Vol.46AUTUMN 2019
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K O R E A N HERITAGE K O R E A N HERITAGE Cultural Heritage Administration www.koreanheritage.kr ISSN 2005-0151 Government Publications Registration Number 11-1550000-000639-08 KOREAN AUTUMN 2019 HERITAGE VOL. 46 AUTUMN 2019 Vol. 46 2019 Vol. AUTUMN Cultural Heritage Administration Cultural ON THE COVER Quarterly Magazine of the Cultural Heritage Administration CONTENTS AUTUMN Vol. 46 KOREAN 02 Featured HERITAGE 02 CURATOR'S SELECTION The Queen’s Loving Heart Delivered in Hangul Date of Publication 08 KOREAN FOOD September 5, 2019 Hanji, or Korean paper, is crafted through a laborious process of steaming, pounding, Rice, the Enduring Staple Food of Koreans Published by and drying the fibers of mulberry trees. The oldest surviving woodblock print in the 08 Cultural Heritage Administration Republic of Korea world, the Pure Light Dharani Sutra, was made with this traditional Korean paper. 16 HUMAN TREASURES Publication Management Enshrined in a stone pagoda, the Buddhist text was discovered in a nearly intact form an amazing 1,300 years after its creation, demonstrating the remarkable Director of International Cooperation Division Hanji Records Textures durability of Korean paper. The front cover shows sheets of Korean paper crafted Content Coordination using traditional methods by Master Hong Chun-soo. This hanji is characterized Kim Byung-yun, Cho Ha-young by its natural hues and warm but strong textures. Paper manufactured by Hansol 26 LOCAL HERITAGE GUIDE Translation Paper using state-of-the-art technology is featured on the back cover. In this digital A Heritage Walk on an Autumn Night Park Jung-eun age when a paperless world is widely predicted, Hansol Paper is working under the Copy Editing motto “Good paper is inspiring.” Drawing on its strong belief in paper, the Korean Bill Sharp papermaking company is making its utmost efforts to create contemporary products that reflect the knowledge and wisdom embodied by traditional papermaking. Coordination by CH121 Heritage Through Photos Printed by Daehan Printech Co., Ltd. 34 Sublime Aesthetics of ‘Flower-patterned Doors’ 10 16 Heritage Issues Today 40 Heritage for Cultural Connection Cultural Heritage Administration Headlines 34 40 Cultural Heritage Administration KOREAN HERITAGE is also available on the website (www.koreanheritage.kr) 52 Korean Neo-Confucian Academies Achieve 189 Cheongsa-ro, Seo-gu, Daejeon, and smart devices. You can also download its PDF version and subscribe to our World Heritage Status Republic of Korea newsletter to receive our latest news on the website. The articles featured in this magazine only reflect the contributing authors’ opinions. Efforts toward a Joint South-North Tel 82-42-481-4737 Nomination of the DMZ Fax 82-42-481-4759 Cultural Heritage Administration, 2019 Contact [email protected] This publication is copyrighted. No part may be reproduced by any process Website www.koreanheritage.kr without written permission. Copyright © Cultural Heritage Administration CURATOR'S SELECTION Text by by Text Photos by by Photos Lee Jong-deok, researcher on Joseon-era letters in Hangul letters on Joseon-era Lee Jong-deok, researcher The Queen’s the National Palace Museum of Korea Museum of the National Palace Loving Heart Delivered in Hangul Located right next door to China, Chinese characters and literary life transmitted to the Korean Peninsula early in the Three Kingdoms period (57 B.C.–A.D. 668). Literacy at the time was an exclusive luxury reserved for a tiny proportion of society, mainly men Reading your letter, I am of lofty status. With the invention reassured to learn that you slept of the Korean alphabet known as well overnight. I feel anxious that His Majesty the King has failed to Hangul in the 15th century under fully recover. The Eastern Palace King Sejong, the fourth monarch [referring to the crown prince] and its daily movements are of Joseon (1392–1910), women and in overall peace, which I hope children also came to enjoy the will last forever. I am as good as usual. It is cold today as well. It is ability to read and write with very Reading your letter, I am reassured to learn worrying that your mother is so little difficulty. Among the diverse that nothing untoward occurred overnight. ill. … It would be a great problem His Majesty the King is generally in stable if the nickel chest of drawers Joseon-era documents written in health, and the Eastern Palace [referring to does not arrive, so please send a the crown prince] and its daily movements Hangul, personal letters remain a are in overall peace, which I hope will last message that the drawer should forever. I am as good as usual. It is cold be