A Study on Unak Lee Ham’s Life and Establishment of Family Study

The purpose of this study is to investigate the life of Unak Lee Ham(李涵, 1554-1632) and the process by which he established Sadak. Because research on Lee Ham has not been covered in earnest in academia, it is necessary to first learn more about his life. Lee Ham is a member of the Jaeryeong Lee clan and a member of the Yeonghae faction, and is a central figure in the Toegye school of thought. Lee Ham's actions can be examined through the writings he left behind, including Unakjip, the records of people related to him, and the literature of his descendants that mention various events related to him. Lee Ham did not focus on returning home, but lived in the countryside, focusing on his studies and his family. Therefore, most of his interactions took place in the Yeongnam region. The Yeonghae faction of the Jaeryeong Lee clan is said to be the center of the Toegye school of thought. In particular, Lee Ham's grandson, Lee Hyeon-il, is a person who is said to be a member of the Toegye school of thought. In Hyunil Lee’s academic background, sadism is at an important point. It can be said that the foundation of Jaeryeong Lee's Yeonghae school of sadism originated from his grandfather, Lee Ham. Lee Ham passed down learning to his sons, including Lee Si-myeong, and his grandsons, including Lee Hwi-il. He learned from his teacher, interacted with local writers, developed his studies, and established Sadak. Lee Ham studied under Hwang Eung-cheong and expanded his academic world by following Kim Seong-il and his brothers, and his children were also influenced by this.