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| The "Calendrical Book of the Gyeongja Year (1600) with Memoranda by Ryu Seong-ryong" is displayed at the National Palace Museum in Seoul, Thursday. Yonhap |
By Kwak Yeon-soo
The "Calendrical Book of the Gyeongja Year (1600) with Memoranda by Ryu Seong-ryong," a metal-type printed book published in 1599, has been unveiled to the public after being acquired from Japan, the Cultural Heritage Administration (CHA) said Thursday.
As a high-ranking official and Confucian scholar, Ryu was the equivalent of the prime minister during the reign of King Seonjo (1567-1608) during the Joseon Kingdom, and he was a longtime friend of Admiral Yi Sun-sin (1545-1598).
The CHA and the Overseas Heritage Foundation repatriated the 400-year-old calendrical book from Japan to Korea in September.
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| The "Calendrical Book of the Gyeongja Year (1600) with Memoranda by Ryu Seong-ryong" / Courtesy of Cultural Heritage Administration |
The returned item is an example of "daetongnyeok," a type of almanac from the Joseon Kingdom that shows similarities with the calendar used today. These calendrical books were used as guidelines for daily life and farming and included notes on the weather, the owner's schedule, appointments, illnesses and medical prescriptions.
After analyzing the handwriting and information on the book, such as the names of figures and events mentioned, and comparing the content to that of the "Seoaeseonsaengyeonbo," a chronology of the life of Ryu (1542-1607), the CHA said the calendrical book is presumed to have belonged to Ryu.
"This is particularly notable because it not only gives a glimpse into Ryu's life but also features detailed record of Admiral Yi and how he died from a gunshot wound on the battlefield during the Japanese Invasions of Korea," Choi Eung-chon, head of the CHA, said.
"We hope the repatriation and unveiling of the calendar will serve as an opportunity to inspire the public with interest and pride about the Joseon era's recorded cultural heritage," he added.
No other calendrical book on this Gyeongja Year has survived in Korea, according to CHA.
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