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Yonsei News

[YONSEI NEWS] Donation of Volumes in Samguk Yusa from early Joseon in Optimal Condition

연세대학교 홍보팀 / news@yonsei.ac.kr
2013-02-06

Yonsei University received a donation of the volumes that describe the earliest period in the series of Samguk Yusa, or Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms. The donation was made by Mrs. Kim Seo-young, wife of the late Professor and former Director of the Yonsei University Museum Sohn Bo-ki (Dept. of History). The volume, which Professor Sohn had owned and valued, is comprised of the Royal Calendar and two volumes of The Peculiarities. While the former illustrates the genealogy of the kings in the Three Kingdoms of Korea—Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla—and other kingdoms such as Kaya, the latter two depict strange and bizarre events that occurred during this period. The volumes have been reported to be in perfect condition without any missing pages. They are also identified as part of the same edition of the Samguk Yusa that was printed in early Joseon, designated as treasure No. 419-2, and is stored in the Sung Am Archives of Classical Literature. Among the editions of Samguk Yusa, a series of 5 volumes published by monk Ilyeon in 1281, the oldest remaining one in full set and complete condition is that entitled in reference to Imsin year or the 7th year of King Jungjong which was printed in Gyeongju in 1512. This edition includes the Gyujanggak volume, treasure No. 306-2. While volumes from earlier editions are stored in the Sung Am Archives of Classical Literature, in Beomeosa, or Beomeo Temple, and in private collections, none of these contain the Royal Calendar. The volumes donated by the late Professor Sohn and his wife, which include this particular volume are anticipated to help correct the errors made from missing pages or prints in the Imsin edition.