• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
• /
• v.11
• /
• pp.336-354
• /
• 1977

• Journal of Conservation Science
• /
• v.38 no.2
• /
• pp.166-179
• /
• 2022

A test piece was produced using deteriorated pine tree for the conservation treatment of woodblocks cultural heritage, and weight change, color change and penetration diffusion characteristics of the test piece according to the application of Dammar, Wax, Paraloid B-72, Animal glue and H.P.C treatment agent. As a result, it was confirmed that Dammar is the most suitable treatment agent for the strengthening of the material while maintaining the original color of the wood. A test piece was produced using deteriorated porous natural wood, which the damage condition is similar to that of woodblocks cultural heritage and the main tree of woodblocks cultural heritage based on above result, and the application of each Dammar concentration (2%, 5%) and wetting of each Dammar concentration (10%, 15%) were conducted in order to find out the application concentration and treatment method of Dammar, and weight change, penetration diffusion characteristics, etc. were observed. As a result, it was found that the Dammar 2% application was the best as an effective method for the strengthening of the material while maintaining the original color of the wood. Therefore, it is judged that Dammar 2% application is most suitable for the strengthening treatment of woodblocks cultural heritage with severe insect damage and degradation.

• Journal of Conservation Science
• /
• v.37 no.5
• /
• pp.590-605
• /
• 2021

The history of printing technology in Korea is studied by investigating existing ancient documents and records and comparing accumulated data and knowledge. Cultural property research requires non-destructive testing and observation with the naked eye or aided by a microscope. Researchers' experience and knowledge are required even though they cannot guarantee the outcome. For ancient documents and records that are presumed to consist of woodblock printing, wood type printing, metal type printing, or their combinations, each researcher draws various opinions and conclusions. This often causes confusion and divides the opinions of ordinary citizens and field specialists. Among them, the criteria for judging ancient documents or books printed using woodblock and metal movable material are ambiguous. Academic research on the development history of printing technology in ancient Korea has been stagnant, and conflicts among researchers have also erupted. Involvement of national investigative agencies not specialized in cultural properties has exacerbated the situation. In this study, we investigated printing characteristics that are likely to serve as more objective judgment criteria by quantitatively analyzing the experiments of retrieving several sheets of Korean paper (Hanji) using a replicated Hunminjeongeum (訓民正音) woodblock and quantitatively analyzing the images of the printed papers. In addition, the validity and questions for the typical phenomena presented as a method for distinguishing between woodblock and metal print are reviewed. We investigated the possibility of developing new objective judgement criteria through quantitative analysis using image analysis and investigating the printing characteristics of Korean paper through a reproduction experiment of woodblock printing.

• Journal of Conservation Science
• /
• v.37 no.3
• /
• pp.289-301
• /
• 2021

When investigating old, printed documents, determining whether a work is printed on a woodblock or using a movable metal type is crucial. It is because the history of printing in Korea and across the world relies on determining the relevant printing invention used and the time of use of the movable metal type. Deciphering details from woodblock and metal prints requires various kinds of information regarding the imprint and the work's printing background, such as information on the characters in the printed document, the outline of the pages, the type of ink used, the production period of the ink, and the production period of the Korean paper. Analyzing such information can generally reveal the production period and the methods used on the old document. However, as such information is not documented systematically, relying on the researcher's judgment based on their experience and perception becomes inevitable. This study conducted an experimental investigation of the printing characteristics of woodblock prints using a replicated woodblock of the Wanpanbon edition of the Shimcheongjeon. Subsequently, the various phenomena and characteristics appearing on the woodblock prints were documented for future reference to determine the printing method of old documents. Finally, woodblock novels without an imprint may be used as a reference to estimate the printing dates by determining the degree of wear on the woodblock.

