Toi-gye

Yi Hwang (Toi-Gye) was born in 1501 in the province of Kyongsang-Do. He lived at a time of great social upheaval and ethical conflict between the public good and private self-interest. A very intelligent man, he passed the preliminary provincial civil service examination with top honors at the age of 33. Because this exam was usually only passed by older people, he was held in high esteem for this accomplishment. He continued his scholarly pursuits, even as he held several government positions, until his death at age 70.

During his youth, he acquired the pen name Yi Toi-Gye which means "returning stream." Although he was appointed to several high government offices during his life, he preferred to devote himself primarily to his academic studies. His legacy was his philosophical teachings. His writings significantly influenced neo-Confucianism

The foundation of Toi-Gye's school of thought was based on the philosophy of the 12th century Confucian scholar Chu Hsi. Chu Hsi established the concepts of "li" (reason or abstract form) and "chi" (matter or vital force), and proposed that these two concepts were responsible for all human characteristics and the operation of the universe. As he defined the concepts, they are very similar to the concepts of body and soul in Western philosophy and religion. The "li," however, is not totally synonymous with the idea of an individual represents groups or models for each form of existence. Toi-Gye's school of thought supported the concept that the "ii" was the controlling agent in the universe and that the "chi" was a supporting component. Perfecting oneself through the building of good moral character, learning, and reflection was stressed in the practice of the "li" school of thought. Its influence was strongly felt in the Kyongsang area where Yi Toi-Gye was born.

The other major school stemming from the philosophy of Chu Hsi was fostered by Yi I (Yi Yul-Gok), who proposed that the "chi" controlled the "li." This school stressed the importance of education, experience, and practical intellectual activities. Yi Yul-Gok, 35 years younger than Yi Toi-Gye, once visited him and they spent time discussing their philosophies.

The teachings of Yi Toi-Gye not only had appeal to the scholars of his time in Korea but soon attracted many senior government officials as well. Soon, government and political support increased for the formation of schools teaching his concepts of the supremacy of practical ethics. Yi Toi-Gye took advantage of his considerable influence when he became the head of a private school or shrine, such as Tosan Sowon (shown on left) in Kyongsang province in 1557. This shrine had been dedicated by its previous instructor to the honor of a revered scholar who introduced the teachings of Chu Hsi into Korea. It was a combination shrine, private study facility, school, and social gathering point for local scholars. Yi To-Gye used his political ties to get royal patronage for the Sowon because it was also a shrine for a Confucian sage. This patronage, or tax-free status, resulted in an influx of assets in the form of cash, cattle, land, slaves, grain, and books. As a result, this Sowon, and this type of educational system in general, proliferated and became a predominant type of school in the Joseon Dynasty.

   Yi Toi-Gye's leadership in this school of thought pulled him into the political arena. The Joseon Dynasty was characterized by political and religious reform with frequent conflicts between scholars and officials. As the underlying principle behind these changes, neo-Confucianism began to dominate the state creed and politics of the Joseon Dynasty. Under this pressure, all of the Korean Buddhist sects were forced to unify into one of two groups, Son (den) or Kyo. Because Buddhism was viewed by strict neo-Confucians as a social evil, all but 18 of the nation's main Buddhist temples were closed. Political differences ultimately became focused on neo-Confucian concepts and their differences rather than on political problems.

Although he died in 1570, Yi Toi-Gye, through his teachings, had great historical impact on Korea during the years that followed. A member of his school of thought, Kim Hyo-Won, occupied a post of considerable power, enabling him to hire, dismiss, or veto all government appointments. When the leader of the opposition party, Sim UP Gyom, arranged to have his brother succeed him, Kim exercised his veto power. This act polarized the entire government. Eventually every official had to become aligned with one side or the other or risk attack by both. Since Kim lived in the eastern quarter of Seoul and Sim lived in the western quarter, the two factions became known as the Easterners and the Westerners The Easterners followed the teachings of Yi Toi-Gye while the Westerners followed the teachings of Yi .

