The first three volumes of "Annotated Bibliography of Yeongjo Eoje" (Annotated by Kwon Oh-young et al; Academy of Korean Studies: 600 pp. : 40,000 won for each volume) will be published by the Academy of Korean Studies on Aug. 12. / Courtesy of Academy of Korean Studies

By Chung Ah-young

If China has Qianlong the emperor (1736-1795) who accomplished a plentiful literary legacy during his reign, Korea has King Yeongjo (1724-1776) who left abundant literary works.

King Yeongjo was the longest-living monarch during the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910) and also is one of the key rulers renowned for the big three political feats — the “tangpyeong” policy which literally means the policy for harmony and meditation when selecting people regardless of their party affiliation; “gyunyeok law” (military tax system); and the dredge project of the Cheonggye Stream.

However, among others, he might be best defined as a talented writer who regularly penned one to eight works every year for his 53 reigning years, along with King Jeongjo, his successor and grandson. Yeongjo started to write with “Chinjejemun” after the death of his eldest son in 1728 and poured himself into his writing in 1774 during his late period after his second son Crown Prince Sado was put to death by his own order in a large rice chest as a result of a conspiracy and political disputes.

The Academy of Korean Studies (AKS) will release the first three volumes of the “Annotated Bibliography of Yeongjo Eoje” consisting of a total of 11 volumes on Aug. 12, which compiles the collection of Yeongjo’s 5,400 booklets which are stored at the Jangseogak Archives. The Jangseogak Archives boasts of the largest collection of the King Yeongjo’s writings.

Most of the collection are the original copies which were well preserved at Bongmodang established by King Jeongjo for the royal writings and calligraphies.

The value of the new publication is equivalent to “Hongjaejeonseo” (Complete Works of King Jeongjo), which directly shows the renaissance of literature and art during King Yeongjo and Jeongjo.

“The King Yeongjo’s writings are unique in that he didn’t follow the fixed literary format at that time. Instead, Yeongjo freely penned as he felt and thus his writings well reveal his candid feelings and emotions. It was apparently Yeongjo’s literary style,” Kwong Oh-young, leading researcher of the project, said.

Kwon and other eight researchers and 15 assistants worked for the project for compiling and annotating King Yeongjo’s writings over the last three years.

“He must be one of the most dramatic kings in Joseon history as he experienced the peak of a severe political power struggle and was struck with deep tragedy and personal history from commiting his own son to death. It affected his writing style and made it full of sensitive expressions of emotions and feelings,” he said.

The professor said that King Yeongjo can be compared to Chinese Qianlong Emperor who left some 100,000 writings. Qianlong’s works are posted and inscribed in public places in China so that many people appreciate his literary world. “The intention of the publication of these volumes is in the same vein. I hope King Yeongjo’s writings can be widely appreciated by many people,” he said.

In “Eojemuneop,” he summarized his policies and political affairs during his reign into six categories at the age of 80. In this writing, he evaluated his political career. The king assessed his tangpyeong policy as a “shameful one in his life” which was conceived to prevent party strife but failed eventually and the military tax system as another big flop resulting in levying even Buddhist monks who were not supposed to pay the military tax. However, he complimented the dredge of Cheonggye Stream as a successful projects. Kwon said that the article shows how he felt that politics is difficult. As he was not satisfied with his ambitious political accomplishments, he left the uncompleted policies to King Jeongjo through his writings.

“Eojegalseunggae” written when Yeongjo was 82 portrays his regrets and feelings attached to the court buildings he used to stay by using repetition of the words and phrases. In the beginning of the writing, the king says “Who am I? What is this world? Looking back on my childhood, it was like a previous life.” He mentioned every building he stayed in the palace where he lived for the longest period among the Joseon kings while studying, sleeping, reading and holding major ceremonies. It was natural for him to recall every moment of particular incidents and figures related to the buildings while reflecting on his past years. “Reflecting on my life with this feeling, thoughts are a million and regrets are a billion for the past as it turns 51 years since I took the throne,” the writing says.

Kwon said his articles are appreciated with the highest historical and literary values as they merge his tragic personal history and his deep indulgence in studies and knowledge in a range of fields. The king left a list of the books he had read through his entire life.

“The publication will help the understanding of the eras of King Yeongjo and Jeongjo and the royal court culture during that time.”