A Study on Dongkuksipji Yeamunji

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to analyze Dongkuksipji's Yeamunji, written by Bae Sang-hyun(裴象鉉) in 1855. Dongkuksipji is a kind of encyclopedia. Dongkuksipji's Yeamunji record 137 books written in Goguryeo, Silla, Goryeo, Joseon and China. Yeamunji has its own classification system which includes 15 different topics. But this classification system emphasizes too much some field, such as Chinese classics of Confucianism. Yeamunji contains information on the period of compilation, author, title, and some bibliographic introductions. Although Dongkuksipji's Yeamunji does not have a perfect system for its contents, it is worthy of notice because it is a large catalogue of ancient books compiled by just one person.