Korea’s First Encyclopedia

An encyclopedia offers extensive information on various subjects, including science, nature and human activities, with data of each subject identified. When was the encyclopedia created for the first time?

In the West, the encyclopedia has its origin in ‘Naturalis Historiae’ written by Roman scholar Pliny. In the East, the Chinese traditional encyclopedia compiled during the period of the Song Dynasty is cited as the first encyclopedia. It classifies extracts and annotations of Confucian classics. In Korea, ‘Jibong-yuseol’(지봉유설), published in 1614, is viewed as the earliest encyclopedia.

The 20-volume book contains information not only on Korea but also on Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, France and England, thus helping broaden Koreans’ horizons of the outside world. The author of the book, Yi Su-gwang, known as his penname Jibong, was a prominent scholar who made a feast of knowledge in the mid-Joseon era.

Following Typical Course of the Elite

Yi Su-gwang was born in 1563 in Jangdan(장단), Gyeonggi Province, which was the place of his father’s appointment. His father is Yi Hee-geom(이희검), a royal descendant and Minister of Defense. Although he was born in a noble family, Yi achieved fame and prestige solely through his abilities.

Yi was known as a prodigy from childhood. He passed the first state exam for office when he was 16 years old and got through the highest-level state exam for civil service at the age of 23. He was on a fast track to the top since he entered government service.

Starting his career at the office in charge of diplomatic documents, Yi served in key posts at various government offices, including Sunggyungwan(성균관), the nation’s highest education institute, and the Office of Censor-General. As his outstanding writing skills were highly recognized, he became an official to work on behalf of the king’s edicts or degrees at the age of 28.

Yi was such a competent government official that he was dispatched to the Ming Dynasty of China three times as an envoy. At the time, Joseon Korea was struggling to overcome the aftermath of the Japanese invasion of Korea and the First Manchu invasion. There was a bitter factional strife when King Gwanghaegun ruled, while King Injo had to suppress rebel forces led by discontented general Yi Gwal(이괄). Amid the political turmoil, Yi Su-gwang stood aloof from party strife but remained as an honest, faithful and sensible official.

Today, Yi is remembered more as an intellectual than a government official.

Great Scholar who Opened a New Horizon

In 1613, the fifth year of King Gwanghaegun’s reign, the court witnessed a great deal of political upheavals as the Northern Faction carried out a massive purge in order to eliminate its rival faction and Prince Youngchang(영창). Yi resigned from public office without hesitation and lived in retirement. The following year, when he was 52 years old, he completed the masterpiece, ‘Jibong-yuseol.’

Based on his experience of visiting China three times as an envoy, Yi cited 340 kinds of books—a colossal number of books at the time—to write Jibong-yuseol, meaning ‘Topical Discourses of Jibong.’ It is the vast store of knowledge covering a total of 33 sections, 184 subsections and 3,435 items.

The book introduces the teaching of the sages, the universe and nature, world geography, social customs, Catholicism, Western culture, languages, interesting stories and food culture. These were concepts that had not been accepted in the previous knowledge system. Yi classified the fresh knowledge and information, which had been extracted from a wide range of books, by subject. He also added his personal opinion, employing a distinctive style of ‘topical discourses.’ The book contains a number of writings that help readers understand the reality of Joseon society at the time, indicating the trait of silhak(실학), or practical learning, which seeks the truth from facts.

The book also includes some information about Western culture, which drew a lot of attention from intellectuals. In fact, when Yi went to Ming China, he obtained a book on Catholicism written by Italian priest Matteo Ricci. He brought home the Chinese translation of the book entitled ‘The True Meaning of the Lord of Heaven’ to introduce Catholicism and Western culture to Korea. Jibong-yuseol is a masterpiece mirroring Yi’s great deal of reading, diligence and the traces of a scholar who was devoted to studies all his life.

From Confucian Classics to Practical Learning

After four years of seclusion, Yi began to serve as the local governor of Suncheon(순천) in 1616. Thanks to his exemplary administration, he was greatly admired by local people.

Yi concentrated on his studies again after serving his three-year term as governor. He was reinstated in government service after a coup that brought King Injo to power and served in high-ranking posts. The frontrunner of practical learning in the mid-Joseon era died in 1628 at the age of 66. Afterwards, Joseon entered a new age of ‘practical learning,’ which pursues scholarly truth in everyday life, in a major shift from the old practice of exploring Confucian classics.