• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.26-38
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• 2022

This study used the big data method to analyze the chronological frequency of seafood appearance and variety mentioned by the veritable records of the Joseon dynasty. The findings will be used as a basis for Joseon Period's food cultural research. The web-crawling method was used to digitally scrap from the veritable records of the Joseon dynasty of Joseon's first to the twenty-seventh king. A total of 9,536 cases indicated the appearance of seafood out of the 384,582 articles. Seafood were termed "seafood" as a collective noun 107 times (1.12%), 27 types of fish 8,372 times (87.79%), 3 types of mollusca (1.28%), 18 types of shellfish 213 times (2.23%), 6 types of crustacean 188 times (1.97%), 9 types of seaweed 534 times (5.60%). Fish appeared most frequently out of all the recorded seafood. Sea fish appeared more frequently than the freshwater fish. Kings that showed the most Strong Interest Inventory (SII) were: Sungjong from the 15^thcentury, Sehjo from the 15^th, Youngjo from the 18^th, Sehjong from the 15^th, and Jungjo from the 18^th respectively. Kings of Chosen were most interested in seafood in the 15^th and 18^th centuries.

• Publications of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.129-140
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• 2011

In this paper, we have studied Sogyupyo (小圭表, small noon gnomon) of the Joseon dynasty. According to the Veritable Records of King Sejong (世宗, 1418 - 1450), Daegyupyo (大圭表, large noon gnomon) with a height of 40-feet [尺] was constructed by Jeong, Cho (鄭招) and his colleagues in 1435, and installed around Ganuidae (簡儀臺, platform of Ganui). On the contrary, the details of Sogyupyo are unknown although the shadow length measurements by Daegyupyo and Sogyupyo are found on the Veritable Records of King Myeongjong (明宗, 1545 - 1567). By analysing historical documents and performing experiments, we have investigated the construction details of Sogyupyo including its development year, manufacturer, and installation spot. We have found that Sogyupyo would be manufactured by King Sejong in 1440 and placed around Ganuidae. And Sogyupyo would be five times smaller than Daegyupyo, i.e., 8-feet. On the basis of experiments, we suggest that although it is smaller, Sogyupyo was equipped with a bar [橫梁] and a pin-hole projector [影符] like Daegyupyo in order to produce the observation precision presented in the Veritable Record of King Myeongjong.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.300-309
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• 2022

This study analyzed food poisoning articles in the Joseonwangjosillok to acquire historical evidence. The study method used case studies from the textual content of the Joseonwangjosillok. In all, there were fifteen cases of food poisoning in spring (60%), four cases in summer (16%), five cases in fall (20%), and 1 case during winter (4%). Most cases of food poisoning occurred during spring, followed by fall, then summer, and the least during winter. Foods that caused poisoning were as follows: twelve cases of seafood (48%), three cases of vegetables (12%), two cases of meat (8%), and eight cases of poisonous food (32%). Maximum cases pertained to seafood poisoning, which also spiked during spring. This could be attributed to the increased number of planktons as the sea temperature rose during spring. Due to the increased plankton, shellfish absorbed more toxins. The consumption of increasingly toxic shellfish resulted in more cases of food poisoning. The food poisoning frequency was the most severe during the 18th century, followed sequentially by the 15th, 16th, and 17th centuries, and was the least severe during the 19th century. Joseonwangjosillok showed that food poisoning cases happened most during social events where many guests or family members gathered to eat.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.237-246
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• 2016

We analyze the design and specifications of the Sun-and-Stars Time-Determining group of instruments (Ilseong-jeongsi-ui, 日星定時儀) made during the Joseon dynasty. According to the records of the Sejong Sillok (Veritable Records of King Sejong), Sun-and-Stars Time-Determining Instruments measure the solar time of day and the sidereal time of night through three rings and an alidade. One such instrument, the Simplified Time-Determining Instrument (So-jeongsi-ui, 小定時儀), is made without the essential component for alignment with the celestial north pole. Among this group of instruments, only two bronze Hundred-Interval-Ring Sundials (Baekgak-hwan-Ilgu, 百刻環日晷) currently exist. A comparison of the functions of these two relics with two Time-Determining Instruments suggests that the Hundred-Interval-Ring Sundial is a Simplified Sundial (So-ilyeong, 小日影), as recorded in the Sejong Sillok and the Seongjong Sillok (Veritable Records of King Seongjong). Furthermore, the Simplified Sundial is a model derived from the Simplified Time-Determining Instrument. During the King Sejong reign, the Sun-and-Stars Time-Determining Instruments were used in military camps of the kingdom's frontiers, in royal ancestral rituals, and in royal astronomical observatories.

