Daehye Bogakseonsaseo (Letters of Master Bogak) in the possession of the National Museum of Korea is a Goryeo-era book produced in 1387, which was acquired in 2005 in a state of severe general damage. Subsequently, its production techniques and materi...
Daehye Bogakseonsaseo (Letters of Master Bogak) in the possession of the National Museum of Korea is a Goryeo-era book produced in 1387, which was acquired in 2005 in a state of severe general damage. Subsequently, its production techniques and materials were examined using bibliographical characteristics and scientific analysis, based on which an overall conservation treatment was carried out. Jang hwang(mounting) in bibliographical characteristics is a five-hole-stitch binding (五針眼線裝本), a single-lined rectangular box (四周單邊), and no column lines. The conservation treatment was examined in two aspects: the basic form and the
conservation treatment process. The book is composed of the outer cover, original cover, end paper, and inner paper of 0.04-0.07mm thick, which is significantly thinner than general book paper. The conservation treatment was applied after the entire book was disassembled, based on the assessment that both the cover and the inner sheets of paper were in a dire condition due to deterioration. The conservation treatment
comprised of the process of disassembly, cleaning, reinforcement of defective parts, scanning, and binding, with a paulownia box made for its storage. At the time of disassembly, samples were made for the inner sheets and the book string in order to conduct fiber identification. The fibers were identified using Safranin and C-stains. Safranin staining identified a thick fiber wall, in addition to cross-marking, dislocation,
and transparent membranes. C-stain staining identified the fiber as mulberry, given the dark red residue. The book strap has a flat, circular cross-section, and was identified as cotton fiber, since a lumen was observed in the center