일신당 이천경은 조선시대 단성현에 거주했던 남명의 문인이다. 같은 동문으로 오건·최영경·하항·김우홍·정구·하응도 등과 교유하였으며 남명 사후에는 이들과 함께 스승을 기리는 덕천서원의 창건을 논의하였다. 또 서원에서의 강론 및 원록 중수에도 참여하였다. 만년에는 일신당을 지어 학문연구에 매진하였고, 박민·이유열·권극량 등이 그에게 학문을 배웠다. 1610년(광해군 2) 이천경이 세상을 떠나자 남명학파의 많은 이들이 추모의 글을 보내왔다. 이 글에서는 이천경을 최영경·하항에 버금가는 남명의 주요 문인으로 인식하고 있었고, 뛰어난 능력을 갖추었으나 등용되지 못한 점 등을 안타까워하고 있었다. 1623년(인조 1) 이천경이 공조참판에 추증되자 그의 행적 및 추모 문자 등 관련 기록들이 정리되기 시작했다. 이도는 행장·척언을 작성하였고 이현일은 묘도비명을, 이헌경은 묘갈을 작성하였다. 이중 이현일의 묘도비명에서는 정인홍과의 단절을, 이헌경의 묘갈에서는 글 서두에 남명학파로서 이천경을 강조하는 모습이 포착되었다. 한편 이천경을 추모하는 공간도 건립되기 시작하였다. 1702년(숙종 28)에는 단성의 유림들이 그를 제향하는 청곡사를 건립하였다. 이후 19세기 전반 청곡서원으로 승원하였으며 1865년(고종 2) 중수가 이루어졌다. 청곡서원은 당시 입지가 약해지고 있던 士族들의 향촌 내 영향력 강화에 일조하고 있었다. 또 1855년(철종 6)에는 『일신당집』을 간행하였는데, 이를 주관하고 있던 이방검 등은 『남명집』 개간 및 남명문묘종사 등에도 적극적으로 참여하고 있었다. 즉 남명의 대표 문인이었던 이천경의 문집 간행과 청곡서원의 중수는 19세기 남명 현창사업과 궤를 함께 하고 있었다.

Ilshindang(日新堂) Lee Cheon-kyoung(李天慶) was a follower of Nammyeong who lived in Danseonghyeon during the Choseon era. He made friendships with Oh Geon, Choi, Young-kyoung, Ha, Hang, Kim, Woo-hong, Jeong, Gu, and Ha, Eung-do in the same school, and they discussed the establishment of Deokcheon Seowon in honor of his teacher after Nammyeong's death. He also participated in the lecture and reconstruction of the Wonrok in the Seowon. In his later years, he built Ilshindang and devoted himself to academic research, and Park, Min, Lee, Yoo-yeol, and Kwon Geuk-ryang learned from him. When Lee, Cheon-kyoung passed away in 1610 (the 2nd year of King Gwanghaegun's reign), many people from Nammyeong School sent messages of condolence. In these writings, Lee, Cheon-kyoung was recognized as a major follower figure of Nammyeong, comparable to Choi, Young-kyoung, and Ha, Hang, and it included regrets the fact that he had extraordinary talents but did not hold a governmental post. When Lee, Cheon-kyoung was posthumously promoted to the Gonjo panseo in 1623 (the 1st year of King Injo's reign), the related records, such as his whereabouts and letters of remembrance and condolences, began to be compiled. Lee, Do wrote the biography and cheokon, Lee, Hyoun-il wrote the epitaph, and Lee, Heon-kyoung wrote Myogal. Lee, Hyoun-il's epitaph emphasized the disconnection with Jeong, In-hong, while Lee, Heon-kyoung's Myogal emphasized Lee, Cheon-kyung as a member of Nammyeong School at the beginning of the writing. Meanwhile, a space in memory of Lee, Cheon-kyung began to be built. In 1702 (the 28th year of King Sukjong's reign), the Confucian scholars of Danseong established Cheonggoksa to commemorate him. Then, it was promoted to Cheonggok Seowon in the first half of the 19th century, and its reconstruction was carried out in 1865 (the 2nd year of King Gojong's reign). Cheonggok Seowon was helping to strengthen the influence of the local upper classes in their villages, which were weakening then. In addition, in 1855 (the 6th year of King Cheoljong's reign), Ilshindangjip was published, and Lee, Bang-gum, who was in charge of it, was also actively participating in the republishing of Nammyeongjip and the movement to try to worship Nammyeong in Munmyo. In other words, the publication of the collection of works by Lee, Cheon-kyoung, a main figure of the Nammyeong School, and the reconstruction of Cheonggok Seowon were in conjunction with the commemoration project of Nammyeong in the 19th century.