인사동 출토 금속유물 발굴 성과와 금속활자의 유형

Abstract

The excavation of the historic site in Insadong (within the urban environment improvement project site of the 15th and 16th zones of Gongpyeong-dong, Seoul) is one of the important achievements of the excavation conducted in 2021. The building sites and metal artifacts discovered from the cultural layer of the 16th century are important materials that shed light on the cultural aspects of the early Joseon Dynasty. Metal artifacts that reveal the scientific and technological knowledge of the early Joseon Dynasty, which were previously only known through documents, were excavated, and among them, the over 1,600 metal printing blocks have significant bibliographic value because they clarify the reality of metal printing blocks during the early Joseon Dynasty. The types of metal printing blocks excavated are broadly divided into Chinese characters and Korean, and are further classified into large, medium, and small sizes according to their respective dimensions. They can also be categorized by the shape on the back of the printing block, including the low ‘∧’ shape, deep ‘∩’ shape, square groove shape, long tunnel shape, divided leg shape, and flat base shape. If we examine them by type of printing block, they can be further divided into Gyongja-ja (estimated), Gapin-ja, Eulhae-ja, Eulyu-ja, and Hangul-ja. This article provides a general overview of the significant content from a bibliographic perspective based on the preliminary review of the types of metal printing blocks. The excavated printing blocks are mixed with various types of printing blocks, and further detailed research may reveal new types of printing blocks. Moreover, a comparative study with the existing metal printing blocks through scientific analysis and precise investigation of human culture and history is necessary. Continuous research is also needed to evaluate the value of artifacts that can provide insight into daily life, such as the metallic artifacts that were previously only known through records, such as Ilseongjeongsi (the astronomical clock) and Jujun (the military arrow).