“50 Years of Collecting Old Literature:
Treasures Found in 500-year-old Family Clans”
-The Academy of Korean Studies holds a special exhibition of old literature collected
from across the country at the National Assembly

Photo. Poster for the exhibition “50 Years of Collecting Old Literature”

◇ The AKS holds a special exhibition “50 Years of Collecting Old Literature: Treasures Found in 500-year-old Family Clans.”

◇ The exhibition showcases 14 items, including five designated treasures of old literature along with relics collected or donated/entrusted from across the country.

◇ The AKS is also sharing stories related to collecting the treasures, ranging from a copy of Jijeongjogyeok, the last law book of the Yuan Dynasty, being found in a neglected ramen box, to the donation of Donguibogam by the Dongrae Jeong family clan

◇ The exhibition was held in Lobby 2 on the 2nd Floor of the Assembly Member Hall at the National Assembly for three days beginning on February 20.

□ The Jangseogak Archives of the Academy of Korean Studies (President Ahn Byung Woo) held a special exhibition to encourage interest in and support for the country’s documentary and cultural heritage among National Assembly members and government officials and to show its gratitude to the donors of hundreds of thousands of precious items handed down from their ancestors.

□ For the half-century since its inception in 1978, the AKS has strived to identify and collect valuable old documents and books. For three days beginning on February 20, the AKS held a special exhibition “50 Years of Collecting Old Literature: Treasures Found in 500-year-old Family Clans” at the Assembly Member Hall of the National Assembly.

□ The goal of the exhibition, which was hosted in partnership with the National Assembly Education Committee (Assembly Members Ahn Min-seok and Kim Byeong-wook), was to raise awareness among Assembly Members of the value and historical significance of old literature. It was designed as an expression of gratitude to all those who willingly donated family treasures handed down from their ancestors. The number of such items collected through donations now totals nearly 120,000.

The Special Exhibition at the National Assembly “50 Years of Collecting Old Literature: Treasures Found in 500-year-old Family Clans”

□ The exhibition included a total of 14 items organized into five sections based on a selection of the family clans who have significantly contributed to the establishment of old literature as important national cultural heritage.

○ Section 1. “The Songcheom House of the Gyeongju Son Family Clan: An Unexpected Discovery” shares how a copy of Jijeongjogyeok came to be found in a forgotten ramen box in the house of the 500-year-old Gyeongju Son family clan in Yangdong Village in Gyeongju and eventually to be enlisted as a treasure after special preservation treatment.

* Exhibits (3 items): Jijeongjogyeok (treasure), King Sejo’s Letter of Commendation to Son So (treasure), and the Portrait of Son So (treasure)

○ Section 2. “The Yimcheonggak House of the Goseong Lee family Clan in Andong: Rediscovering the Value of Treasures” introduces the role that the family’s oldest daughter-in-law played in preserving precious documents at the 500-year-old clan house during the Japanese occupation. This section displays the documents donated by the family, which contain important stories related to the Independence Movement as well as events during the Joseon Dynasty.

* Exhibits (3 items): The will of Lee Jun-hyeong; a letter written in Korean by Park Woo-jong to Lee Sang-ryong; and the paintings of the father of Heo Ju (Heoju Bugun Sansu Yucheop)

○ Section 3. “The Sajedang House of the Sunheung Ahn family Clan in Namwon: Precious Treasures” shares the story of Gimyojehyeonsupil and Gimyeojehyeonsucheop, both treasures handed down in the family for over 500 years. The family attempted to protect the covers of the books using self-adhesive sheets. When the covers were damaged, they entrusted the books to the Jangseogak for preservation. After being treated through scientific preservation, the books were enlisted as national treasures.

* Exhibits (2 items): Gimyojehyeonsupil (treasure) and Gimyeojehyeonsucheop (treasure)

○ Section 4. “The House of the Jangheung Yim Family Clan in Asan: Cooperation for Preservation” tells the story of this 400-year-old family clan that entrusted portraits of their ancestors and the family’s old documents to the Jangseogak out of concerns over theft and damage. Section 4 also shares the Jangseogak’s research and efforts to preserve the family’s treasures.

* Exhibits (3 items): The portrait of Yim Wook; 1735 Yim Wook Nojeonggi; and 1735 Yim Wook Goshin

○ Section 5. “The Dongraebuwongun House of the Dongrae Jeong Family Clan in Gunpo: The Honor of the Clan” presents the story of this 500-year-old family clan who once entrusted over 4,000 family documents to a local organization before donating them to the Jangseogak in 2015.

* Exhibits (3 items): Official attire worn by Jeong Hak-muk; a hand-written copy of the Dongraebuwongun; Donguibogam (a Jangseogak copy of Donguibogam (national treasure))

□ At the opening ceremony held on February 20, a certification of appreciation was awarded in the name of the Chair of the National Assembly Education Committee to the families who donated their family assets to the Jangseogak.

○ The opening ceremony was attended by National Assembly Members Ahn Min-seok and Kim Byeong-wook, Chair of the Education Committee Yu Ki-hong, National Assembly Member Lee Tae-gyu, Vice Administrator of the Cultural Heritage Administration Lee Gyeong-hun, officials from the Ministry of Education, and donors.

□ “I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the families who donated to us their precious legacy and to the National Assembly for allowing us to hold this important exhibition here,” said President Ahn Byung Woo of the Academy of Korean Studies. “With the ongoing interest and support from the National Assembly and the rest of the government, the Academy of Korean Studies will work hard to secure the expertise and facilities required to preserve our documentary heritage for future generations.”

□ The exhibition was held over three days beginning on February 20 in Lobby 2 on the 2nd floor of the Assembly Member Hall at the National Assembly.

(Source)

https://www.aks.ac.kr/cop/bbs/selectBoardArticle.do?nttId=319080&bbsId=BBSMSTR_000000000046