Gyeongjubusaseonsaengan

Basic information

Designation

Treasure No.2038

Category

Books & Records

Era

구안: 1523년(중종 18), 신안: 1741년(영조 17)

Designated year

2019

Location

경주시, 경상북도— 경상북도 경주시 일정로 186 (인왕동, 국립경주박물관)

Coordinates

35.835200, 129.224500Museum-based location

This is a two-volume seonsaengan, in other words a book or record about the names, birthdates, positions, permanent domiciles, etc. of officials of local government offices. The first volume was compiled by Kim Dagyeong, the head of the Gyeongju-bu Office, in 1523 (the 18th year of the reign of King Jungjong) based on an older version drawn up in 1361 (the 10th year of the reign of King Gongmin), while the second volume was compiled in 1741 (the 17th year of the reign of King Yeongjo) by Yi Jeongsin and previous chiefs of the office who served there until 1910. It is regarded as a valuable material for studies in relevant fields as it contains detailed information on the years in which the heads of the local office started serving there. Many records of this kind have been preserved in each administrative area. The one compiled for Gyeongju-bu is not only the oldest one, but is also a complete record spanning the Goryeo period to the last days of Joseon in 1910, and is by far the best preserved in terms of its binding. The older version lists the chiefs of the local office starting with Kim Seongbi, who served there in 1281 (the 7th year of the reign of King Chungryeol) and ending with Choe Junwi, who was appointed in 1713. The newer version starts with Yi In, appointed in 1628, and ends with Choe Byeonggyo (1910). The following information is given in smaller letters under the name of each office head: the names of his father/grandfather/grand-grandfather/grand-grand-grandfather, day of appointment, the king’s greeting, and receipt of the official robe, etc. As such, it constitutes a complete list of the heads of Gyeongju-bu over a period od 630 years. It also lists many of the officials who exerted political and cultural influence at that time. Its foreword is written with both Chinese characters and Idu (an archaic writing system that represents the Korean language using Chinese characters), making it a valuable material for scholars engaged in studies on the history of people of the time, the Korean language, and Hangeul (Korean alphabet). One important feature of the Gyeongjubusa seonsaengan is that the older version on which it is based is the oldest record of its kind, and dates back as far as the Goryeo Period, while the new version supplements it with additional information. Furthermore, the quality of the paper and the materials used to bind it are not inferior to those used to make the Euigwe (manual) published by the Joseon royal family. It also compares favorably with Gyeongsangdo Yeongju Jemyeonggi (The List of Gyeongsangdo’s Governors), i.e. those dispatched directly from the central government, in terms of its physical bibliography. It is worthy of designation as a “Treasure” in recognition of its historical and academic value as a record spanning the last century of the Goryeo period to the end of the Joseon period.

Location