Harvard Yenching Library releases rare ancient Korean books
보스톤코리아  2013-02-04, 13:43:51 
Written by HyunCheon Kim / Translated by JaeMin Woo



Anyone can find rare ancient Korean books like “Dae-Dong-Yeo-Ji-do” and “Suk-Chon-Je-A-Do” online without having to visit Harvard Yenching Library. The library has been digitalizing its Korea collection and publicizing via its website.

The digitalization will allow the public to have more access to Korean cultural heritage that was only available for the associated students or scholars.

Yenching Library currently owns 12,000 antique Korean books. Of these books, the library digitalized 1,500 that were not available in Korea, with the support of The National Library of Korea.

“We’re doing this to not only preserve historical artifacts, but also make these ancient books available to people around the world,” said Kang Mi Kyung, the head of the Korea collection, who has been in charge of the project since 2007.

According to Kang, the number of Yenching Korea collection’s rare ancient books is the largest in all of the Western countries.

“Many scholars visit from around the world to collect research materials. With this new system, the scholars from Korea do not have to make the long trip anymore; this will reduce their time, cost and effort,” said Kang.

“When I was feeling the need to preserve these books, both the Korean National Library and Yenching had begun digitalizing their ancient books; we were finally able to make rapid progress when James Cheng, the chief librarian, responded positively to the National Library of Korea’s contact,” Kang revealed.

She also added, “The project allowed me to reevaluate Korean antique books and realize the importance of their cultural heritage. I hope this project expands beyond the small collection of rare books,”

With The National Library of Korea as its sponsor, the project mainly focuses on their interests. However, Kang believes that if the project can operate with private donations, the project can easily expand itself.

To find digitalized versions of various ancient Korean books, visit http://guides.hcl.harvard.edu/content.php?pid=186004&sid=1561802 and click on “National Library of Korea – Harvard-Yenching Library Korean Rare Book Digitization Project” or “Minsokwon project”.
[email protected]

The original images of books like “Dae-Dong-Yeo-Ji-Do”, “Suk-Chon-Jea-Do” and “Shim-Chung-Jun” are available for viewing and printing options.

The best of all Yenching’s digitalization project is Kim Jung Ho’s “Dae-Dong-Yeo-Ji-Do”. Yenching was able to digitalize this very rare book in extreme detail and upload the entire map on its website.
Every page of “Dae-Dong-Yeo-Ji-Do”, a series of 22 books that compiles ancient Korean maps and reaches 360 centimeters in width and 685 centimeters in height when put together as a whole, was scanned and uploaded.

Another example of an uploaded work is an exceptionally rare collection called “Suk-Chon-Je-A-Do”by Han Pil Gyo (1807-1878).

The collection, highly researched by Korean scholars, which is the only book which depicts Korean government offices of the 18th century, was digitalized and is now easily accessible.

After he became a government official by successfully passing the government examination at the age of 26, Han ordered a painter to draw every office he worked in and recorded his tasks in the books until he died at the age of 71.

The online digital database also includes works written in Korean. The digital versions of these books, such as “Shim-Chung-Jun”, allow the public to enjoy vivid descriptions of the penmanship and way of speaking in the 1800s.

However, The National Library of Korea does not support Yenching digitalizing many of its anthologies and genealogies, fearing that it might cause controversies.

The only genealogy that has been digitalized so far is”Sun-Won-Sook-Bo”, which belonged to a descendant of King Sae-Jong’s 4th son. This project was possible only when Ms. Kang sponsored the project with her own money and the library received donations from the descendants who were concerned about its preservation.

[email protected]

ⓒ 보스톤코리아(http://www.bostonkorea.com), 무단전재 및 재배포 금지
의견목록    [의견수 : 0]
등록된 의견이 없습니다.
이메일
비밀번호
박학기 故김광석 듀엣 감동의 하모니로 감동 전해 2013.02.04
(보스톤 = 보스톤코리아) 양성대 기자 = 박학기 故김광석 듀엣 곡이 화제다. 지난 30일 방송된 MBC 에는 가수 박학기, 한동준, 홍경민, 조정치가 출연한 `..
학교 2013 종영 앞두고 시청률 급상승 2013.02.04
(보스톤 = 보스톤코리아) 양성대 기자 = 학교 2013 시청률이 화제다. 이 종영을 앞두고 또 다시 시청률이 급상승하고 있는 것. 23일 시청률 조사회사 닐슨코..
뮤지션 윤종신 “백만년만에 염색 함 해봤슴다” 2013.02.04
(보스톤 = 보스톤코리아) 양성대 기자 = 뮤지션 윤종신이 파격적인 색깔로 머리 염색을 시도했다. 윤종신은 30일 자신의 트위터에 "백만년만에 염색 함 해봤슴다...
Harvard Yenching Library releases rare ancient Korean books 2013.02.04
Written by HyunCheon Kim / Translated by JaeMin Woo Anyone can find rare ancient Korean bo..
Korean students enjoy experiencing public schools in America 2013.02.04
Written by HyunCheon Kim / Translated by JaeMin Woo After Korean-U.S. visa waiver program..