• Journal of Conservation Science
• /
• v.35 no.6
• /
• pp.621-630
• /
• 2019

A woodblock softening process using saltwater was investigated in order to reduce the cracks and distortion caused by the woodblock-making process and to make the woodblock softer and sculpturing easier. Although anatomical studies of woodblocks have been ongoing for years, little work has been done on softening treatments using natural materials. Hence, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the change in the physical properties of wood treated with saturated brine and the effect of salt on metal nails found embedded in woodblocks. After boiling for twelve h each in water and saturated brine, the saltwater-boiled specimens have longer drying times than the water-boiled specimens. Further, it was observed that salt particles penetrated the cells in the wood. As a result of exposing the copper and iron nails, which were stuck in each specimen, to a high humidity environment, the weight of the saltwater-boiled specimens increased due to the hygroscopicity of the salt. Corrosion of the nails also occurred. This result is similar to the problem that appears on the edge of a woodblock. In conclusion, it was shown that salt in the wood cells affects the corrosion of metal embedded in the wood.

• Journal of Conservation Science
• /
• v.38 no.2
• /
• pp.96-108
• /
• 2022

To understand the process of publication and distribution of ancient Korean novels under the Joseon dynasty and Japanese occupation, collecting information on the publication of various printed materials and estimating their publication date through various methods is extremely important. In this study, the characteristics and differences that appeared in the woodblock printing process were investigated using image comparison among editions of the Honggildongjeon (Tale of Honggildong) of Wanpanbon (完板本) (published in the Jeonju region) with other commercial editions of the ancient Korean novels. Additionally, the publication year of each edition was estimated. Printed images of different versions were compared with those of a recently discovered original series version and the changes in the process of carving replacement woodblocks were investigated and summarized. Various phenomena, such as differences in fonts, borderline shapes and integrity of printed characters, appearing in woodblock prints provided useful information for determining chronological relationships between the prints and estimating the approximate publication year for each edition. The various characteristics of woodblock printing obtained through this study are expected to serve as a reference for estimating the relationship between the printing method and the approximate publication date of old books and paper-based printed historical records.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
• /
• v.33
• /
• pp.366-396
• /
• 2000

This research paper has examined the question of the year of the publication of the wood block print, Mukujeonggwang Dae Darani Gyeong(Pure light Dharani Sutra). Published in Korea sometime before 751, it is known to be the oldest existing document printed with wood blocks in the world. Recently, a Chinese scholar claimed that this sutra was translated into Chinese in 701 and printed in Reoyang, China, in 702. These claims have lead to international symposiums and research papers on the Mukujeonggwang Dae Darani Gyeong. However, although diverse opinions and research were presented by various scholars, they all seem to be far fetched and do not answer the essential question of the sutra. The evidence in historic records shows that the translation into Chinese was done in 704 and not in 701. After it was translated into Chinese, it came to Korea and was printed with wood blocks. When Sokkatap was built in 751, a copy was placed in the pagoda. Moreover, the inscription on the sarira casket states that the construction of the pagoda was based on the theory of Jotapsasang contained in the sutra. Thus this proves that Mukujeonggwang Dae Darani Gyeong had to have been printed before 751.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
• /
• v.56 no.2
• /
• pp.206-220
• /
• 2023

In the royal publishing process of the Joseon Dynasty, the main species of wood used for woodblock printing was recorded as Jajak-mok. Although the name Jajak-mok may suggest Jajak-namu(white birch), it is presumed to refer to a different type of wood than Jajak-namu based on its recorded habitat and usage in historical documents. The aim of this paper is to clarify that during the Joseon Dynasty, the term Jajak-mok referred to Geojesu-namu (Korean birch), while Jajak-namu was called Hwa-mok(樺木). Additionally, this paper explores how the term Jajakmok eventually became the name of white birch, Jajak-namu, used today. In the mid-18th century, Japan used the character 樺(hwa) to refer to Beot-namu(Sargent cherry). As Japanese encyclopedias entered Joseon, the term Hwa-mok began to refer to both Beot-namu and Jajak-namu, which is also called Bot-namu. Since the pronunciation of Boet-namu and Bot-namu are similar, the two trees were eventually unified under the name Boet-namu. In the 20th century, the official names of three trees were established. According to notifications issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Commerce of the Korean Empire in 1910 and the Governor-General of Chosen in 1912, Hwa-mok(white birch) was renamed asJajak-namu. In 1968, Beot-namu(Sargent cherry) retained its original name, and Jajak-mok(Korean birch) was remained . In modern Chinese character dictionaries, the meaning of 樺(hwa) is listed as "1. Beot-namu(Sargent cherry), 2. Jajak-namu(white birch)." From this, we can infer the historical background in which the names of these three trees were mixed up.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
• /
• v.55 no.2
• /
• pp.50-64
• /
• 2022

