Jinseong Yi Clan Genealogy of Toegye Yi Hwang Family Designated as Daegu Tangible Cultural Heritage... 1600 Woodblock Edition Published

On the 22nd, Daegu Metropolitan City designated the ‘Jinseong Lee Family Genealogy’ held at Keimyung University Dongsan Library as a Daegu Tangible Cultural Heritage.

The Jinseong Lee Family Genealogy is the genealogy of the Toegye Yi Hwang family. The ‘Jinseong Lee Family Genealogy’ preserved at Keimyung University Dongsan Library is the first edition, published in 1600 at Dosan Seowon by Yi Yeongdo (1559-1637), the grandson of Toegye, in three volumes and two books as a woodblock print.

Jinseong Lee Family Genealogy

The structure of this book includes a table of contents, a preface explaining the publication background, and a family tree diagram. It is notable for recording both sons and daughters in the order of their birth, and even including the marital relationships of the children of married daughters. This feature contrasts with the genealogies of the 17th and 18th centuries, which were primarily centered on the eldest son and male descendants.

Among the extant genealogies published in the 15th and 16th centuries, only a few are known, such as the Andong Gwon Family Seonghwabo (1476), the Munhwa Ryu Family Gajeongbo (1562), and the Gangneung Kim Family Eulchukbo (1565). This book also follows the format of early genealogies, making it highly valuable as a historical resource.

Bae Jeongsik, Director of Culture, Sports and Tourism at Daegu Metropolitan City, said, “With the new designation of the Jinseong Lee Family Genealogy as a city tangible cultural heritage, our city now possesses a total of 333 national heritage assets. We will continue to discover and research new national heritage assets to preserve more tangible and intangible heritages and ensure they are passed down to future generations.”