'Seongjeong Gaemosi Diary' Returns to Its Place After 206 Years... Embraced by Sosu Seowon in Yeongju, Gyeongbuk

This Year, a Total of 11 Books Recovered, Yeongju-si's Ancient Document Recovery Movement Gains Momentum

The "Sosuseowon Seongjeong Gaemosi Diary" from Yeongju City was returned to Sosuseowon on the 12th.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Seryeong] The ancient document of Sosu Seowon in Yeongju, Gyeongbuk, titled ‘Sosu Seowon Seongjeong Gaemosi Diary (紹修書院 聖幀 改摹時 日記)’ has returned to Sosu Seowon after 206 years.

It was held by the Yeongju Seonseong Kim clan’s Maehakdang (梅學堂) ancestral house and was delivered to the Confucian scholars of Sosu Seowon on the 12th.

Kim Jungjo, the head descendant of Maehakdang, heard in August that Dosan Seowon and in September that the National Institute of Korean History had recovered other ancient documents of Sosu Seowon.

He decided to contribute to the value of Sosu Seowon, the cradle of Korean Confucianism and a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site. After consulting with the elders of the clan, he decided to donate the collection.

Sosuseowon Seongjeong Gaemosi Diary.

The ‘Sosu Seowon Seongjeong Gaemosi Diary’ is a document recorded in diary form about the process of creating new copies of the worn ‘Daeseong Jiseong Munseon Wangjeon Jwado (大成至聖文宣王殿坐圖)’ depicting Confucius and his disciples, the ‘Portrait of Anhyang,’ and the ‘Portrait of Joo Sebung.’

It was recorded from early October 1815 to May 18, 1816, and when the copies were remade, Kim Hwideok (金輝德), the 6th ancestor of Maehakdang, wrote the calligraphy at the top of the ‘Daeseong Jiseong Munseon Wangjeon Jwado’ and a eulogy praising the painting at the top of the ‘Portrait of Anhyang.’

Sosu Seowon received a total of 11 volumes this year, including two volumes such as the ‘Ipwonrok (入院錄)’ recovered from Dosan Seowon Confucian scholars in August, and eight volumes such as the ‘Sosu Seowon Japrok (紹修書院雜錄)’ recovered from the National Institute of Korean History in September.

The Sosu Museum and the Confucian scholars of Sosu Seowon plan to apply for cultural heritage designation for the recovered ancient documents this year and continue research on the returned documents.

Kim Sunwoo, the chairman of the management committee, and Seo Seungwon, the director, said, “We hope that other ancient documents related to Sosu Seowon held by local clans and individuals will find their rightful place as soon as possible.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.