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 and later Prince Wansan. 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 and formally became a "daegun" in 1872 during King Gojong's reign.

Early life
Born in 1330 (17th years reign of King Chungsuk of Goryeo) at Heukseok village, Hwaryeong Mansion in Ssangseonggwanbu (now Yeongheung-bu, Hamgyeong-do) in the Yuan dynasty as the oldest child and son of Yi Jachun, 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 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 and others under general An Woo 's command. Then, he received many honors and formally become Prince Cheoksan 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 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 and received Yangpyeong  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, Bukcheong in 1901 while later moved to Seonwon Temple , 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 the Korean calendar (lunar) at Heunggyeongdan, a branch of Cheonhyang in Neunggok-ma, Daesim-ri, Yangseo-myeon, Yangpyeong-gun, Gyeonggi Province since 1984.

Family

 * Father: Yi Jachun (이자춘, 1315–1360)
 * Grandfather: Yi Chun (이춘, d. 1342)
 * Grandmother: Queen Gyeongsun of the Munju Park clan
 * Mother: Lady, of the Hansan Yi clan (부인 한산이씨, d. 1333)
 * Brother: Yi Cheon-gye
 * Sister: Gang U 's wife
 * Wives and their issue(s):
 * 1) Grand Lady of Samhan State, of the Gaeseong Gim clan
 * 2) Yi Yang-u, Internal Prince Wanwon (완원부원군 이양우; 1346–1417), first son
 * 3) Yi Cheon-u, Internal Prince Wansan (완산부원군 이천우; 1354–1417), second son
 * 4) Lady, of the Jeonju Yi clan, first daughter
 * 5) Grand Lady of Samhan State, of the Gyeongju Gim clan
 * 6) Yi Jo, Internal Prince Wannampyeong (완남평부원군 이조; 1356–1408), third son
 * 7) Grand Lady of Samhan State, of the Nampyeong Mun clan ; third daughter of Mun Ik-jeom.
 * 8) Yi Baek-on, Prince Wallyeong, fourth son
 * 9) Lady, of the Jeonju Yi clan, second daughter
 * 10) Princess Sinhye, of the Jeonju Yi clan, third daughter
 * 11) Lady, of the Jeonju Yi clan, 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