Opening the Exhibition. Since the year 2009, for two times, Lee, Dong-yueng has donated 576 (946 when including affiliated items for each artifact) cherishable inherited artifacts such as ‘Maninsan’ and ‘Eosawha,’ so that they could be used for exhibitions and studies. Among them is ‘Maninsan’, a symbolic representative of the family, which is a parasol on which the names of ten thousand people (ref. the word ‘Manin’ refers to ten thousand people in Korean) were embroidered. It was made and gifted by the people who accredited the high official with his charitable deeds. In this exhibition, the donor’s great-great-grandfather, Lee, Manki’s life is narrated to meditate on the long-established and fine custom as to ‘Maninsan’ and to remind the importance of donation.
Lineage of Eui-in Clan from Lee of Jinseong Family and the High Official of Chosan District, Lee, Manki
[part 1] Born as an Offspring of Toegye Lee, Manki who took up the public office in Chosan District is the 11th offspring of Toegye Lee, Hwang. He was born in 1825 in Eui-in Village of Andong as the second son of Lee, Huijeong. Eui-in Village where Lee, Manki lived till his last years is a village of Eui-in clan whose forefather is Lee, Sundo who is the second grandson of Toegye. It is located in front of Dosanseowon (a lecture hall) which helped the offspring of Toegye, Lee, Manki, to be indulged in studying and to well-manage political affairs with absolute honesty.
[part 2] Success in the State Examination and Rising to Prominence Losing parents in his earlier years, Lee, Manki went into a mountain to devote himself to studying for the state exam, dreaming of achieving his goal. At last, he passed the exam in 1852 when he was 28, and took part in Gyeong-yeon (a symposium or convention for academic and political purposes) at Hongmungwan. There he supported King Gojong’s study while justly participating in national affairs as one affiliated in Saheonbu ministry, through which he gained credits from the King and the peers.
[part 3] Being Granted Maninsan from the Inhabitants of Chosan District In the year of 1878, Lee, Manki took up a public office in Chosan District located beside the Aprok River. He very well-managed political affairs in the area in a way that he eradicated aged but ineffective conventions and even cut his own salary to establish the public education system. In addition, he administered relief to neighboring villages, to which in return the beneficiaries erected a memorial stone to pay tribute. The inhabitants of Chosan wished Lee, Manki’s governance to continue for one additional year, so they set up a shrine for the living and made Maninsan to commemorate great contributions of their district official.
[part 4] Retirement into Andong Eui-in Village After finishing up his duty as an official of Chosan District, he was appointed to serve as Seungji, a royal secretary. Conceiving the political chaos of the time, he retired to Shinam Village where Toegye enjoyed visiting to live there for a while. Then he went further down into his hometown, Eui-in Village. He was suggested several public offices after his return to home but declined all, because he wished to spend the rest of his life contributing to making harmonious family to which the name of his house ‘Mansudang’ refers.
□ Maninsan Found in a Built-in Closet at the House of Chosan When Andong Eui-in Village was in danger of submergence due to the construction of Andong dam in 1976, Maninsan was found in a built-in closet at the House of Chosan. The donor remembers himself playing with Maninsan when he was little, but being one of the relics pertaining to the whole family, it had been stored in the closet since he left for Seoul at the age of 12. Maninsan made in the year 1879 is a parasol on which the names of the inhabitants of Chosan are embroidered. The people of the district of Chosan appreciated the official, Lee, Manki's charitable deeds so much that they made the embroidered parasol, Maninsan, wishing that his governance to continue for one additional year.
collections
Maninsan (An Embroidered Parasol)
Maninsan (An Embroidered Parasol)
Gyoji (An Appointment Letter)
Chosansilki (An Account for Granting of Maninsan)
Anjang (A Saddle)
Sikwon (An Answer Sheet)
Eosahwa (A Paper Flower and its Case Granted to a Successful Candidate)
