A Project Involving Commentaries, Research, and Database Construction on Yeungnam University's Rare and Priceless Written Materials about Korean Studies
Our research team has carried out 'A Project Involving Commentaries, Research, and Database Con ...
A Project Involving Commentaries, Research, and Database Construction on Yeungnam University's Rare and Priceless Written Materials about Korean Studies
Our research team has carried out 'A Project Involving Commentaries, Research, and Database Construction on Yeungnam University's Rare and Priceless Written Materials about Korean Studies'. The subject materials are the ancient Korean books and manuscripts housed in Yeungnam University Central Library's Rare and Ancient Books Section (RABS hereafter) and in other libraries of the university. They have major academic significance, but have never been introduced to the academia yet, and thus it is worth studying. In this regard, the outcomes of the study are expected to establish a foundation of stimulating Korean Studies and to enlarge the scope. The study is a necessary project in that Korean Studies can secure qualitative diversities in primary sources.
The three principal objectives of the project are summarized as follows: the first is to provide primary resources for Korean studies by organizing and building a database of 530 ancient books - 1,287 volumes in total - housed in the libraries of Yeongnam University, including the 40 ancient books (94 volumes) in RABS, which have never been open to the public. Secondly, we have aimed at establishing a foundation of stimulating Korean Studies through respective expert commentaries and studies based on the database, and publishing the result. The third purpose is to photoprint and to publish the unopened rare materials. Through this 3-stage study of 'database construction, expert annotation, and photoprint and publishment', we have intended to contribute to establishing the foundation of Korean Studies.
With these objectives in mind, we have carried out the study for 4 years. In the first year, we finished commentaries and studies on the 40 nonpublic ancient books in RABS, and building the database of 10 books. In the second year, we accomplished the annotation of 50 books in RABS and Dongbin Mungo and building database of 10 books, and as the first-year research outcomes, we published a photoprint of the RASB rare books, a hard copy of the database, and a guidebook. In the third year, we conducted the commentary work of 50 books in RABS and Donam Mungo and building database of 10 books, and also published the second-year research outcomes including a photoprint, a hard copy, and a guidebook. In the fourth year, we concluded annotation of 50 books in RABS and Namjae Mungo and building database of 10 books, and we published a photoprint, a hard copy of the database, and a guidebook as the third-year research result.
After completing the project, we plan to publish two series of research as well as the 4th year results: a photoprint, a hard copy, and a guidebook. In addition, we will publish an annotated book of Myeongjuokyeongihaprok, a photoprint of the second-year study in the first half of 2015, and respective annotated books of Bukjeongga, Baekhwadangga, and Geochangguhora, the photoprints of the third-year, in the first half of 2016. Until February 2015, the project has progressed favorably and the study objectives have been exceeded.
In addition to the core works of the project, we also built a website to enhance academic and social contribution of the study outcomes, and opened a class in the School of Korean Studies of this university. Besides, we holds a national symposium every year, and have publicized the achievements through Korean Cultural Studies, an academic journal of the Institute of Korean Cultural Studies Yeungnam University. When we finish publishing a photoprint, a hard copy of the database, and a guidebook as the fourth-year result, the annotated books of photoprints of the second and third year, and two series of the whole research, we produce more results than we planned in the beginning.
Our study results of 'A Project Involving Commentaries, Research, and Database Construction on Yeungnam University's Rare and Priceless Written Materials about Korean Studies' is expected to take a pivotal role in providing primary resources for in-depth Korean Studies, in expanding the studying base of related researchers and students, and further in establishing a foundation of Korean Studies.