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| Annals of the
Joseon Period |
The
annals of the Joseon Dynasty comprise 1,893
books covering 472 years (1392 -1863) of the
history of the Joseon Dynasty, from the reign
of King Taejo, the founder, to the end of
the reign of King Cheoljong. Thick extensive
set of records is considered to deal with
the longest period of a single dynasty of
any search records in the world. For their
cultural and historic rarity, the Annals of
the Joseon Dynasty deserve world cultural
preservation as an invaluable documentary
heritage. First, the Annals of the Joseon
Dynasty are the authentic records of one dynasty
which cover the longest period of time. There
are some well-known historical documents compiled
for long periods of time. For instance, the
Chinese Huangming Shilu, the Annals of Ming
Dynasty, records the 260 years of the reigns
of 13 Chinese emperors, and the Chinese Daqing
Lizhao Shilu, the Annals of the Great Qing
Dynasty, covered 296years.
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Yet
the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty are unrivaled in the
length of time covered. Second, the Annals of the Joseon
Dynasty boast the most extensive works containing the
greatest variety of historic facts. Since the Dang Dynasty,
when China initiated the tradition of compiling annals,
Japan and Vietnam followed suit. However, their annals
can not stand comparison with the Annals of the Joseon
Dynasty in quantity and quality. The Japanese Sandai Jitsuroku,
The Annals of Three Reigns, are a very small collection
in comparison.
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The
Vietnamese Great Authentic Annals of Vietnam, recording
the history of the Nguyen Dynasty(1802∼1945), consist
of 548 books.. The Chinese Huangming Shilu, Annals
of Ming Dynasty, with 2,964 books. surpass in number
the 1,893 books of the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty,
but each volume is thinner and the total number
of words is much less. (The Chinese Huangming Shilu
have 16 million letters while the Annals of the
Joseon Dynasty have 64 million letters). The Annals
of the Great Qing Dynasty, are composed of 4,404
books, ranking them as the world largest historical
document in numbers of volumes, but they consist
of the same content written in three different language,
Manchu, Chinese, and Mongolian. .
Thus their size is deemed to be one third of the
total number of volumes. By this account, the Annals
of the Joseon Dynasty are evidently the world's
most outstanding in size, historic value, richness
of content, and every other respect. Third, the
contents of these annals are encyclopedic. They
include not only general state affair but also diplomacy
among neighboring northeast Asian countries, politics,
the social system, the economy, religion, astronomical
and atmospheric phenomena, geography, music, science,
military affairs, transportation, and arts, as well
as the modus vivendi of all classes from the royal
household to the populace.
Therefore these are precious historical materials
for Koreanologists and other interested people,
clarifying the lifestyle of the Joseon era. Fourth,
the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty are highly reliable
records based on actual historical facts. For their
compilation, historiographers directly collected
material, wrote drafts, edited them, and published
the annals. These historiographers were professional
official legally guaranteed independence in their
record-keeping and the right to keep secrets. They
had to participate in and record all of the king's
movements and all national affairs to make out the
Sacho, or "Draft History". Their daily
drafts and the various documents and daily records
of the king and government offices became the main
sources for the compilation of the annals.
When a king died, the annals of his reign were started
after the coronation of his successor by the Sillokjeong,
the Office for Annals Compilation.
Nobody was allowed to read the Draft History, not
even the king, and any historiographer who disclosed
its contents was severely punished. These strict
regulations lend great credibili ty to these records.
Fifth, the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty, printed
with movable type, show the sophisticated status
and long tradition of Korean printing.
The Joseon Dynasty's Annals of the first three reigns,
those of Kings Taejo(r.1392∼1398), Jeongjo (r.1399∼1400),
and Taejong(r. 1401∼1418), were in manuscript form
in excellent calligraphy. But later annals, from
the Annals of King Sejong (r. 1418∼1450), were printed
with movable metal and wooden type, which was unprecedented
in the making of annals in Japan and China. Movable-type
printing of these massive works required elaborate
skill.
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Tens
and thousands of pieces of movable type in different fonts
could be produced only by remarkably advanced printing
technology. Taking the advanced printing culture of the
Goryeo Dynasty, which utilized metal movable type for
the first time in the world, the Joseon Dynasty strenuously
upgraded and molded it into the mass production which
enabled this landmark documentary heritage.
Sixth, the preservation of the vast collection of annals
in almost perfect condition near the end of the Joseon
era is unparalleled in the world. The annals published
for the previous king were made in four copies and stored
with one set in Chunchugwan, the Office for Annals Compilation,
and one set in each of three archives in deep mountain
sites built to avoid unforeseen damage and to ensure that
the annals would be transmitted to posterity. This special
care under a national system has made it possible today
to utilize the cultural and historical heritage of these
precious annals. |
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Last,
the Annals of Joseon Dynasty are treasured historic, political,
and diplomatic material for research on the relations
of Japan, Manchuria, China, and the Ryukyus. They also
provide useful information about Korea's modern history,
the initial period of the open-door policy advancing to
the European nations, America, and other countries. These
annals clarify that the Joseon Dynasty did not just close
its door but sought active diplomatic relationships aiming
at brisk political, economic, and cultural exchanges with
East Asian countries. Facing the power of european nations
in the 17th and 18th centuries, the dynasty initially
rejected them but gradually made various approaches to
them. So the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty possess great
value to the world in casting light on Korea's diplomatic
relations with East Asian, American, and European countries.
To broaden public access to the annals, the Korean government
has supported the project of translating them into Korean
from the original classical Chinese. After 26 years of
effort, the Korean edition of the annals of the Joseon
dynasty was completed in 1993. To provide easy public
access to the annals themselves and information about
them, a CD-ROM version was made in 1995. These have rapidly
popularized the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty for in Korea
as well as in the world scholarly community, which indicates
their great cultural value. In many respects the Annals
of the Joseon Dynasty are the finest example of classical
historical records in the world, an invaluable documentary
heritage. |
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