Yi Ch'ae (born 1616)

In this Korean name, the family name is Yi.

Yi Ch'ae
Hangul	이채
Hanja	李埰
Revised Romanization	Yi Chae
McCune–Reischauer	Yi Ch'ae
Art name
Hangul	몽암
Hanja	夢庵
Revised Romanization	Mongam
McCune–Reischauer	Mongam
Courtesy name
Hangul	석오
Hanja	錫吾
Revised Romanization	Seoko
McCune–Reischauer	Sŏg'o

Yi Ch'ae (Korean: 이채; Hanja: 李埰; 1616 – 1684) was a mid-Joseon Confucian writer, known for compiling the Tonggyŏng chapki with Gyeongju magistrate, Min Chu-myŏn.

Biography

Yi Ch'ae was born in 1616 in Yangdong, Gyeongju, as the son of gentlemen for escort service (종사랑; 從仕郞; chongsarang) Yi Kyo (이교; 李皦), of the Yeoju Yi clan, and his wife, Lady Chŏng, of the Hadong Chŏng clan. His art name was Mongam and his courtesy name was Sŏg'o. At the age of 8 or 9, he learned how to write from his grand-uncle, Yi Ŭi-hwal (이의활; 李宜活). In 1631, Chŏn Sik, as magistrate of Gyeongju, met the 15-year-old Yi Ch'ae and was impressed by his scholarly talents, marrying his granddaughter to Yi.

In 1666, Yi Ch'ae would pass the licentiate examinations. In 1669, Yi would compile a local gazetteer, the Tonggyŏng chapki (동경잡기; 東京雜記), or the Miscellaneous Records of the Eastern Capital, with Gyeongju magistrate, Min Chu-myŏn (민주면; 閔周冕). In 1676, Yi Ch'ae was recommended as a person of merit and integrity (유일; 遺逸; yuil) to be appointed to a government post. Yi was given the offices of Yŏngnŭng tomb guardian (영릉참봉; 英陵參奉; Yŏngnŭng ch'ambong) and assistant supervisor at the Ice Storage (빙고별검; 氷庫別檢; pinggo pyŏlgŏm), but declined the posts.

In 1683, Yi fell ill and died the following year in 1684.