(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Kim Ye-na = "There is nothing that is not covered in the information related to the six chambers, and the formalities and regulations are clear at a glance when you open the book...." (From Lee Yu-won’s ‘Imha Pilgi’)
During the Joseon Dynasty, Seungjeongwon (承政院) served as the king’s ‘secretary office’.
Although it was composed of a small number of people centered on six monks, its authority and status were enormous, ranging from cashing and disbursing royal orders to processing various documents and administrative tasks.
The work diary that contains the daily life of Seungjeongwon is the ‘Seungjeongwon Diary’. Approximately 288 years of national records from 1623 to 1910 are registered as a national treasure and UNESCO Memory of the World Heritage.
How did those who were nicknamed ‘Eundae’ (銀臺) work? The 'Work Manual (Guidelines)' that was followed to handle Seungjeongwon's work consistently and accurately has been fully translated.
It is the result of 8 years of thought put together by 27 researchers.
The recently published 'Eundae Pyeongo' (銀臺便攷, Taehaksa) is a book that the Classic Literature Translation Department of the Eundae Classic Literature Research Institute began reading and translating in 2018 and has even completed the footnotes.
Experts in classical translation, led by Professor Emeritus Lee Kang-wook of Eundaekdang, translated 'Eundaepyeongo', which was compiled during the reign of King Heonjong of the Joseon Dynasty (reign 1834-1849), and organized about 1,200 vocabularies.
Cho Min-jae, director of the Eundae Classical Literature Research Institute, said in his launch address, "'Eundae Pyeongo' is a basic book for understanding not only the historical records and law codes of the Joseon Dynasty, but also the national system of Joseon itself."
The complete translation is divided into 'Ibanggo', 'Hobanggo', 'Yebanggo', 'Byeongbanggo', 'Hyeongbanggo', and 'Gongbanggo' according to the duties shared by the six monks, and common contents are summarized.
It contains detailed information necessary for work, such as procedures for selecting and appointing officials or delivering royal orders, leave and resignation procedures, and regulations for processing documents related to national finances.
It also covers a wide range of procedures such as the king's daily rituals and processions, national ancestral rites, and tomb and tomb management.
“The king’s health was not good, so when he greeted him in the morning and evening, if he commanded, ‘Do not greet me in the morning,’ he greeted me every other day….” (Congratulations part from ‘Preventive High School’)
This book is the last of the three major guidebook translations, following 'Jeongwongosa' (Government History) compiled during the reign of King Jeongjo (reign 1776-1800) and 'Eundaejorye' (銀臺條例) compiled during the reign of Gojong (reign 1863-1907).
Compared to the other two books, 'Eundae Pyeongo' is said to be ten times longer in length.
The institute explained, "If you read the three books together, you will not only be able to understand the administrative rules of an era, but also how the Seungjeongwon's work regulations have changed and been reorganized over the years."
It is more meaningful in that a private research institute took the lead in completely translating a vast amount of historical data.
The academic community believes that the researchers' academic passion and the will of companies and publishers who recognized its value came together to produce meaningful results.
Cho Jun-hee, chairman of the Eundae Classical Literature Research Institute, expressed his respect for the researchers' hard work, saying, "Classical translation is a noble task that allows the language that crossed the river of the Long Dynasty to take root in new soil without damaging its meaning and ideas."
▲ Gyojeom Translation Eundae Pyeon High School = 1,488 pages.
▲ Eundaepyeon High School vocabulary dictionary = page 392.
