Another Look at the Portrait of Yi Je-hyeon, a Gift of King Chungseon

Abstract

King Chungseon of Goryeo, the grandson of a Yuan emperor, commissioned from renowned 14th-century Chinese artist Chen Jianru a portrait of Yi Jehyeon, a prominent Goryeo scholar-official. Despite the portrait’s fame as a rare Yuan work and evidence of the Goryeo-Yuan relationship, its purpose remains a mystery. This study aims to explore how the Portrait of Yi Je-hyeon was a personal gift of King Chungseon, but also served the subtler purpose of strengthening the king’s political position by connecting Yi with southern literati through the cultural act of painting appreciation. Firstly, this study demonstrates works of art such as paintings and poems were one way for southern literati to reinforce their sense of solidarity and commonality. Secondly, this study seeks to argue the people involved in the creation and appreciation of the portrait, as well as its compositional elements and motifs, suggest that it was a means to establish Yi Je-hyeon’s legitimacy within orthodox southern literati circles. Ultimately, this study argues King Chungseon, who sought to form a power base in the Yuan court with the support of southern literati, attempted to establish and strengthen connections between these factions and certain members of the Goryeo elite, including Yi Je-hyeon.