Mr Paul Wanklyn 5th Dan
Yul-Gok
YUL-GOK is the pseudonym of the great philosopher and scholar Yi l (1536-1584
AD) nicknamed the "Confucius of Korea" The 38 movements of this pattern refer
to his birthplace on the 38th latitude and the diagram represents "scholar".
38 Movements.
Yi I was born on December 26 1536 AD in Gangneung. Ojuk-Hon “Black Bamboo Shrine” is said
to be the birthplace of the prominent Confucian Scholar more popularly known by his pen name of
Yul-Gok “Valley of Chestnuts”. He was one of a select group of Neo-Confucianists who became
powerful during the 16th Century. Among the many positions held by Yul-Gok were Royal
appointments as Korea’s minister of personnel and war, and rector of the national academy.
Yul-Gok was said to be an infant prodigy who knew Chinese script at the age of 3 and composed
poems in Chinese by the age of 7. By the age of 7, he had finished his lessons in the Confucian
Classics and at the age of 13, passed the civil service examination in the literary department.
Yul-Gok’s mother Shin Sa-im-dang was very talented and an unusually accomplished artist for her
time. She was well respected throughout the provinces and it is said that her talents had a profound
effect on the upbringing of her son who was able to write characters as soon as he could speak.
Yul-Gok’s mother died in 1551 AD when he was 16, he was devastated by his loss and grew
disillusioned with life. After wandering about, Yul-gok took refuge in a Zen Buddhist monastery in
the rugged and beautiful Diamond Mountains and after time, focused entirely on his studies of
Buddhist philosophy. After approximately 1 year, Yul-Gok left the monastery and returned to
society devoting his life to studying Confucianism.
At the age of 29, Yul-Gok passes the highest level state examination for ranking officials with the
highest marks nine times and his government service started there. At the time Yul-Gok turned 40,
he authored “The Essential of Confucianism” which is rated a most valuable book showing
examples for a good Confucian life.
Yul-Gok was well known for his development of a School of thought concerning the philosophy of
the 12th Century Confucian Scholar “Chu-Hsi”. Chu-Hsi established the concepts of “I” (reason or
abstract form) and “Chi” (matter or vital force). He proposed that these two concepts were
responsible for all Human characteristics and the operation of the Universe. Yul-Gok’s school of
thought was carried over into his personal life in fact, he took sincerity very seriously. “A sincere
man, was a man that knew the realism of heaven” he said and, his concern for sincerity, loyalty
and improvement of the individual was manifested in his own actions towards others.
Yul-Gok was ultimately appointed to several ministerial positions including that of Minister of
Defence. He proposed the “Tendong” (Great Equity) system for solving the financial crisis of the
Korean Government. Under Tendong, taxes would be levied on land rather than on households.
In 1575 AD, Yul-Gok was inadvertently pulled into a serious political squabble by virtue of his
philosophy. Two distinct factions within the Korean Government were constantly at each others
throats and every official within the Government had to align himself with one faction or the other
or risk attack. The one faction became known as “The Easterners” and followed the teachings and
philosophy of Yi-Hwang (Toi-Gye) and the other faction became “The Westerners” and followed
the teachings and philosophy of Yul-Gok, both had opposing views of the “i Chi”.
Toi-Gye believed that the “i”, Humanness, Rightness, Ritual decorum and wisdom were inherently
good whereas “Chi”, Joy, Anger, Sorrow, Fear, Love, Hatred and Desire are sometimes good and
sometimes bad. Yul-Gok however placed equal importance on both.
Yul-Gok is also well-known for his foresight and concerns about the national security of the
Choson Dynasty. He proposed to draft and raise 100,000 men against possible Japanese attack but
his proposal was rejected by figures in central government who were caught up in the East-West
Government conflict, his worry was found to be well-founded soon after his death, when Hideyoshi
Toyotomi's Japanese forces invaded Korea in 1592.
Not a lot is known about the death of Yul-Gok but, it is said that he was assassinated whilst on his
way to the royal court by members of the “The Easterners”.
According to a legend, he had a villa built near the ford of the Imjin River in his lifetime and
instructed his heirs to set it ablaze when the king had to flee northward from Seoul, to provide a
guiding beacon. This took place during Hideyoshi's invasions of Korea at the Battle of the Imjin
River (1592).
In 1979, the Koreans released a film called “Yul-Gok and His Mother Shin Sa-im-dang” which
celebrated their life and times. Yul-Gok’s mother was a renowned artist during her time and has a
statue erected of her in Gangneung where Yul-Gok was born.
The 38th latitude (parallel) on which Yul-Gok was born is now the dividing line between North and
South Korea due to World War 2.