Toegye Yi Hwang's Study Methods as a Third-Time Examinee

 

Yi Hwang, Who Studied Without a Teacher

Yi Hwang (李滉) was a great scholar of mid-Joseon, and his pen name was Toegye (退溪). He dedicated his life to the study of Confucianism and systematized Neo-Confucianism (Chu Hsi studies). He also founded the Dosan Seowon (陶山書院) to teach future scholars. However, in his youth, he had no teacher. At the age of 6, he learned The Thousand Character Classic from an elderly neighbor, and at 12, he studied The Analects with his uncle. From then on, Yi Hwang studied independently, although he failed the state examination three times. He eventually passed the exam at the late age of 34 and entered government service. Let’s look at the study methods of Yi Hwang, who became a great scholar through self-study without a teacher.

Source: Naver

Have 'study friends' with whom you can connect

Instead of a teacher, Yi Hwang studied with friends like Heo Salim, Kim Samun, and Geum Chuk at a temple on Cheongnyang Mountain. He said that he received a lot of help from these friends. With their strong determination to study, Yi Hwang did not give up on his studies despite health issues. He even advised his children and grandchildren to study alongside friends who were good at their studies. This was because studying with dedicated friends could be helpful when one’s motivation weakens. If self-motivation is difficult, using external support to maintain growth is a well-known method used by prestigious families for their children’s education.

 

Memorize until you fully understand

Yi Hwang’s study method was simple. What he studied each day, he made sure to memorize by that same day, and the next day, he memorized what he learned the previous day along with the new material. By repeatedly memorizing the newly learned material and reviewing the old, he believed that understanding would naturally follow. He reportedly memorized the entire Analects this way. He said, "The way to read is to read until it becomes familiar. Even if a person understands the meaning of a text, if they don’t read it enough times to become familiar with it, they will soon forget it and fail to keep it in their mind. You must form the habit of reviewing to truly keep it in your heart." Yi Hwang emphasized the importance of memorization and review. As the saying goes, reviewing is more important than moving forward quickly, and Yi Hwang adopted a study method that built a strong foundation.

Read a lot and write together

As a child, Yi Hwang emphasized reading many books and writing at the same time. Through this process, he seemed to apply the memorized content, allowing it to remain in his memory for a long time. Writing acts as an exercise for the brain, and when done together with memorization, it helps store information quickly. Writing is not just a way to express memorized knowledge logically, but also a method that improves understanding and retention.

 

Yi Hwang, who studied without a teacher, never gave up on his studies despite failing the state examination three times, and he eventually became a great scholar. His study methods are still applicable today.

 

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