The Dongguk Tonggam (''Comprehensive Mirror of the eastern state'') is a chronicle of the early
history of Korea
The Lower Paleolithic era in the Korean Peninsula and Manchuria began roughly half a million years ago.
Christopher J. Norton, "The Current State of Korean Paleoanthropology", (2000), ''Journal of Human Evolution'', 38: 803–825.
The earlies ...
compiled by
Seo Geo-jeong (1420–1488) and other scholars in the 15th century. Originally commissioned by
King Sejo
Sejo of Joseon (2 November 1417 – 23 September 1468), personal name Yi Yu (Korean: 이유; Hanja: 李瑈), sometimes known as Grand Prince Suyang (Korean: 수양대군; Hanja: 首陽大君), was the seventh ruler of the Joseon dynasty of K ...
in 1446, it was completed under the reign of
Seongjong of Joseon
Seongjong of Joseon (19 August 1457 – 20 January 1495), personal name Yi Hyeol (Korean: ; Hanja: ), was the ninth ruler of the Joseon dynasty of Korea. Before succeeding his uncle, King Yejong, he was known as Grand Prince Jalsan (Korean: ...
, in 1485. The official
Choe Bu
Choe Bu (, 1454–1504) was a Korean official during the early Joseon Dynasty. He is most well known for the account of his shipwrecked travels in China from February to July 1488, during the Ming dynasty (1368–1644). He was eventually banis ...
was one of the scholars who helped compile and edit the work. The earlier works on which it may have been based have not survived. The ''Dongguk Tonggam'' is the earliest extant record to list the names of the rulers of
Gojoseon
Gojoseon () also called Joseon (), was the first kingdom on the Korean Peninsula. According to Korean mythology, the kingdom was established by the legendary founder named Dangun. Gojoseon possessed the most advanced culture in the Korean Pen ...
after
Dangun
Dangun (; ) or Dangun Wanggeom (; ) was the legendary founder and god-king of Gojoseon, the first Korean kingdom, around present-day Liaoning province in Northeast China and the northern part of the Korean Peninsula. He is said to be the "gran ...
.
Content
''Dongguk Tonggam'' uses an
annal
Annals ( la, annāles, from , "year") are a concise historical record in which events are arranged chronologically, year by year, although the term is also used loosely for any historical record.
Scope
The nature of the distinction between anna ...
form. ''Dongguk Tonggam'' is organised into 382 passages, of which 178 were selected from existing documents. The rest was written by the authors. In particular, Choi Bu authored 118 of them. Dongguk Tonggam is a valuable source of historical information and descriptions from
Tangun
Dangun (; ) or Dangun Wanggeom (; ) was the legendary founder and god-king of Gojoseon, the first Korean kingdom, around present-day Liaoning province in Northeast China and the northern part of the Korean Peninsula. He is said to be the "gra ...
to the later years of the Joseon Dynasty.
Feature
In this book, the historical positions of Gija-Chosun, Mahan, and Silla, their successors, are elevated, and the positions of Dangun Chosun, Goguryeo, Baekje, Balhae and Goryeo are relatively lowered.
The book was first compiled by King Sejo in his attempt to reconstruct Korean history by accepting romantic and mythical historical descriptions rather than being bound by Confucian causes. However, it was not completed due to the uncooperative efforts of the Yushin groups to protect Confucian causes.
is part of the , which was revised under the Confucian justification, and was still part of the romantic atmosphere during King Sejo's reign.
See also
*List of books about Korea
Korea ( ko, 한국, or , ) is a peninsular region in East Asia. Since 1945, it has been divided at or near the 38th parallel, with North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) comprising its northern half and South Korea (Republic of ...
*History of Korea
The Lower Paleolithic era in the Korean Peninsula and Manchuria began roughly half a million years ago.
Christopher J. Norton, "The Current State of Korean Paleoanthropology", (2000), ''Journal of Human Evolution'', 38: 803–825.
The earlies ...
References
External links
朝鮮群書大系. 続 第3輯
15th-century history books
Early Korean history
Joseon dynasty
1485 books
History books about Korea
Chinese-language literature of Korea
{{korea-hist-stub