Printing Woodblocks of Gonyeo jeondo (Complete Map of the World by Ferdinand Verbiest)

These are map printing woodblocks made in 1860, the eleventh year of King Cheoljong, in order to reprint in Joseon the Gonyeo jeondo (World Map), produced by the Belgian Jesuit missionary Ferdinand Verbiest (1623–1688). The Gonyeo jeondo is a world map made up of eight panels; its first edition was produced in Beijing, China, in 1674 (the thirteenth year of the Kangxi reign), and a second edition was published in Guangdong in 1856. The woodblocks held by the Kyujanggak were made by importing the Guangdong edition and re-carving it. The original set consisted of four woodblocks in total, each carved with map images on both the front and back, of which three are currently held by the Kyujanggak. Each woodblock measures 68.7 cm wide by 177.5 cm long, with the map area measuring 51 cm by 144 cm; they are in good condition. They are material demonstrating that map-engraving techniques in the late Joseon period were highly accomplished.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Gwanak-gu, Seoul

Designation

Treasure · 보물