Il-yeon

Il- yeon also occasionally Iryeon (actually Kim Gyeong- myeong, * 1206, † 1289 ) was a Buddhist monk, scholar and writer of the 13th century in Korea.

At the age of 9 years, he joined the then already venerable monastery of Muryangsa temple ( about 30 km from the city of Puyo away ) a. At 22, he passed the gwageo, the state examination for Korean officials. With 54 years given the title of Great Teacher was awarded. With 78 years he was appointed emperor Chungnyeol as a counselor to his court. However, Il- yeon held that post only briefly and withdrew, according to legend, the courtly life under the pretext of his mother was ill, back to the mountains. There he died. He remained his countrymen to this day as virtuous and very learned in memory.

On his grave stone Buddhist themes are the 80 most cited touching, he has written books. Only the ascribed book Samguk Yusa ( 삼국유사 ) remained. It is a work that reports similar to the well serving as a template older Samguk Sagi on the history of Korean early days with its three sub- kingdoms. The book is considered one of the most important classical works of Korean literature and important historical work. It contains the first recorded Korean poems in rhyme.