Samguk yusa (Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms)

A history of the Three Kingdoms written in 1281, the seventh year of King Chungnyeol of Goryeo, by the late Goryeo monk Iryeon. It is in five volumes in two books and has nine sections: Royal Chronology, Marvels, The Rise of Buddhism, Pagodas and Images, Exegetes, Divine Spells, Spiritual Response, Hermits and Filial Piety and Good Deeds. The Royal Chronology is a brief chronological table of the Three Kingdoms, Garak, Later Goguryeo and Later Baekje. Marvels narrates episodes of history from Gojoseon to the Later Three Kingdoms, opening with a preface explaining why the section was made. The Rise of Buddhism covers the reception and flourishing of Buddhism in the Three Kingdoms; Pagodas and Images, pagodas and Buddhist statues; Exegetes, the lives of eminent Silla monks, beginning with Wongwang's study in the west; Divine Spells, the mysterious deeds of Silla esoteric monks; Spiritual Response, miraculous responses of Buddhist faith; Hermits, the deeds of people who withdrew from the world; and Filial Piety and Good Deeds, stories of devotion to parents and Buddhist good works. The Samguk yusa quotes many texts that no longer survive — books of Buddhist tales, old records, temple records and inscriptions — and holds much material on the ancient language, including the hyangga songs, and on early Buddhist art, as well as rich accounts of the hwarang. This gives it very high value for the study of ancient Korean culture and history. The Kyujanggak copy is the woodblock edition reprinted in 1512, the seventh year of King Jungjong, by Yi Gye-bok, governor of Gyeongju, called the Jungjong imsin edition or Jeongdeok edition. It is the oldest printing among surviving complete sets. Complete sets of the same edition are held at the Korea University Library and the Tenri University Library in Japan, but the Kyujanggak copy is the only one with no leaves missing, and it is judged the earliest impression among copies of the edition.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Gwanak-gu, Seoul

Designation

National Treasure · 국보