Yi Ik suggested a new theory of portents based on the idea of “number of qi” (gisu 氣數) to preclude one-to-one correspondence. He insisted that portents did not occur in response to specific events, but show only the possibility of encountering bad luck. Yi Ik argued that humans can avoid misfortune and reduce the damage of portents by their own efforts at self-cultivation. Yi Ik also created a new classification method of dividing portents into those of the heaven and of the earth. Astronomical portents (portents of the heaven) could be seen from all over the world. In contrast, terrestrial and atmospheric portents (portents of the earth) could be observed only from a certain place. This reconstruction of portents implied that more people assume political and moral responsibilities for the portents. Yi Ik argued that not only kings or ministers, but also local gentlemen were responsible for the portents that occurred in their own localities. Yi Ik suggested that local gentlemen must take responsibilities for portents of the earth with benevolence. With his theory of portents, Yi Ik urged people to take responsibility for portents and to live virtuous lives.