Grand Prince Wanpung

Grand Prince Wanpung
Yi Won-gye (1330–1388) or formally called Grand Prince Wanpung, was a warrior and painter in the late Goryeo periods who became part of the early Joseon dynasty royal family member as the oldest child and son of Yi Jachun, making him half brother to Yi Seonggye, its founder.
After repulsed the Hong Geon-jeok rebellion and Japanese rebellion in the late Goryeo dynasty era, Yi was appointed as the Prince Cheoksan (척산군, 陟山君) and later Prince Wansan (완산군, 完山君). He was recorded to died a few days after leaving a desperate poem and knowing that his brother wanted to destroy Goryeo and made a new dynasty by poisoned himself and committed suicide in 1388. Then, after the Joseon dynasty was established in 1392, he was given title as Count Wansan (완산백, 完山伯) and formally became a "daegun" in 1872 during King Gojong's reign.
Biography
Early life
Born in 1330 (17th years reign of King Chungsuk of Goryeo) at Heukseok village, Hwaryeong Mansion (화령부, 和寧府) in Ssangseonggwanbu (nowadays is Yeongheung-bu, Hamgyeong-do) in the Yuan dynasty as the oldest child and son of Yi Jachun (이자춘), from his first wife who came from the Hansan Yi clan. His ancestors lived in Jeonju for generations and moved to Ssangseong Prefectures in the Yuan dynasty.
However, he lost his mother only at the age of 4 and he was raised by his father's second wife, Lady Choe who was Yi Seonggye's biological mother. According to the Veritable Records of the Joseon Dynasty, Yi Won-gye and his brothers always lived together in the same place since their childhood, that caused their bond to be very strong. He mastered the scriptures of Confucianism, wrote poetry well, and was also good at horseback riding and archery.
During Hong Geon-jeok rebellion and later life
In 1359 (8th years reign of King Gongmin), a man named Hong Geon-jeok (홍건적) led an invansion in Yalu River but immediately left if after being repelled by him. He also contributed for defeating Hong in Bakju and restored Gaegyeong during the second rebellion alongside Jo Cheon-ju (조천주) and others under general An Woo (안우)'s command. Then, he received many honors and formally become Prince Cheoksan (척산군, 陟山君) from the king in 1363. Three years later, he contributed on the Ssangseong Prefecture restoration and Wokou accident along with Yi Seonggye and Yi Jachun. Later in 1375, he once again made contribution for the country.
He spent his old days in Wihwa-do and honoured as Prince Wansan (완산군, 完山君) while two years later after his death in 1388, he received his final title and honors for making big contribution during his lifetime. His title was later upgraded into Count Wansan (완산백, 完山伯) and received Yangpyeong (양평) as his Posthumous name during the reign of King Taejo
Tomb and ancestral rites
He was buried on the right side of Jeongneung tomb, which was also his father's tomb and was enshrined at Samui Temple (삼의사), Bukcheong in 1901 while later moved to Seonwon Temple (선원사), Yiwon, Hamgyeongnam-do in 1909 alongside his last poem. However, after the 1950 war in Korean, his descendants held his ancestral rites every year on the first Sunday of the 10th months in Lunar calendar at Heunggyeongdan, a branch of Cheonhyang in Neunggok-ma, Daesim-ri, Yangseo-myeon, Yangpyeong-gun, Gyeonggi-do since 1984.
Family
Father: Yi Jachun (이자춘, 1315–1360)
Grandfather: Yi Chun (이춘, d. 1342)
Grandmother: Queen Gyeongsun of the Munju Park clan (경순왕후 박씨)
Mother: Lady, of the Hansan Yi clan (부인 한산이씨, d. 1333)
Brother: Yi Cheon-gye (이천계)
Sister: Gang U (강우)'s wife
Wives and their issue(s):
Grand Lady of Samhan State, of the Gaeseong Gim clan (삼한국대부인 개성 김씨)
Yi Yang-u, Internal Prince Wanwon (완원부원군 이양우; 1346–1417), first son
Yi Cheon-u, Internal Prince Wansan (완산부원군 이천우; 1354–1417), second son
Lady, of the Jeonju Yi clan (부인 전주이씨), first daughter
Grand Lady of Samhan State, of the Gyeongju Gim clan (삼한국대부인 경주 김씨)
Yi Jo, Internal Prince Wannampyeong (완남평부원군 이조; 1356–1408), third son
Grand Lady of Samhan State, of the Nampyeong Mun clan (삼한국대부인 남평 문씨); third daughter of Mun Ik-jeom (문익점).
Yi Baek-on, Prince Wallyeong (완령군 이백온), fourth son
Lady, of the Jeonju Yi clan (부인 전주 이씨), second daughter
Princess Sinhye, of the Jeonju Yi clan (신혜택주 이씨), third daughter
Lady, of the Jeonju Yi clan (부인 전주 이씨), fourth daughter
In popular culture
Portrayed by Kim Gyung-ha in the 1983 KBS TV series Foundation of the Kingdom.
Portrayed by Lee Sung-woong in the 1996–1998 KBS TV series Tears of the Dragon
References
이원계 on Encykorea .
Korean princes
1330 births
1388 deaths
14th-century Korean people
Jeonju Yi clan
People from Kumya County