• Journal of Ginseng Culture
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• v.3
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• pp.11-37
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• 2021

Korean ginseng is the one of the most famous medicinal herbs globally and has long been a representative item of East Asian trade, including across China and Japan. Since Joseon (1392-1910) ginseng trade was entirely controlled by the state, The Veritable Records of the Joseon Dynasty are a valuable resource that can shed light on the history of the ginseng industry at that time. By studying the subsection "The Veritable Records of King Sejong" (世宗實錄), when ginseng was used even more widely, we assess the purpose and scale of its trade in the 15th century, identify its original listing in the geographical appendix, develop a distribution map, and explore similarities to current ginseng cultivation areas. During the reign of King Sejong (1418-1450), ginseng was sent to China as a tribute 101 times, with a combined weight of 7,060 kilograms, with less than one-third of that amount given to Japan and Okinawa. It was used to cover the travel expenses of foreign envoys and servants, but this can be seen to gradually decrease after the regnal mid-term, primarily due to a decrease in the amount of ginseng being collected. At the time, there were 113 areas of naturally growing ginseng as listed in the records' geographical appendix, including 12 recorded in the 'tributes' category: Yeongdeok-gun, Yeongju, and Cheongsong-gun in Gyeongsangbuk-do; Ulju-gun and Ulsan in Gyeongsangnam-do; Jeongeup, Wanju-gun, and Jangsu-gun in Jeollabuk-do; Hwasun-gun in Jeollanam-do; Goksan-gun and Sinpyeong-gun in Hwanghaebuk-do; Jeongju and Taecheon-gun in Pyeonganbuk-do; and Jaseong-gun and Junggang-gun in Jagang-do. A total of 101 places are recorded in the 'medicinal herbs' category, located throughout the mountains of the eight Joseon provinces, except the islands. In comparison with current ginseng cultivation sites, many of these historical areas are either consistent with or adjacent to contemporary locations. The geographical appendix to "The Veritable Records of King Sejong" was compiled in the early days of the king's reign (1432) when there was a lot of wild ginseng. The appendix is a valuable resource that indicates the possibility of growing ginseng on the Korean Peninsula in the future. The apparently natural habitats in the south, where ginseng is not currently cultivated, could be candidates for the future. Moreover, areas in the north where ginseng has not been grown, except Kaesǒng, could be a good alternative under sustainable inter-Korean exchange should cultivation sites move north due to climate warming.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.345-364
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• 2024

Objectives : Gyeongokgo is a representative herbal formula for longevity in Korean medicine and has been applied to prevent and treat various diseases. Gyeongokgo is recognized as a representative tonic for the Joseon royal family. However, there is yet no legitimate research on how the royal family used Gyeongokgo. The present study aims to analyze Gyeongokgo during the reign of King Sukjong and Gyeongjong with historical records. Methods : Historical records were searched through databases such as the veritable records of the Joseon Dynasty and the daily records of royal secretariat of Joseon Dynasty. Results : During the reign of King Myeongjong, the administration of Gyeongokgo started and expanded to the entire royal family, including the king, queen, and queen mother, by King Sukjong. In the early stage, Gyeongokgo was taken to treat coughing or breathing difficulties. Gradually it was recognized as agood tonic for replenishing energy and blood. Conclusions : The tendency to prefer tonic in the late Joseon Dynasty started during the reign of King Sukjong, and Gyeongokgo began to be used as a seasonal tonic in the fall and winter even though no symptoms appear.

• The Journal of Korean Medical History
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.27-40
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• 2018

Sauna, or hanjeung (汗蒸) is a physical sweating method that uses external heat to forcibly raise body temperature to treat cold damage disorders (傷寒) in traditional Korean medicine. This study focuses on the fact that the sauna was recorded as a healing and bathing method on the Vinaya Pitaka (律藏), and investigates the records of folk sauna therapy of Joseon Dynasty from the perspective of Buddhist medicine which played a significant role in ancient medicine history in Korea. Although the word 'hanjeung (汗蒸)' first appeared in "The Veritable Records of King Sejong (世宗實錄)" in the Korean literature, this study aims to confirm the possibility that the tradition of Buddhist sauna bathing has already existed since the Three Kingdoms period in Korea, based on the fact that sauna bathing was recorded in the Vinaya Pitaka and that the ancient Buddhist bathing culture was introduced in ancient Japan. In addition, the succession of the Buddhist sauna tradition by Goryeo will be traced back through the records of 1920s urban saunas in Gaesung (개성) which was the old capital of Goryeo and had a strong tendency to adhere to traditional Goryeo customs. Finally, the study tries to identify the elements of the Buddhist sauna bathing on the records of folk sauna therapy in the Joseon Dynasty. As a result, this study examines how the Buddhist sauna bathing culture in ancient Korea, which was led by medical monks, spread in the general public and influenced the folk sauna therapy in the Joseon Dynasty.

