examination, ranking 15th in the second class.

Notably, Lee Seong-gil’s tomb (located in Myeongsan-ri, Gunnae-myeon, Pocheon-si, Gyeonggi-do), created in the mid-Joseon period, is well-preserved in the style of a nobleman’s tomb. The tombstone in front bears an epitaph written by Shin Hujae (申厚載, 1636?1699). It has been preserved in its original form by descendants and is valued for its academic and historical significance.

Lee Seong-gil was a militia leader who made great contributions during the Imjin War. In 1621 (13th year of King Gwanghae), while returning from a diplomatic mission to Ming China, he died of illness at the age of 60 at Geumgyo Station (金郊驛) and was buried in Pocheon. His tomb has been maintained by his descendants for 400 years.

Lee Gak-mo, the 14th-generation descendant and head of the Goseong Lee clan, said, "The tomb site at Mountain 12, Myeongsan-ri, Gunnae-myeon, the tombstone at 138-1, and the monument pavilion have been protected and preserved since 1621. Along with the tangible and intangible folk materials of Lord Changju, these are valuable academic, artistic, and local heritage sites that are essential for researching and passing down the historical, local, and folk customs of Pocheon."

Seongil Lee Gong Jegak (left in the photo) and Seonjeongbi [Pocheon City] Photo by Lee Seongil

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During the Imjin War, Lee Seong-gil, along with Northern Defense Officer Jeong Mun-bu (鄭文孚), took the lead in defending the northern border. He also participated as an aide to the capital defense commander Lee Yang-won (李陽元). After Hanseong fell, he joined the militia activities as Jeong Mun-bu’s aide and achieved military success.

He also made significant achievements in defeating the Japanese general Kato Kiyomasa in the Hamgyeong-do region. However, during King Gwanghae’s reign, he faced accusations of treason, and contemporaries Heo Gyun (許筠) and Kim Gae (金?) were executed by dismemberment.

His official rank was Cham-pan (參判), but posthumously in 1740 (the Gyeongsin year of King Yeongjo), he was awarded the position of Minister of Personnel (Ijo Panseo).

As a government official skilled in both literary and martial arts, his famous works include , painted on the battlefield during the Imjin War, and , painted during his diplomatic mission to Ming China.

depicts the scenic views of Mount Wuyi in Fujian Province, China, where the Southern Song scholar Zhu Xi (朱子) retired to study and mentor disciples.

The name derives from the nine outstanding bends among the famous scenic spots formed around the 1,300-meter-high Mount Wuyi, located on the border of Fujian and Jiangxi provinces.

It is considered the most important and pioneering work in the development of Mui Gugokdo during the Joseon Dynasty.

This work is a long scroll with inscriptions at the front and back: the by Yulgok Yi I and the by Zhu Xi, clearly reflecting Lee Seong-gil’s purpose and meaning in creating the painting.

Mid-Joseon Dynasty painter Lee Seong-gil's depiction of the nine bends scenery of Mount Wuyi in China, painted during his journey as an envoy to the Ming Dynasty

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In 2015, the Changju Lee clan published a Korean translation (國譯) of Lee Seong-gil’s collected works, 『Changju Yugo』. It contains many poems and writings by Lee Seong-gil, providing extensive material on his life and activities.

At age 34, in 1595, he painted portraits, landscapes, Mojae (慕齋), plants, birds, and horses at the request of Geumrimsa Temple (鶴林寺), believed to be commissioned by the royal family member and literati painter Lee Kyung-yoon.

Although the existence of these works is unconfirmed, they serve as important evidence that Lee Seong-gil was a literati painter who created various paintings beyond .

The progenitor of the Goseong Lee clan (固城 李氏) was Lee Hwang (李璜). According to 『Lee Clan Genealogy Record (李氏 追遠錄)』, Lee Ban (李槃), a Jungseo Sarin (中書舍人) during the Han Dynasty under Emperor Wu, led troops to Korea and settled there. Lee Hwang was his 24th-generation descendant.

Lee Hwang served as Miljik Busa (密直副使) during the Goryeo Dynasty under King Deokjong and shares the same name but is a different person from the mid-Joseon Neo-Confucian scholar Toegye Yi Hwang. Although he passed the Goryeo civil service exam (Saengwon-si), he never held office.

He was promoted to Minister of Personnel (Ibu Sangseo) for his achievements during the Khitan invasions and was enfeoffed as the Lord of Cheollyeong (鐵嶺君), which became the clan’s ancestral home.

Among his descendants, 15 households with 89 members live in Hwaam-dong, Myeongsan-ri, Gunnae-myeon, Pocheon, continuing their lives centered around Myeongsan Village for about 150 years. Lee Seong-gil’s tomb and stele are located here.

Meanwhile, Pocheon City designated Changju Lee Seong-gil’s tomb as Pocheon Local Cultural Heritage No. 54.

Mayor Park Yoon-guk of Pocheon said, "It is very meaningful to designate this as a local cultural heritage of Pocheon. We will continue to strive to create a beautiful cultural heritage city where traditional values and modern culture coexist through active discovery and preservation of cultural assets."

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