Annals of Joseon Dynasty
Annals of Joseon Dynasty (조선왕조실록, 朝鮮王朝實錄) are the annual records of the Joseon Dynasty, who ruled Korea, and were written from 1413 (Taejong 13) to 1865 (Gojong 2). The annals comprise 1893 volumes.Annals of Joseon Dynasty is the most important primary source to study history of Joseon, with very high credibility - even the Kings were forbidden to read the records of his own reign for that purpose.
Joseon established four separate repositories to store copies of the Annals: Chunchugwan (of Seoul), Chungju County, Jeonju County and Seongju County. All three except the repository in Jeonju County were burned down in Japanese invasion in 1592 - 1598. Joseon printed five more copies after that war and stored them in Chunchugwan, Mt. Myohyang, Mt. Taebaek, Mt. Odae and Mt. Mari. The Chunchugwan copy was lost in 1624, due to the treason of Yi Gwal. Part of the Mount Mari copy was lost during the Manchu invasion (1638), and the surviving volumes moved to Mt. Jeongjok in 1678. The Mt. Myohyang copy was moved to Mt. Jeokseong in 1633.
The copies of the Annals were preserved to the end of Joseon Dynasty. In Japanese Colonial Period, Japanese moved Mt. Odae copy to Tokyo University but soon lost in the Great Kanto earthquake of 1923.
The Annals is written in Classical Chinese; it was translated into modern Korean in the 1980s in North Korea and in 1994 in South Korea.
Parts of the Annals of Joseon Dynasty have been scanned by Seoul National University and available for online.
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