A Study on the Stylistic Changes of Hangul Script in the Vernacular Editions of Nogolda during the Joseon Dynasty

This study examines the evolution of Hangul calligraphic styles in vernacular editions (eonhaebon) from the Joseon dynasty. To this end, it compares three representative educational texts: Beonyeok Nogeoldae (1517), Nogeoldae Eonhae (1670), and Junggan Nogeoldae Eonhae (1795). The comparative analysis yields the following findings. First, in basic stroke morphology, Beonyeok Nogeoldae and Nogeoldae Eonhae exhibit straight strokes of relatively uniform thickness, whereas Junggan Nogeoldae Eonhae presents a more fluid, curved rhythm with subtle variations in thickness. That suggests that the aesthetic of eighteenth-century cursive manuscript hands began to influence printed editions. Second, a comparison of consonants and vowels confirms that features characteristic of fifteenth-century prints—such as chidueum (ᅏ) and jeongchieum (ᄿ)—disappear in Junggan Nogeoldae Eonhae. In addition, the increased inter-stroke spacing and lengthened verticals indicate a transition toward the court style (gungche) from the seventeenth century onward, reflecting late Joseon calligraphic trends. Third, in syllable-block composition, the dense letterforms of Beonyeok Nogeoldae give way in Nogeoldae Eonhae to more balanced spacing between consonants and vowels. By Junggan Nogeoldae Eonhae, wider inter-stroke intervals and thinner strokes introduce flexibility beyond the square form. In particular, the flow of the upper-middle-lower components in syllable-block composition indicates the growing influence of the court style and cursive manuscript practice. In conclusion, the stylistic shifts observed in the Nogeoldae vernacular editions reflect both the functional aims of educational texts and the contemporaneous calligraphic and writing culture. These editions represent a critical turning point in the development of eighteenth-century Hangul calligraphy and its historiography. Future comparative work with contemporary translation/interpretation textbooks such as Mong-eo Nogeoldae and Cheophae Sineo will further clarify the historical evolution of Hangul and its calligraphic traditions.