Gonjaeudeungnok Woodblocks

These are the woodblocks for printing the collected writings of Jeong Gae-cheong (1529–1590), styled Gonjae, a scholar of the mid-Joseon period. Carving began in 1689, the fifteenth year of King Sukjong, on the king's special order to have the collection published widely, and was completed in 1692, the eighteenth year of King Sukjong. In his youth Jeong Gae-cheong studied hard at Yeongjusan Temple in Boseong, mastering not only Neo-Confucianism but also astronomy, geography and medicine. He later deepened his learning under his teacher Seo Gyeong-deok and through association with Bak Sun, and in 1565, the twentieth year of King Myeongjong, he returned to his home village of Jedong in Eomda-myeon, Hampyeong-gun, where he trained students in the countryside. In 1589, the twenty-second year of King Seonjo, he was implicated in the treason case of Jeong Yeo-rip and spent more than twenty years in exile there. His writings comprised only the three-volume Udeungnok and the nine-volume Susugi, of which only the Udeungnok survives today. It consists of four books in all: three books of the main text and one book of appendices in two parts, upper and lower. Books one and two contain his theoretical writings on Neo-Confucianism and the order of his lecture materials, and book three contains his memorials, letters, prefaces and other writings. The upper part of the appendix records Jeong Gae-cheong's lineage and life, and the lower part contains a biographical account and a separate biography of him. The preface to the book was written by Heo Mok in 1681, the seventh year of King Sukjong. The woodblocks were originally made as a set of 108, but only 48 survive today. They are valued as important material for studying the currents and networks of the Neo-Confucian scholars of the Honam region.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Hampyeong, Jeonnam & Gwangju

Designation

Provincial Tangible Heritage · 시도유형문화유산