yi i (december 26, 1536–1584) was a korean confucian scholar. his mother was a famous calligraphist, shin saimdang. he was very intelligent as a child, learning to read at three and being very bright at his studies. he was also devoted to his parents: when his mother was sick, he prayed to his ancestors to heal her; and when his father was sick, he cut his own finger with a knife and let his father drink his blood (at that time, people thought human blood was very good medicine).