• Publications of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.69-87
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• 2024

This study analyzes the characteristics of the Angbu-ilgu, a Korean sundial resembling a concave hemisphere, which was crafted in 1434 during the sixteenth reign of King Sejong (r. 1418-1450) of the Joseon Dynasty, although no remains of it exist today. We draw upon historical documents, such as the Sejong-Sillok (Veritable Records of King Sejong), Donggyeong-Jiji (Chorography of the Joseon Dynasty), and Yuanshi (History of the Yuan Dynasty), as well as related extant relics. The primary features of King Sejong's Angbu-ilgu were as follows. First, celestial-circumference degrees were intricately engraved along the meridian line. Second, 12 double-hours were represented by images corresponding to their respective animal divinities. Third, a plate was affixed to the end of the gnomon, which stood perpendicular to the alidade, serving as a handle, rotated along two axes, and included a pinhole. Fourth, the diameter of the hemisphere measured 414 mm, approximately 1.5-2.1 times larger than extant Angbu-ilgu relics. Finally, four pillars supporting the Angbu-ilgu were positioned at four cardinal points. In conclusion, this study holds significance for restoring the Angbu-ilgu from the era of King Sejong.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.142-153
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• 2019

The Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) left behind a wealth of documentary heritage, including collections of literary works, personal letters, and journals, as well as public documents such as Veritable Records of the Joseon Dynasty (Joseon Wangjo Sillok), Diaries of the Royal Secretariat (Seungjeongwon Ilgi), and State Protocols (Uigwe). Such heritage also includes personal diaries that have been highly regarded for their frank and vivid records of people's lives in the Joseon period. There have been great diaries published and intended for reading by the Korean public, including War Diaries (Nanjung Ilgi, 1592~1598) by Yi Sun-sin and Diaries of Jehol (Yeolha Ilgi, 1780) by Park Ji-won. Unfortunately, a great majority of these personal records remain unknown to the world. Such great records have not been given an opportunity to be documented properly, but are left outside public attention, abandoned to be damaged and destroyed. Few personal diaries of the Joseon period were written on good-quality paper. After the death of their authors, these diaries were left to be kept by their descendants; this explains why many of these records have been in poor condition, particularly when compared with the public records published by the government of Joseon, such as Sillok and Uigwe, even when these were lucky enough to be taken care of by the authors' descendants. Even after surviving a long time, many of these personal records remain in the form of manuscripts, written in semi-cursive and cursive scripts of Chinese characters, thus making it even more difficult for the people of the current generation -- most of whom have not been given an opportunity to learn Chinese characters at school -- to take care of their documentary heritage properly. Meanwhile, it is also true that, as the value of the public records published by the government of Joseon as historical materials has grown, they are used more often as content for TV dramas such as Daejanggeum. At the same time, there have been increasingly louder voices citing the need for the study, preservation, and management of the personal diaries from Joseon. Considering the situation, this study provides a general overview of the personal diaries of Joseon as recently surveyed by the National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage, as well as their characteristic features, subjects, and backgrounds. This study is expected to contribute to future research on the preservation and management of the personal diaries of Joseon.

• The Korean Journal of Archival Studies
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• no.17
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• pp.3-37
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• 2008

In this article, I outlined the archival management system in Early Joseon Dynasty and examined the characteristics of the system. At first, I explained the three aspects of the archival management; the memory of the past, the documentation of the contemporary, and the vision of the future through the documentation. Secondly, I tried to understand the character of the Veritable Record and its compilation by the concepts of archival science such as 'authenticity', 'reliability'. In the memory of the past, the History of a Dynasty(Koryo-Sa) and the Comprehensive History of Eastern Kingdom were included. The arrangement of the past was accompanied with the systematic study of the domestic and foreign histories. At the beginning of the state building, there was many practical need to the experiences of government and social re-construction. It was also the process of the legitimacy establishment of the new dynasty. And the Bureaucracy promoted the development of the records and archival management system because it needed the continuity and evidence of business. The dualistic structure of the records and archival management system was the most unique character of this age. The management of general administrative records was not different from the modern one. But the historical drafts and the compilation of Veritable record were different. Here, I had to examine the characteristics of these procedures by the concept authenticity, reliability, and custodianship. In doing so, I suggested the need of conceptualization of the historical terms such as 'the primary sources' and 'the secondary sources' in historical study. The archival concepts will be the most useful means to that issue. Through the memory of the past and the documentation of the contemporary, they made visions of the future, new vision of the Literati Governance. In this tradition, in spite of the revision of the Veritable records by the new changed political party, both the orignal and the revised remained as the comparative evidence for the future generation in the name of the Black-Red Revised History.