In the first year of the study, researches were conducted on materials regarding Korean fables and relevant East Asian fables to have their bibliography documented and original texts of significant materials input onto computer systems. Details are as ...
In the first year of the study, researches were conducted on materials regarding Korean fables and relevant East Asian fables to have their bibliography documented and original texts of significant materials input onto computer systems. Details are as follows:
1. To collate and list up the materials, the entire information was categorized into [title], [author and editor], [writing period], [number of words], [literature where the materials were released], [material information], [particulars] and story type or simple notes were added to prepare the ground for a further in-depth study later time.
2. As for Korean fables, intensive reviews centered on the <<the Great Publication of Collection of Korean Classics or Hangukmunjipchonggan>>(360 volumes in total, 10 volumes of sequels included, photo-printed and marked with punctuations by the National Culture Promotion Association which, currently, is the Institute for the Translation of Korean Classics) to sort out fable materials. In addition, among literature collections and separate volumes of historical works that previous researches had shed light on (versions photo-printed by Kyeong In Culture Corporation, kinsfolk’s versions, handwritten copies owned by major national universities and libraries and individual collections), fables and fable collections were studied in earnest to make their bibliography.
3. Bibliography of comparative East Asian fable materials was also made as follows: <Dispute between Confucius and a Child> widely distributed in the region; novel collections written in Chinese characters - << Posthumous Draft Works by King Seongjong or Seongjong Yucho>> << New Publication of Eccentric Novels or Jeongisinbo >> <<Publication of New Eccentric Novels, or Sinjeongirok>>- which contained a number of Vietnamese fables; Korea’s fables of Maeryujaengchunryu type and China’s and Japan’s literary collections of Jaenggi (爭奇) in the same period; parody essays of the Edo period categorized as burlesque by Japanese scholars on literature classics; and Japanese novel < Literature on Experiences in Imaginary Foreign Countries or 假想異國遍歷體> comparable to Korea’s fables on journeys in daydreaming.
4. For better utilization of listing results, Korean fables were subcategorized by distribution type into [those published in literature collections], [those published in newspapers and journals during the National Patriotic Enlightenment Movement Period and translated fables], [different versions of same fable novels] and [those included in separate volumes]; however, this criteria was not applicable to Japanese and Vietnamese fables for whom single lists were made based on field works and study articles.
The second year of the study saw the list of fables completed, based on which the following three separate volumes were written; [Korean Fable Literature Anthology (for prose)], [Vietnamese Fable Literature Anthology] and [Japanese Fable Literature Anthology]. [Korean Fable Literature Anthology] contains Korean and Chinese classics of significance except fable lyrics and fable novels, elaborating each work under the heads of entitling, comments, translations and notes, comparisons of the originals, sources, appreciation and analysis. In particular, 【appreciation and analysis】laid the foundation for a further study and profound appreciation of a work that translations, source text and footnotes rarely give full understandings of. There are 106 fables (2341pages) in the [Korean Fable Literature Anthology]. [Vietnamese Fable Literature Anthology]contains translations and bibliographical introductions of To Hoai’s novel collections [Animal Stories](The Adventures of Cricket and two other stories included), while the [Japanese Fable Literature Anthology] gives translations, comments and bibliographical introductions of The Most Popular of Aesop’s Fables (237 stories).