Gyeongsanji Draft Manuscript

The Gyeongsanji Draft Manuscript is a handwritten gazetteer of Seongju, copied onto paper that already carries writing on its reverse side. Compared with the printed edition, it has no preface and contains many insertions and deletions throughout the text, showing that it is an unfinished copy at the draft stage. Its format follows the compilation system of the Dongguk yeoji seungnam, but it also gives detailed treatment of individual villages and of miscellaneous accounts not found in that work. The cover bears the title 'Gyeongsanji bonch'o' (draft of the Gyeongsanji), while the title page reads 'Seongsanji'. It measures 24 cm wide by 19 cm high, is made of mulberry paper, written in semi-cursive script with 14 to 20 lines per page that vary irregularly, and comprises 123 leaves in all. Compilation of the Gyeongsanji was first proposed in 1635, the 13th year of King Injo, by Jang Hyeon-gwang (pen name Yeoheon), but was not completed. A second attempt was later made by Yi Do-jang (pen name Nakchon), and the work was finally completed by his son, Yi Won-jeong (pen name Gwiam). This draft manuscript was therefore copied out by Yi Won-jeong himself, and since the preface of the woodblock-printed edition is dated 1677, the third year of King Sukjong, it is presumed to have been written before that year. Although this book is an unfinished copy at the draft stage, as Yi Won-jeong's own handwritten draft it is an important historical source, of value for tracing the compilation process of the Gyeongsanji, the gazetteer of Seongju, for supplementing content omitted from the printed edition, and for research into the local history of the Seongju and Chilgok region.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Seongju, Gyeongbuk

Designation

Provincial Tangible Heritage · 시도유형문화유산