This feuding continued long after Kim and Sim had disappeared from public life and often took the guise of schemes designed to exile members of the rival faction, remove them from office, or get them executed on false charges. Their philosophical differences tended to drive the two factions further apart, increased the conflicts, and made the functioning of government virtually impossible. The day-today functioning of the government and military became so impotent that resistance to the Japanese invasions of Korea by Hideyoshi (200,000-man force) in 1592 and 1597, and the Manchu attacks in 1627 and 1637, were totally ineffective.

No doubt Toi-Gye would have been sorely dismayed had he lived to witness the political problems that beset Korea in the name of his teachings. Despite the role it played in that dark chapter of Korea's history, Toi-Gye's philosophy has made an enriching contribution to neo-Confucian thought. His influence is still being felt in the 20th century in China, Korea, and Japan. His academy remains a center for the study Toi-Gye thought, and regular memorial services are held in honor of its founder twice a year.

Kiyup. Organizations have different places in the pattern at which a kiyup is required. Insert a kiyup at places where your organization requires one to be used.

Diagram

Number of Movements: 37

Start: Stand at X facing North.

Attention and Bow: As per your school's procedures.

Ready Stance: High enclosed fist in closed ready stance

1. Step  left foot toward West into left back stance toward West, with left middle inner forearm block
2. Step left foot forward into left front stance, with right low palm upward spear hand thrust thrust
3. Bring left foot back beside right foot into closed stance toward North, with simultaneous right outer forearm block and left low outer forearm block
4. Step  right foot toward East into right back stance toward East, with right middle inner forearm block
5. Step right foot forward into right front stance, with left low palm upward spear hand thrust thrust
6. Bring right foot back beside left foot into closed stance toward North, with simultaneous left outer forearm block and right low outer forearm block
7. Step left foot toward North into left front stance, with X-fist low block
8. Execute high twin vertical punch. Perform 7 and 8 in a continuous motion
9. Execute right middle front snap kick toward North while maintaining position of hands
10. Lower right foot toward North into right front stance toward North, with right middle punch
11. Execute left middle punch
12. Bring left foot up beside right foot into closed stance toward West, with twin side elbow thrusts. Perform in slow motion
13. Step right foot toward West in stamping motion into sitting stance toward South, with W-shape block
14. Step left foot clockwise in stamping motion into sitting stance toward North, with W-shape block
15. Step left foot clockwise in stamping motion into sitting stance toward South, with W-shape block
16. Step right foot counterclockwise in stamping motion into sitting stance toward North, with W-shape block
17. Step left foot clockwise in stamping motion into sitting stance toward South, with W-shape block
18. Step left foot clockwise in stamping motion into sitting stance toward North, with W-shape block
19. Bring right foot up beside left foot, step left foot toward North into left back stance toward North, with left double inner forearm block
20. Move left foot toward North into left front stance, with two-hand head grab
21. Execute right upward knee kick while pulling both hands downward
22. Lower right foot beside left foot, turn counterclockwise and step left foot toward South into left back stance, with left middle knife hand guarding block
23. Execute left low side front snap kick toward South while maintaining position of hands
24. Lower left foot toward South into left front stance toward South, with left high flat spear hand thrust with palm down
25. Step right foot toward South into right back stance, with right  middle knife hand guarding block
26. Execute right low side front snap kick toward South while maintaining position of hands
27. Lower right foot toward South into right front stance toward South, with right high flat spear hand thrust with palm down
28. Step right foot backward toward North into left front stance toward South, with simultaneous right back fist toward North and left low forearm block toward South
29. Jump forward toward South into right X-stance toward East, with right low X-fist block
30. Step right foot toward South into right front stance toward South, with right braced inner forearm block
31. Step left foot counterclockwise toward West into left back stance toward West, with left low knife hand guarding block
32. Step left foot outward toward West into left front stance, with right inner forearm circular block toward North
33. Bring left foot back beside right foot, step right foot toward East into right back stance toward East, with right low knife hand guarding block
34. Step right foot outward toward East into right front stance, with left  inner forearm circular block toward North
35. Turn feet 90 degrees left into left front stance toward North, with right inner forearm circular block toward North
36. Turn feet 90 degrees right into right front stance toward East, with left inner forearm circular block toward North
37. Step right foot toward North into sitting stance toward North, with right middle punch

Ready Stance: Bring right foot back toward left foot in high enclosed fist closed ready stance

Attention and Bow: As per your school's procedures.