Joseon scholar's calligraphy unveiled
“Hapicheop,” a calligraphic album made by Joseon Kingdom’s (1392-1910) prominent scholar Jeong Yak-yong (1762-1836), is unveiled to the press. / Yonhap
By Baek Byung-yeul
The National Folk Museum of Korea unveiled a calligraphic album written by the Joseon Kingdom’s (1392-1910) prominent scholar Jeong Yak-yong (1762-1836), Tuesday.
Titled “Hapicheop,” the album contains a series of educational phrases for his two sons on pieces of fabric that his wife sent him while he was in exile in Gangjin, South Jeolla Province, in 1810.
The calligraphic album attracted public attention when it was sold at the record price of 750 million won ($652,500) among 18 antique books to the folk museum at the Seoul Auction last September.
Designated as Korea’s treasure No. 1683-2, the presence of “Hapicheop” was confirmed when it was submitted to a television show appraising the value of antiques in 2006. The album is known to be comprised of four volumes, but only three of them have survived and were up for auction.
At a press conference, Tuesday, the folk museum unveiled the album to the media. It will display the works to the public next year.
“As many know, we acquired ‘Hapicheop’ at an auction last month. The reason why the governmental institution planned to own this cultural asset is to provide more access to more public viewers,” the museum’s curator Lee Moon-hyun said, adding that the calligraphy album will be open to the public around February after going through a four-month preservation process.
The curator said the museum decided to acquire the artifact because of its historical and spiritual value.
“The phrases Jeong composed and wrote in the album are enlightening as he emphasized a good mental attitude for his sons,” he said. “It also has great spiritual value as it shows his paternal affection for his children by writing on fabric that his wife sent.”
The curator said the museum will try to obtain the remaining album as soon as the museum locates its whereabouts.
Jeong, also known by his penname Dasan, is recognized as one of the most influential scholars and philosophers of the period. He established his scholastic reputation by developing “silhak” (practical learning), a Confucian social reform movement in the 18th century. He is also credited with adapting Western fortification techniques in building Hwaseong Fortress (now in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province). He spent 18 years in exile in Gangjin from 1801 to 1818 after being embroiled in political strife and the Catholic Persecution of 1801.