Zizhi Tongjian Gangmok vol. 16

The Zizhi Tongjian Gangmok is a work in which Zhu Xi of Song-dynasty China condensed the annalistic history Zizhi Tongjian, compiled by Sima Guang, following the method of the Chunqiu (the Spring and Autumn Annals); it comprises 59 volumes (gwon) bound in 86 books (chaek). Here "gang", the outline, is Zhu Xi's summary of the essentials, corresponding to the classic text of the Chunqiu, while "mok", the details, is the commentary added by Zhu Xi's disciple Zhao Shiyuan, corresponding to the tradition of commentary on the classic text. In the Joseon period this book was constantly used at the gyeongyeon (the king's royal lecture) together with the Zizhi Tongjian itself, as a history text alongside the Four Books and Three Classics. The movable-type printed copy held by the Seoul Museum of History is volume 16 of the full set of 59 volumes in 86 books, and it records historical events from the sixteenth year of the Yanxi era of Houzhu, the Later Ruler of Shu Han (that is, 253 CE), down to the fifth year of the Xianning era of Emperor Wu of Jin (that is, 279 CE). The printed area of this book measures 14.8 cm across by 22.8 cm in height; each half-leaf has 11 lines, with 21 characters arranged in each line, and the commentary is set in double columns of small characters. The border is a double frame on all four sides. The centrefold has black fish-tail marks facing inward at top and bottom and black margins at top and bottom, and between the upper and lower fish-tails the title, the volume number and the leaf number are given in the form "綱目 十九 一". The cover is bound in yellow paper with a plum-blossom pattern, using red thread in a five-hole binding. At the bottom of the first page of the book is stamped a seal reading "Gyeongyeon" (3.85 cm × 3.95 cm). An entry for the twenty-sixth day of the third month of the eleventh year of King Sejong (1429) in the Sejong sillok (the Veritable Records of King Sejong) records that it was requested that the two characters "Gyeongyeon" be made into a seal, so that books held in the gyeongyeon collection at Jiphyeonjeon (the Hall of Worthies) would not go unmarked, and that any book granted as a gift should first be so stamped; the request was followed. Taken together with the vermilion square seal reading "Gyeongyeon" stamped in this book, this shows that it was one of the books used at the gyeongyeon during the reign of King Sejong. The typeface used to print this book, Gyeongjaja, was begun in the eleventh month of 1420 (the second year of King Sejong) and completed by the winter of 1422; it was the second bronze typeface cast in the Joseon period, following the Gyemija. Since this Gyeongjaja typeface remained in use for printing until the Gabinja typeface was cast in 1434 (the sixteenth year of King Sejong), this book is presumed to have been printed sometime between as early as 1420 and at the latest before 1434. Several books printed with the Gyeongjaja typeface survive, but editions of the Zizhi Tongjian Gangmok printed with it are rare; better known is the edition of the Zizhi Tongjian Gangmok printed in 1438 (the twentieth year of King Sejong) with the Byeongjin large type and the medium and small Gabinja types. Volume 16 of the Zizhi Tongjian Gangmok held by the Seoul Museum of History is thus only one volume out of the full set of 59 volumes in 86 books, but it was printed with the Gyeongjaja typeface in the early years of King Sejong's reign, was used at the gyeongyeon, and survives with its original form well preserved. It is a valuable resource for studying the printing culture of King Sejong's reign and the system by which the gyeongyeon's library collection was managed.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Jongno-gu, Seoul

Designation

Provincial Tangible Heritage · 시도유형문화유산