This is a scrapbook of poems written by congratulators during the ceremony that was held to award Yi Wonik a set of gwejang ("a cushion and a cane") on September 6, 1623 (first year of King Injo’s reign) in cerebration of his accomplishments and services as an outstanding civil official. This was also called Sagwejangyeonchangsusicheop in the Oriseonsaengjip. It is prescribed in Quli (曲禮) I of the Liji (禮記), one of the Confucian scriptures regarding manners, that a high ranking official resigns from his post when he becomes 70 years old, or, if not allowed to do so, he must be awarded a set of gwejang. When Yi Wonik resigned his post at his age of 77, the giroyeon ("ceremonial feast for old civil officers") was prepared by Giroso (government office for treating old civil officials with respect). This giroyeon was the first one after the Japanese Invasion of Joseon, and it intended the post war restoration of social and cultural systems as well.

This book is a collection of Yi Wonik's poems. Oriseonsaengmunjip was published first by his great-grandson, Yi Sanghyeon, and some literary men including Jo Gyeong and Heo Mok in 1687(13th year of King Sukjong’s reign). Later, this was republished by his fourth-generation son, Yi Jondo in 1731 (31st year of King Sukjong’s reign) including the preface by Yi Seowu and the postscript by Gang Yeong. Yi Jondo also published its supplementary volume. The book on exhibition is a republished one which has been possessed in the house of the head family. The pages shown in the picture include a letter sent to Yu Seongyong to dissuade him from leaving the governmental service.

This document is a gyoseo ("message of a king") of King Hyojong given in 1651(second year of King Hyojong’s reign), ordering the enshrinement of Yi Wonik in the shrine of King Injo. This was composed by Chae Yuhyu, and written by Min Yujung. The gyoseo bespeaks Yi Wonik’s nature, saying, "Although his build is so slender as if his body could not endure the clothes, he has a commanding looking in the government service. Although He is so shy as if his words could not come out of the mouth, he conducts his business dauntlessly."

This is believed to be a gyecheop ("minute book") of a gye ("mutual assistance society") in an administrative organ of which Yi Wonik was the dojejo ("chief"). Considering that he was titled as Hoseonggongsin in the book, it was written after 1604. According to the chronological record of Yi Wonik, he resigned from the dojejo of Sayeokwon (a government body in charge of translation and interpretation) in 1615 (seventh year of King Gwanghaegun's reign). Therefore the book seems to have been written during his service as the dojejo of Sayeokwon. He was so excellent in Chinese that he took honors in every contest held by the king.

四月初一日高密縣間鶯
Hearing an oriole singing at Gomilhyeon on April 1

日午來過古縣城
When I pass through the old fortress of a village in the day time,
綠陰深巷暑風淸
The summer wind is very fresh in the village of the deep shade of trees.
殷勤拂壁題詩句
I clean the wall and write a verse silently,
記取流鶯第一聲
The verse depicts the first song from an oriole.
不肖郡 適値役 先祖手跡 布宗族 感激君恩 朝夕常目 庚寅冬
I luckily undertook a project for publishing our ancestors' autographs, serving as a local official, and became able to distribute the books to my family. I read the books every morning and evening, giving my thanks to the king. Late winter in the year of Gyeongin.

贈金少年-自知
Dear Young Mr. Gim

晩歲讀書徒自悔
In my later years, I regret my past mistake every time I read a book,
令人掩卷卽茫然
And I close the book and become vacant instantly.
金生此日年方少
Mr. Gim, you are still young.
好向窓前更着鞭
Why don’t you sit by a window, and do your best again.

癸酉暮春出貽孫女季溫六首
I present six poems to my granddaughter, Gyeon in the late spring of 1633 (eleventh year of King Injo’s reign).

楊子江
Yangtze River

貫楚呑吳氣像雄
Because it destructed the Chu Dynasty and occupied the Wu dynasty,
如今四海此朝宗
Now the world looks up to it.
流若問江源去
If you go up the river for tracing its origin,
直到峨嵋第一峰
You will directly reach the first peak of Mt. Amisan.

Secluded Life

臨溪茅屋獨閑居
Since I live alone in a thatched house by a stream,
月白風淸興有餘
The moon is bright, the wind is fresh, and my life is full of pleasures.
外客不來山鳥語
As no visitors from the world come to me, and mountain birds twitter,
移床竹塢臥看書
I read the classics lying in a grove of bamboos.