Geumseok-gwa Annorok

From Encyclopedia of Korean Culture

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Kim Jeong-hee's "Geumseokgwaanrok" is a monumental work

in the field of Korean epigraphy, completed

in 1852 during the late Joseon Dynasty.

The book is based on Kim's two readings and analyses

of the funerary steles of King Sunsu and King Jinheung

at the Hwangcho-ryeong tomb and Bukhansan respectively.

It is also known as the "Clouds Dispersed,

Stones Passed Over Record" or

the "Etched in Memory of the Golden Hall Stones Record,"

and is currently housed at the Kyujanggak Archive

at Seoul National University.

 

The book is significant because it revised

the prevailing view of the time concerning

King Jinheung's inscriptions on the Hwangcho-ryeong tomb.

Kim's research showed that

the tomb was built in 568 CE,

during King Jinheung's reign, which contradicts

the account given in Samguk Sagi,

the official history of the Three Kingdoms period.

Samguk Sagi failed to mention King Jinheung's

northern campaign and the fact that Silla controlled

the region up to Hamheung. By proving the authenticity

of the inscriptions, Kim's work also proved

that Silla had achieved a level of political independence.

 

Moreover, Kim's research proved that

the Bukhansan stele was not a memorial to

the monk Mu-hak but rather King Jinheung's imperial

inspection tour record, which provides insight

into the governance and territorial extent of Silla

during that time. With the help of his colleagues,

Kim's research was based on an extensive use

of primary historical materials,

including both Korean and Chinese sources.

The significance of Geumseokgwaanrok lies

in Kim's innovative method of combining Chinese

epigraphy techniques with Korean historical research.

He set new standards for the practice of epigraphy in Korea,

and his work became a foundation

for future generations of scholars. His research also

contributed to the greater understanding

of Silla's history, culture, and political system,

as well as the development of Korean

epigraphy as an academic discipline.

 

 

\From Encyclopedia of Korean Culture

 

In conclusion, Kim Jeong-hee's "Geumseokgwaanrok" is a seminal work in the field of Korean epigraphy, which contributed significantly to our understanding of Silla's history and culture. The book's significance lies in the innovative method used to analyze primary sources, which have set new standards for the study of Korean epigraphy. The book's continued importance in contemporary research highlights Kim's enduring contribution to the development of Korean scholarship.