By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter
The history of the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1863) relives its glory days in a thoroughly original and colorful style, as painter Park Si-baek brings to readers 10 illustrated ``Annals of the Joseon Dynasty.’’ He has another ten to go.
The ``Annals’’ are based on the actual records chronicling the 472-year history of the kingdom, from the time of founder King Taejo to King Cheoljong. Detailing daily affairs, court functionaries, reports and commands of 25 kings, the minutes are compiled in 1,893 chapters in 888 volumes.
Historians, historiographers and censors who wrote the books had freedom of expression, and not even the king had the right to see them. The tomes trace the political, military and economic affairs as well as social, religious and cultural fabric of the times. They were registered in UNESCO’s Memory of the World in 1997.
Park now illuminates the era through cartoons. ``I wished to deal with an official, unadulterated version of Joseon’s political history,’’ he was quoted as telling the Dong-A Ilbo.
As Park researched the original ``Annals,’’ he discovered facts about Joseon rulers that counter popular beliefs. For example, King Gong-yang is widely known as a coward, but records reveal that he actually possessed much ambition to centralize the monarchy.
``I tried my best to minimize references to current situations and modern interpretations,’’ he said. ``I hope parents and teens of any generation can enjoy the books.’’