A Study on Cheongnam Oh Je-bong’s Research on Calligraphy

This study examines the scholarship on Korean calligraphy by Cheongnam Oh Je-bong, a Busan-based calligrapher who entered monastic life at the age of fifteen and later returned to the secular world. Drawing on deep learning in classical Chinese and Buddhist philosophy, he established himself as a noble calligrapher in Busan. In 1978, he contributed “Renowned Calligraphers of Korea” to the inaugural issue of the comprehensive arts journal Galsup, where he compiled epigraphic inscriptions and rubbings of earlier masters, organized them into an introductory history of Korean calligraphy, and offered succinct critical evaluations. Through these writings, he helped cultivate a constructive culture of calligraphic criticism, engaging in research on the history of calligraphy, on the works of Chusa Kim Jeong-hee, and on critical discourse surrounding Chusa studies. In 1989, in the 27th issue of Galsup, he published “On the Collection of Chusa’s Literary Pseudonyms,” presenting the fruits of his lifelong engagement with Chusa. There, he catalogued 283 pseudonyms used by Chusa and combined them with 220 previously documented names, publishing a total of 503 entries. Building on this foundation, the present study identifies 12 additional pseudonyms, bringing the cumulative total to 515. By reassessing the significance of Cheongnam Oh Je-bong’s contributions to Korean calligraphy studies, this article honors his achievements and preserves his scholarship as a valuable record for future research.