The Content Characteristics and Contemporary Significance of "Daedong Unbugunok" (大東韻府群玉)

Daedong Unbugunok(大東韻府群玉) is an encyclopedic leishu compiled by Kwon Mun-hae(1534-1591) based on Yin Shifu’s Unbugunok from the Yuan Dynasty. Organized according to the arrangement of rhyme books (yunshu), it systematically incorporates diverse knowledge and information spanning from the Dangun era to the Joseon Dynasty. Its extensive scale, consisting of 20 volumes in 20 books, highlights the challenges of its compilation, which required broad reading, high academic competence, meticulous reasoning, and access to various texts and resources.This study quantitatively analyzes the texts cited by Kwon Mun-hae in Daedong Unbugunok to examine their proportions and meanings. Additionally, it compares the manuscript and woodblock editions to identify their differences and explore the factors influencing the transmission of this cultural heritage. The structural differences between the two versions reveal that the manuscript preserved in Chogan Jongtaek served as the basis for the woodblock edition. Marginal annotations and supplementary content in the manuscript further demonstrate ongoing revisions during the compilation process. Notably, a comparative analysis of the “List of Referenced Texts” in both versions indicates that 21 additional works were included in the woodblock edition, reflecting efforts to enhance completeness during its publication.The most frequently cited work in Daedong Unbugunok is Goryeosa (History of Goryeo), referenced over 5,000 times, accounting for 30% of the content. This is followed by Samguk Sagi (History of the Three Kingdoms), cited over 2,000 times, and Yeojiseungnam and Dongguk Yi Sang Gukjip. Together, these four works constitute 54% of the total references. While the remaining 163 works were cited less than 200 times each, their inclusion highlights the breadth of materials used, encompassing personal anthologies and miscellaneous records. This demonstrates the encyclopedic and systematic nature of the leishu, transcending a simple aggregation of knowledge. By reorganizing the material and introducing new entries, Kwon Mun-hae not only systematized fragmented information from existing texts but also imbued it with new significance.