Keimyung University Dongsan Library to Hold Special Ancient Texts Exhibition "Memories of the Byeongjahoran" from October 30... Free Admission

Held at the Wallogo Manuscript Room of Dongsan Library until November 13
Over 40 Ancient Texts on the Byeongjahoran from the Library's Collection on Display

Keimyung University (President Shin Ilhee) Dongsan Library will hold a special exhibition of ancient texts under the theme "Memories of the Byeongjahoran" starting from October 30.

This exhibition has been organized to convey the importance of wisdom in facing reality and flexibility in understanding others, through the historical lessons of the Byeongjahoran, which resulted from failures in diplomacy, national defense, and domestic governance amid the international situation of shifting great powers.

Mounted Combat Weapon 'Hyeopdogon' Included in the Martial Arts Manual Translation Collection (Treasure). Provided by Keimyung University

The exhibition is structured around three main themes: ▲ the international situation and domestic power shifts that formed the backdrop to the war ▲ the outbreak of the war and the process leading to the surrender at Namhansanseong ▲ the wounds left by the war and the completion of the spiritual Northern Expedition after the conflict.

Exhibits include over 40 ancient texts designated as national heritage related to the Byeongjahoran, such as: ▲ the Martial Arts Manual Translation Collection (1610, Treasure), which contains instructions for weapons used against northern cavalry ▲ Cheonsailroilgi (1537, Daegu City Tangible Cultural Heritage), which records the first "Obaesamgodurye" ritual for the Ming Emperor ▲ Bukjeongrok (1658, Daegu City Tangible Cultural Heritage), the account of General Shin Yu, who was later re-evaluated as the leader of the Northern Expedition during King Sukjong's reign ▲ Byeongjarok by Na Mangap ▲ Nalliilgi by Nam Geup, and other related works.

Keimyung University students are listening to an explanation about ancient documents related to the Byeongjahoran from a guide at the Dongsan Library Wall-o Ancient Documents Room. Photo by Keimyung University

The exhibition will be held at the Wallogo Manuscript Room of Dongsan Library on the Seongseo Campus of Keimyung University from October 30 to November 13. During the exhibition period, guided tours with explanations will be available at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. each day.

Admission is free, and the exhibition is closed on Saturdays and Sundays.

Oh Donggeun, Director of Dongsan Library (Professor of Library and Information Science), said, "This special exhibition is significant in that it is composed entirely of materials from our own collection," and added, "I hope it will be an opportunity to reflect on the present through the history of the Byeongjahoran, which greatly influenced late Joseon society."

Meanwhile, since becoming the first university library to open its doors to the local community in 1999, Dongsan Library has provided mentoring volunteer services to local school libraries, corporate libraries, and small libraries from 2011 to the present.

Additionally, as a result of collecting ancient texts since 1968, the library now holds 23 types and 97 volumes of nationally designated cultural heritage (Treasures) and 9 types and 20 volumes of Daegu Metropolitan City-designated tangible cultural heritage. This is the highest number of Treasures held by any private university library in Korea.