Gochang-gun Registers Lee Jaenan-go as a 'National Important Science and Technology Data'

Gochang-gun, Jeollabuk-do, has registered ‘Ijae Nango’ (?齋亂藁), the handwritten diary of Ijae Hwang Yun-seok (?齋 黃胤錫, 1729~1791), which is the draft manuscript of his collected works and a scientist’s research notebook, as a National Important Science and Technology Material.

According to the county on the 23rd, the National Important Science and Technology Material system is managed by the National Science Museum under the Ministry of Science and ICT to systematically register, preserve, and manage materials that have high historical and educational value in science and technology and need to be passed down to future generations at the national level. Currently, 42 items are registered.

Gochang County has registered 'Ijae Nango,' the handwritten diary of Hwang Yun-seok of Ijae, which is the draft of a collection of writings and a scientist's research notebook, as a National Important Science and Technology Material.
[Photo by Gochang County]

This year, a total of 16 items were registered, among which ‘Ijae Nango’ falls under the field of history of science and technology.

Ijae Hwang Yun-seok was born in Heungdeok-hyeon, Jeolla Province (present-day Seongnae-myeon, Gochang-gun) during the reigns of King Yeongjo and King Jeongjo of the Joseon Dynasty, and wrote a diary titled ‘Nango’ for 53 years from the age of 10 until shortly before his death.

‘Ijae Nango,’ which contains over five million characters, includes numerous scientific and technological materials. He was a Neo-Confucian scholar and a Silhak scholar who left detailed records across various fields such as mathematics, astronomy, geography, history, linguistics, and the history of technology.

Among these, studies on mathematics (San-hak) and astronomy (Cheonmunhak) have attracted attention from many researchers early on, and much research has been conducted so far.

‘Ijae Nango’ records extensive materials on Joseon’s hot springs, smelting methods, classification and mixing ratios of copper, minerals and mines, research on plant names, medicine, and local products, but these have yet to be fully organized and studied.

This work predates Dasan Jeong Yak-yong by about 100 years and is much more detailed and voluminous. Unlike later Silhak scholars such as Seo Yu-gu (徐有?) (1764~1845), who mostly cited foreign materials, ‘Ijae Nango’ not only includes citation records but also captures the contemporary context, making it a treasure trove of Korean science and technology history.

In particular, the ‘Yunjonggi (輪鐘記)’ section provides a detailed description of the self-striking clock (Jamyungjong) he observed, recording gear ratios and operating principles in extensive charts. This information played a decisive role recently when the National Science Museum restored Hong Dae-yong’s Honcheonsi (armillary sphere clock).

The registration of ‘Ijae Nango’ as a National Important Science and Technology Material was applied for by Gochang-gun in April 2023 and was registered after procedures including document review, document evaluation, on-site investigation, preliminary review, hearing of opinions, and comprehensive evaluation by the National Science Museum.

With the registration of ‘Ijae Nango’ as a National Important Science and Technology Material, promotion will be actively pursued through support related to artifact preservation by the National Science Museum, traveling exhibitions, and development and utilization of storytelling.

Shim Deok-seop, the mayor of Gochang-gun, said, “Through this registration as a National Important Science and Technology Material, we have recognized that ‘Ijae Nango,’ regarded as a time capsule of Joseon, is also a very important material in the history of science.” He added, “We have continuously supported academic conferences and translation projects to identify the academic value of ‘Ijae Nango’ and to preserve and utilize it. Especially recently, through record painting projects and digital image construction projects, we applied for its promotion to a treasure status with the Cultural Heritage Administration this year.”

Gochang = Kim Jae-gil, Honam Reporting Headquarters, Asia Economy baekok@asiae.co.kr