This study focuses on Tasan Cheong Yagyong`s literary works from bibliographical viewpoint. It highlights the characteristic features in the transmission and circulation of the works, from the original versions to the first published complete collecti...
This study focuses on Tasan Cheong Yagyong`s literary works from bibliographical viewpoint. It highlights the characteristic features in the transmission and circulation of the works, from the original versions to the first published complete collection, Yeo-yu-dang jeon-seo, in 1938. Depending on the era, his works were published in different forms: by woodblock printing in late Chosun and by metal typing in the early 20th century, while they were continually hand-transcribed throughout the time. In terms of the editors, they were mostly published by his own sons and disciples in late Chosun and by various Chosun or Japanese writers in modern era. Woodblock-printed I-dam-sok-chan has been found to be the only official publication in Chosun, presumed to be published in the late 19th century. Considering that Tasan`s family would have lost power after he was exiled, there would have not been enough support to publish such a large collection of 500 volumes. Tasan`s works, however, managed to survive and be distributed in manuscripts through Chosun era and by typing through modern era. By the efforts of himself, his son, and his disciples, nearly complete copies of his original works remained available. As his works included many practically useful books, even in Chosun, there were considerable number of manuscripts circulated and afterwards they were rediscovered and metal-type published by knowledgable scholars such as Jang Ji-Yeon, Choi Nam-Seon, and Jeong In-Bo. In parallel with this, the Japanese Government-General of Japanese scholars also published the works by hand-transcribing and metal-typing. From these findings, we can conclude that Tasan`s works have been published by diverse entities for a large variety of purposes. By observing the historical or sociological background and the purpose of publication through the eras, we can look into the development of the scholarly community in the country.