He was also a master of pungsu (Korean geomancy/Feng shui) and is the attributed author of the Tojeong Bigyeol, a system of divination and fortune telling as well as a compilation of his predictions that appeared in the 19th century.
Rather than searching for honors, Yi Ji-ham lived as a wandering scholar and wanted to face the realities of working people across the country.
Since he was often sailing, he was given the moniker 수선(水仙), a joke distorting his penname 수산(水山) into 水人山 meaning 물의 신선 i.e. water wizard.
[5] He also promoted and believed in the value of markets and trade, together within the country and overseas, to improve the working class standard of living, an uncommon view at a time when merchants were generally frowned upon.
When this 10-foot mud hut remained intact even after a big flood, Yi earned the moniker of Tojeong 土亭, meaning "clay pavilion.
For the hungry, Yi Ji-ham tried to melt the silver ore buried in the mountains, dig up jade, catch fish, or roast salt to buy grain from these activities.
But rather than just being a charity organization, the agency was a job training and rehabilitation center which learned the people how to do simple tasks that could fetch some money in the market, such as making straw ropes and catching fish.
[8] Giving a practical example of caring for the people and pushing through real life reforms and improvements was important at a time when there was increasing resistance in Joseon Korea against neo-Confucianism.
Nowadays, Yi Ji-ham is often quoted as a practical person, a Silhak before the letter, putting economy and welfare of the people ahead of obscure doctrinal divergences.