This thesis is a study on the woodblock of Donguibogam by Jeolla Gamyeong(Wanyoung Woodblock). It was registered as a tangible cultural property in Jeollabuk-do in 2005. The purpose of this article is to determine the current status and value of the Donguibogam Wanyoung Woodblock. Jeonju Hyanggyo's Wanyoung Woodblock was used to print books in Gamyeong, Jeolla Province. Currently, ten kinds of woodblocks are preserved. In 1987, a wooden bookshelf was installed and preserved in "Jangpangak" of Jeonju Hyanggyo. It is now preserved and managed at Chonbuk National University Museum. Among the ten woodblocks, the Wanyoung woodblock of Donguibogam is presumed to be a woodblock of a book printed by Jeolla Gamyeong in 1814. The value of Donguibogam has long been recognized domestically and internationally. Donguibogam, compiled in 1610, was first published in 1613 in the wood type of Gaeju Gapinja. Following its publication, its value was recognized not only in Joseon but also in China and Japan. In 2009, the first edition of Donguibogam was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage. Accordingly, Donguibogam has been recognized for various aspects, but little research has been conducted on the woodblocks that printed Donguibogam. Therefore, this paper analyzes the current status of the Wanyoung woodblock of Donguibogam, aiming to enhance its meaning and value. King Seonjo presented the ideals of public health care and preventive medicine when compiling Donguibogam, which was distributed according to his instructions. For this reason, the first edition of Donguibogam was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage. It can be said that the production of Donguibogam woodblocks was an important tool in realizing Joseon's ideals through national dissemination. Furthermore, the woodblock of Donguibogam represents the spirit of thinking about the people, going beyond the purpose of printing, and it was meaningful in the spread of medical knowledge among the people. In this article, I will examine the overall contents of the Wanyoung woodblock of Donguibogam to enhance its meaning and value. The results show that the Wanyoung woodblock of Donguibogam is meaningful in that it is almost the only one produced and stored by Gamyeong. Moreover, Wanyoung woodblocks are meaningful in that perfect editions could be preserved and disseminated for a long time, unlike other wood-type prints.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
• /
• v.49 no.1
• /
• pp.68-83
• /
• 2016

Pan-jang(板墻) has become the lost facility, and the examples of its original form can be found no more due to its variable material characteristics. In order to study panjang as a lost facility, the following are needed: - To bring to light its usage and examples. - To investigate its components and structure. Panjang refers to the wall made of wooden plate and is classified as a special wall according to its material characteristics. In addition, Chinese mokyeongbyuk(木影壁) and Japanese panbyeong(板?) are similar to Korean panjang in terms of the materials, but there are clear differences in their structures. Panjang was also transformed into various types according to their materials or forms. As the wooden elements of panjang, sinbang(信防), pillars, do-ri(道里), jungbang(中枋), inbang(引枋), parn(板), dae(帶), choyeop(草葉), bangyeon(方椽), gaeparn(蓋板), pyeonggodae(平高臺), and yeonharm(椽檻) were selectively used, and they are similar, in particular, to the components of ilgakmoon(一角門). The stylobate of panjang is largely classified into three according to the kinds and structures of the wooden elements; and its frame into two according to whether sanginbang(上引枋) is used or not. The materials for the roof area include planks(蓋板) and tiles and have the distinct structural differences according to each material.