sent without fail, even if by valuable resource for research on the today with the cool winds of spring. I have land. checked what you sent in; why have you Korean language and everyday life Addressed to Min Yeong-so; prepared so many things? I feel uneasy. It is after 1889 of the time for their capturing of the worrying that you are not all right today as well, and I wonder if your wife has gotten oral language and local dialects used any better? Addressed to Min Yeong-so; during the Joseon era. c. 1880s–early 1890s 02 03 CURATOR'S SELECTION A Window into Everyday Life in the Past Many men still preferred to use Chinese characters after the invention of the Korean alphabet, but Hangul quickly became the preferred script for women. Letters to women were written in Hangul even when the writer was male. Hangul letters became indispensable in Korean life at the time as the primary means to exchange everyday greetings, extend courtesies on both celebratory and sorrowful occasions, and make important requests. Personal letters from the Joseon era that have survived to the present can be broadly divided into two categories—those buried with grave goods and those passed down as family heirlooms. Letters excavated from graves provide relatively exact information on the family relations of the correspondents and their date of creation. The oldest surviving Hangul correspondence, a letter written in the late 15th century by Na Sin-geol (1461–1524) to his wife from the Sinchang Maeng family was found among the Reading your letter, I am reassured to learn that you slept well overnight. It is worrying that your brother is not well. grave goods in her tomb. I feel relieved to know that Chung-gyeong slept well outside [of the palace after visiting it]. I am happy that he took pleasure in the donkey, but worried that his body and mind may tire in this cold weather. I ask that you hold him tight Hangul letters handed down as heirlooms are when he rides the donkey as the animal is known for its capricious temper. I feel cautious [about everything for him]. mostly found in families from the landed literati I also feel proud in my surety that he will grow to emulate you as a man. His Majesty the King is generally in stable class (sadaebu) or the nobility. Hangul was used by health, and the Eastern Palace [referring to the crown prince] and its daily movements are in overall peace, which women of letters from the ruling class, including I hope will last forever. I am as good as usual, except for a fever from energy congestion. It is clear but cold today. queens, princesses, and other women of the royal Addressed to Min Yeong-so; c. 1891 lineage. However, many Hangul letters were in fact Reading your letter, I am reassured to learn that you slept well overnight. His Majesty the King is dictated by royalty to their court ladies, making hand- Loving Words in Hangul generally in stable health, and the Eastern Palace written Hangul letters from the royal family a rare [referring to the crown prince] and its daily document. Hand-written Hangul letters from several The surviving letters of Queen Myeongseong make up the largest collection of Joseon-era Hangul movements are in overall peace, which I hope will Joseon queens have been transmitted to the present, last forever. I am as good as usual. It is clear today letters left behind by any single person. They number around 180, including 146 that were hand- however. Here, letters written by Queen Myeongseong as well. Tell Jeongsik to do as he desires. Give this written by the queen. The lion’s share of these letters, 136, was addressed to her nephew Min (1851–95), the wife of King Gojong (r. 1863–1907), will bracelet to Chung-gyeong. Yeong-so (1852–1917). Among the other ten, five were sent to the queen’s second cousin, Min Addressed to Min Yeong-so; c. 1885–94 be explored. Eung-sik (1844–1903), and five to his son, Min Byeong-seung (1865–1946). 04 05 CURATOR'S SELECTION The recipient of the bulk of the queen’s letters, him in person today. I feel relieved and happy that Min Yeong-so, was an ardent admirer and faithful he seems to have matured a great deal,” “Chung- follower of Queen Myeongseong. Most of her letters gyeong’s eye condition is very worrying,” and “Give to him begin with phrases like, “Reading your letter, this bracelet to Chung-gyeong.” It seems that Queen I am reassured to learn that nothing untoward Myeongseong cherished Chung-gyeong, a member occurred overnight …” This indicates that the of what would have been her grandchildren’s queen’s letters were replies to Min’s prior messages generation if she had any, and sometimes called him that seem to have been sent to the queen on a daily in to the royal palace. basis.