A Study of the Calligraphy Articles in Seo Yu-gu's 『Imwon Gyeongjeji』

Pungseok (楓石) Seo Yu-gu (徐有榘, 1764-1845), a late Joseon dynasty scholar and agronomist, compiled the ImwonGyeongjeji (林園經濟志), an encyclopedic work covering over 30,000 pieces of knowledge across 16 fields, including agriculture, food, clothing, and medicine, by quoting various texts. This work was created with the purpose of cultivating one's aspirations while living in a rural setting. Imwon Gyeongjeji also contains content related to calligraphy, and this study analyzes the organization and content of the calligraphy articles in Imwon Gyeongjeji and examines their characteristics and significance. The calligraphy articles in Imwon Gyeongjeji are mainly found in the sections Yu Ye Ji (遊藝志) and Yi Wun Ji (怡雲志). Each section is systematically organized into major themes and sub-themes, with articles quoted and included according to their nature. The content spans various aspects of calligraphy, including the history of calligraphy, basic theories of learning calligraphy, the usage and types of the Four Treasures of the Study, seals, and inscriptions from Korea and China. The systematic organization, richness of themes, and content make this a monumental theoretical work on calligraphy. Furthermore, by analyzing the cited texts and their frequency, as well as the usage patterns of annotations (【 】) and supplementary notes (案), the study explores characteristics such as the high citation frequency of certain texts and the use of annotations and supplementary notes. Compared to other encyclopedic works, Imwon Gyeongjeji is highlighted as superior in terms of content and expertise. The study also connects the organization and content of the calligraphy articles to Seo Yu-gu's understanding of calligraphy, demonstrating that his interest in calligraphy is actively reflected in Imwon Gyeongjeji. The study aims to illuminate the value and significance of Imwon Gyeongjeji as a valuable resource for the study of Korean calligraphy history.