The Ancient Documents of Goheung Mubangamun: High Rarity and Academic Value
Goheung-gun, Jeollanam-do (Governor Gong Young-min) announced on the 4th that the "Old Documents Held by Goheung Jaedong Seowon" have been officially designated as a Tangible Cultural Heritage of Jeollanam-do.
The old documents designated this time as Tangible Cultural Heritage by Jeollanam-do are kept at Jaedong Seowon, owned and managed by the Yeo-san Song clan of Goheung, located in Hwasan-ri, Daeseo-myeon, Goheung-gun.
The designated documents consist of 73 old documents from around the time of the Imjin War during the Joseon Dynasty, including 71 documents and 2 volumes of printed books. The documents include 58 official appointment letters (Gosin Gyoji), 9 official appointment certificates (Gosin Gyochup), 1 Yeongpae (a royal insignia), 1 Nokpae (a salary certificate), 1 Sangseo (official letter), and 1 scroll of Sujoholg-gi. The printed books are "Jeongchungrok (Naesabon)" and "Seonmuwonjong Gongsin Nokgwon."
Many military official appointment letters and certificates have been passed down from the Yeo-san Song clan of Goheung from the 1570s to the 1860s.
There are a total of 14 related figures associated with these old documents, including Seojae Song Gan (1405?1480), the founding ancestor of the Yeo-san Song clan in Goheung, and his great-grandson Song Sunrye (Song Sunrye, 1583), who defended Asanjin and was awarded the "Jeongchungrok" by King Seonjo, along with his wife Lady Oh.
Also included are Song Han, a military officer under Admiral Yi Sun-sin of the Jeolla Left Navy, who was Song Gan’s great-grandson; Song Jungho, the 7th generation descendant of Song Han; Song Cheonsang, son of Song Sunrye; his grandsons Song Hongyeon and Song Hongwon; great-grandsons Song Gyeongryong and Song Sipil; as well as Song Gwan, the 6th generation descendant of Song Gan; Song Daerip, his son; Song Chim, his grandson; Song Munsang, his great-grandson; and Song Seho, the 11th generation descendant of Song Gan.
In particular, the "Jeongchungrok" is a metal movable type edition, with a record dated July 1585 showing that it was bestowed by King Seonjo to Song Sunrye, the Asan Byeongmamanho. It bears the royal seal "Seonsajigi (宣賜之記)" used for royal gifts. The original main copy, excluding copies and manuscripts, was designated this time.
The Yeongpae was issued to Song Hongyeon in 1619 during his tenure as Byeongma Cheomjeoljeosa of Changju, Pyeongan Province. It is a document issued by the Ming military organization to Joseon officials and is a rare cultural heritage item that reveals aspects of interactions between Joseon military officers and the Ming army during the early 1600s transition period between the Ming and Qing dynasties.
Additionally, the "Nokpae," which certifies the eligibility for receiving salary for civil and military officials; the accordion-style "Sujoholg-gi," used for Joseon naval training; and the "Seonmuwonjong Gongsin Nokgwon," a woodblock printed document issued to Song Han, the gatekeeper who was appointed as a 2nd class merit recipient of the Seonmu Wonjong Gongsin in 1605 (Seonjo 38) for his achievements during the Imjin War, were also finally designated.
A military official stated, "The old documents held by Jaedong Seowon designated this time are precious materials that can illuminate the legacy of Goheung’s Joseon-era military families and their relations with neighboring great powers," adding, "We hope this will be an opportunity to reveal more valuable materials from clans active mainly in Goheung that have yet to be uncovered."
Goheung = Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Shim Jeong-woo hss79@asiae.co.kr
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