| Yi Hwa | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Grand Prince of Joseon (posthumously) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succession: | Count of Joseon Duke of Joseon[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Reign: | 1392–1408 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coronation: | 1392 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spouse: | Lady An Lady No | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Issue: | 7 sons and 1 daughter | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Royal House: | Yi | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Father: | Yi Cha-ch'un | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mother: | Lady Kim Koŭmga | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Birth Name: | Yi Hwa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Birth Date: | 1348 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Birth Place: | Hwaju, Ssangseong Prefecture, Yuan dynasty (now Kumya County, South Hamgyong Province, North Korea) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Death Date: | 6 October 1408 (aged 60/1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Death Place: | Hanseong-bu, Joseon | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place Of Burial: | ?? Pyeongnae-dong, Namyangju-si, Gyeonggi Province | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Religion: | Buddhism, later Korean Confucianism | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Yi Hwa (1348–1408) or Grand Prince Uian, was a warrior and scholar in the late Goryeo period who became part of the early Joseon dynasty royal family as the fourth son of Yi Cha-ch'un, making him a younger half-brother to Yi Sŏng-gye, its founder.
He served as an assistant commander to his older half-brother, Yi Sŏng-gye, then after he founded the Joseon dynasty in 1392, Yi Hwa was honoured as Count Uian [2] and after helped his half nephew, Yi Pang-wŏn in defeated in the 1st rebellion, Uian become Jeongsagongsin .[3]
Later in 1400, during the 2nd Princes Strife, Yi went out again under the command from Yi Pang-wŏn. Uian, along with Yi Suk-bŏn (이숙번; formally called Prince Anseong, 안성군) and Yi Paek-gang (이백강; formally called Prince Cheongpyeong, 청평군) were got the target[4] and succeeded in defeated Yi Bang-gan (이방간; formally called Grand Prince Hoean, 회안대군) and Yi Maeng-jong (이맹종; formally called Prince Uiryeong, 의령군), then he was promoted to Jwamyeonggongsin [5] along with 47 others.[6]
From all of his successions include in defeated Chŏng Mong-ju with Yi Pang-wŏn, Yi Hwa then became the richest nobleman in the Early Joseon period and often got promoted until passed the 4 positions in military. Although he had title, such like: "Count Uian" and "Duke Uian", but after Yi Pang-wŏn (a.k.a. Taejong) reorganized the royal titles system and abolished the 5 Deungjak (오등작), Yi Hwa then was elevated to Grand Prince Uian . According to the old tradition that an illegitimate child (especially son) couldn't had the same rank like the legitimate one, Yi Hwa became the one who was actually the illegitimate heir of Hwanjo whom his rank was elevated and same like Hwanjo's legitimate heir for seeing about his contributions in helped Yi Sŏng-gye established the new dynasty.[7]
Although his descendants had time to suffered a lot from their fate to just became a farmer until King Jeongjo of Joseon and King Sunjo of Joseon's reign, their lives be more better than before. It is said that in nowadays, almost of Yi Hwa's descendants live better now and have the nice home in Seoul City, South Korea.