This study dealt with status and utilization of glass dry-plate photographs for Old documents made through the whole period of Korea under Japanese rule. The purpose of the study is to investigate situations for collection and organization of Korean O...
This study dealt with status and utilization of glass dry-plate photographs for Old documents made through the whole period of Korea under Japanese rule. The purpose of the study is to investigate situations for collection and organization of Korean Old documents in the Early time with glass dry-plate photographs for Old documents and related documents, and then, to prove that it is worthwhile to study glass dry-plate photographs for Old documents. To date, glass dry-plate photographs for Old documents have been recognized only as copied photographs of Old documents. But the author tried to assess them positively, focusing on utilization of glass dry-plate photographs for Old documents. To this end, the study examined survey project of Joseon relics and Korean history compilation led by Governor-General of Korea under which glass dry-plate photographs for Old documents were produced. And activity to collect Old documents and its methods were described in detail. Furthermore, the author found status of glass dry-plate photographs for Old documents which are extant in National Museum of Korea and National Institute of Korean History, and then, type of collected Old documents was analyzed. Finally, based on analyzed glass dry-plate photographs for Old documents, the study tried to find its meaning, reviewing utilization methods of glass dry-plate photographs for Old documents.
Glass dry-plate photographs for Old documents were produced in the name of preliminary survey to govern Joseon from the year 1909, just before the period of Korea under Japanese rule to 1945. Especially, as Governor-General of Korea preceeded with survey of Joseon relics and Korean history compilation, glass dry-plate photographs for Old documents were actively produced. Main scope of survey of Joseon relics begun by Sekino Tadashi(関野 貞) in 1909 was construction, ancient tomb, and temple. Survey of Joseon relics was transferred to Relics survey committee. Then, items about survey and collection of Old documents were described for the first time and Old documents were included on the list for relics survey together with historical remains and relics. Later Joseon relics society was in charge of relics survey. Thus relics survey was continued, though survey organization changed. Glass dry-plate photographs for Old documents surveyed then time are extant in National Museum of Korea.
Project for Korean history compilation was made in privy council(Jungchuwon) where historical records were collected and organized. As privy council started compilation of Joseon peninsula history. Privy council recognized importance of 'records', so they concentrated on collection of historical records. From then, privy council established concrete plan surveying and collecting abundant and wide records. As a result, independent organization called the Compilation committee of Joseon history was established for active survey and collection of historical records. In the process, many glass dry-plate photographs for Old documents were produced and now moved to National Institute of Korean History. Glass dry-plate photographs for Old documents produced under such background take an important position in describing Early situation of research history on Korean Old documents.
National Museum of Korea has Glass dry-plate photographs for 115 Old documents. There are many Glass dry-plate photographs for Old documents related to temple. Survey was carried out at temples all over the country. For example, Jeongdo-saji five story stone pagoda construction Hyeongjigi(淨兜寺址 五層石塔造成 形止記) in 1031, Sudeok-sa main hall Ohjungsoo Dancheonggi in 1805 etc.
Especially, Old documents in Goryeo period like Hyeshim Goshinjeseo(惠諶 告身制書) in 1216, Sangwon-sa Joongchang Gyonseonmun(上院寺 重創勸善文) in 1464 etc. were photographed several times. It shows that they put importance on the historical records.
Glass dry-plate photographs for 1,178 Old documents are extant in National Institute of Korean History. There are many glass dry-plate photographs of Old documents owned by individuals. This means that historical records were actively collected all over the country. Especially, Old documents owned by Kim Tae-jin and Cho Eun-mook were mainly photographed. They are descendants of Kim Jong-jik and Cho Wi, so this shows that the survey is related to political party strife. Old documents related to Joseon in foreign areas such as Manchuria, Tsushima Island etc. were surveyed. The representative ones are Na Jinok(羅振玉) of Lushun, Dake Count family(宗伯爵家), and Motoyama Hikoichi[本山彦一]. The glass dry-plate photographs of Old documents are mostly sovereign's message, personally handwritten letter etc. between Joseon and Japan, or Qing dynasty. The survey aimed to know relationship between Joseon and Japan, or Qing dynasty.
As the result of investigating the characteristics, making list of glass dry-plate photographs of Old documents in National Museum of Korea and National Institute of Korean History, the author concluded that there was a necessity to use and study glass dry-plate photographs. Therefore, the author intended to do case study, using glass dry-plate photographs. For this purpose, Old documents were classified to 1) Old documents identified by glass dry-plate photographs only, 2) Old documents existed in the North Korea in the period of Korea under Japanese rule.
The study investigated Early situation of collection and survey of Korean Old documents and tried case study with glass dry-plate photographs of Old documents in concrete way. To do this, glass dry-plate photographs of Old documents extant in National Museum of Korea and National Institute of Korean History were listed. Though Japanese scholars began survey of Old documents before Korean scholars studied Old documents actively, existing glass dry-plate photographs of Old documents have a meaning that situation of then time for Korean Old documents which were not recognized is known now and extant Old documents can be seen from the view of traditional theory. From this point of view, value of glass dry-plate photographs is recognized and have been used in various fields like archeology, art history, preservation of construction etc. It is also expected that glass dry-plate photographs would play some roles in study in paleography.