The Blacksmith's Path to Wisdom

이황, 1501 - 1570

From scholar to sage: 이황 (Yi Hwang), the thinker who shaped Korean Confucianism.

이황

이황 (Yi Hwang), born in 1501, was a prominent Korean Confucian scholar and reformer during the Joseon Dynasty. His life and teachings are extensively documented in various historical texts, including the 『조선왕조실록』 (The Annals of the Joseon Dynasty).

조선왕조실록

Historical records highlight Yi Hwang's significant contributions to Korean Confucianism, his role in establishing the Dosan Seodang academy, and his influence on Joseon's educational system. His most famous work, the 『성학십도』 (Ten Diagrams on Sage Learning), presented to King Seonjo, became a cornerstone of Confucian study in Korea.

Yi Hwang's willingness to teach students regardless of social status, as exemplified by his acceptance of 배순(Bae Soon), a blacksmith, as his disciple, demonstrated his commitment to education and social equality.

Now, I welcome you to thestory of 이황 - how a humble blacksmith's determination to learn caught the attention of one of Korea's greatest scholars, challenging social norms.

Let the story begin...