Gyeongjinnyeondaetongryeok

Basic information

Designation

Treasure No.1319

Category

Books & Records

Era

조선 선조13년(1580)

Designated year

2001

Location

파주시, 경기도— 경기도 파주시 헤이리로 30 (탄현면, 국립민속박물관 개방형수장고)

Coordinates

37.579800, 126.983100Museum-based location

Daetongnyeok is a calendar made by the Ming Dynasty of China. Korea imported it in 1370 (the 19th year of the reign of King Gongmin of Goryeo) and used it for about 300 years until the adoption of Siheonnyeok (lunar calendar) in 1653 (the 4th year of the reign of King Hyojong of Joseon). At his inaugural address, King Taejo, founder of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), announced the adoption of the Law of the Ming Dynasty and Daetongnyeok. Given the difficulty in using the Chinese calendar due to the difference in seasons of the year between the two countries, Koreans made and used their own version of the calendar. This calendar for 1579 is composed of 15 pages. Page 1 deals with the 24 seasonal divisions of a year (13 months including the leap month of April) and contains Yeonsinbangwijido (Map of Directions Represented by Year Gods). Pages 2 ~ 14 are monthly calendars for the 12 months. Each monthly calendar indicates the proper and improper things to do on each day. As an addendum, page 15 lists the things that should be avoided based on the sexagenary cycle and the names of the people who took part in the compilation and printing of the calendar. The calendar was for 1580 (the 13th year of King Seonjo’s reign). It is believed to have been printed in 1579, since it was customary to print a calendar around the winter solstice of the preceding year. Daetongnyeok for 1580 is the only existing one among the book calendars printed by the Office for the Observance of Natural Phenomena in types before the Japanese Invasion of Korea in 1592. It is also the earliest one among the books printed using metal types for calendars of said office; thus making it a valuable material for those studying printing typefaces and bibliography of the Joseon Dynasty.

Location