조선초 서적간행의 토대 구축과 종이의 공급

Abstract

King Sejong, from the very beginning of his reign, strives to import books from the Ming dynasty that encompasses the whole rages of disciplines covering Jing (經, Classics), Shi (史, Histories), Zi (子, Masters Literatures), and Ji (集, Collections). Books were the most influential media for knowledge dissemination at that time and Chosŏn government could also obtain the newest knowledge and information concerning the doctrine of statecraft based on Confucianism through books. Absorbed the academic and cultural achievements of Ming China through the royal lectures, Chosŏn government now made steady and persistent effort to diffused the knowledge throughout the country. However, it was also required to lay material and technical foundation as well as administrative foundation in order to spread the knowledge through the compilation and the publication of books which was conducted as a national project. If so, what did Chosŏn government prepare for the accumulation, reproduction, and spread of the knowledge through the book media? Furthermore, what kind of human and material foundation did Chosŏn government establish in order to publish a book as a messenger of such knowledge and information? This paper examines the administrative system and various material foundations for book publication in the early Chosŏn period, focusing on the case of republication of Sishu Wujing Daquan (四書五經大全), Xingli Daquan (性理大全) by the Chosŏn government.