李

Phono-semantic compound combining:

木 (나무 목) — “tree,” indicating meaning.

子 (아들 자) — phonetic component, here giving the sound lǐ / 리.

Thus, the character literally means “a tree bearing small fruit (like a child)”, referring to the plum tree’s small, clustered plums.

The structure belongs to the Old Chinese group of wood + offspring-bearing plants (cf. 桑, 果).

오얏 리 (李) — plum tree

이씨 / 리씨 (李氏) — the Yi (Lee) clan

이화 (李花) — plum blossom, symbol of purity and nobility

오얏문 (李花紋) — plum-blossom emblem used by the Joseon royal family

Notes on Pronunciation and Orthography

Original Sino-Korean pronunciation: 리 (ri).

Modern South Korean pronunciation (due to 두음 법칙 / initial-sound rule): 이 (i).

In North Korea, the original reading 리 (ri) is still standard.

In the Joseon period, older documents often transcribed it as 니 (ni), reflecting the Middle Korean phonetic transition.

Examples include:

《동국신속삼강행실도》 — “니슌신” (for 이순신).

《니슌신실기》 — early vernacular manuscript spelling.

Symbolism of the Plum (李 / 梅)

In East Asian culture, plum trees symbolize resilience, purity, and the return of spring — blooming first among trees in late winter.

The plum blossom, called 이화(李花) in Korean, represents nobility and endurance, and was adopted as the royal emblem of the Joseon dynasty.

The expression 이화백설(李花白雪) — “plum blossoms and white snow” — often appears in classical poetry as a metaphor for purity and integrity.

The Surname Yi / Lee / Li (李氏)

In Korea, the surname 李 is borne by numerous lineages, including the Jeonju Yi clan (全州李氏), founders of the Joseon dynasty (1392–1897).

In China, it is one of the “Four Great Surnames” (四大姓) alongside Wang (王), Zhang (張), and Liu (劉).

In Vietnam, rendered as Lý, it was borne by the imperial Lý dynasty (1009–1225).

Across all regions, 李 as a surname signifies both ancient lineage and cultural continuity.