Last updated: November 5, 2025
Acknowledgements: I thank Juwon Kim (RSEA, Harvard University) and Azalea Lee (EALC, Harvard University) for providing assistance in 2019-2020 and 2021-2022, respectively.
C
ch'aek mongnok 책목록 冊目錄: a book list; a catalog of books
ch'aekchu 책주 册主: lit. “book owner.” Typically mentioned in p’ilsagi 필사기 of a rental-shop manuscripts or printed books.
ch'aja p'yogi 차자표기 借字表記: lit. “borrowed graph transcription method.” Sometimes translated as “borrowed-script orthography” in English-language scholarship, ch’aja p’yogi refers to premodern Korean writing systems, –such as kugyŏl 口訣 (glosses for reading Literary Sinitic texts), hyangch’al 鄕札 (notations for the transcription of vernacular songs), and idu 吏讀 (developed for administrative document writing). These three transcription systems were developed prior to the promulgation of the Korean alphabet (now called Hangul) in 1446, and continued to co-exist with the alphabetic writing system.
ch'angjun 창준 唱準: collation officer; a miscellaneous post at Kyosŏgwan 校書館; ch'angjun reads aloud the text as part of the proofreading process (e.g., Chang Hon 張混)
changsŏin 藏書印: Seals, stamps, stickers of ownership indicating collectors, readers, connoisseurs, and otherwise handlers and owners of books.
Chibokchae 집옥재 集玉齋:
Chinjanggak 진장각 珍藏閣:
Chŏlgang sŏmok 절강서목 浙江書目:
Ch'ŏnhan'gak 천한각 天翰閣:
chŏnsabon 전사본 轉寫本:
changjŏng 장정 裝訂/裝釘/裝幀: a method of binding. Typically, traditional Korean books are thread-bound with five needle holes (och'im sŏnjang 五針線裝 오침선장).
changsŏ 장서 藏書: the act of collecting books; a book collection
changsŏ 장서가 藏書家: bibliophile; collector of books
changsŏgak 장서각 藏書閣:
changsŏin 장서인 藏書印: lit. "seal of collecting books"; ownership seals; book collector's seal; seals, stamps, stickers indicating the current or previous owners, loosely defined to include collectors, readers, connoisseurs, and otherwise indicating handlers of books. In 印 here refers to injang 印章 (seal).
Chuhamnu 주합루 宙合樓:
"Chuja pal" 주자발 鑄字跋:
Ch'unbang changp'an 春坊藏板: lit. “printing blocks held by Ch’unbang.” Ch’unbang is another name for Seja Sigangwŏn 世子侍講院 (Office of Crown Prince Tutorial), a government office established during the early years of King T’aejo (r. 1392–1398) of the education of crown princes in the Confucian Classics, histories, and moral cultivation.
H
Hongmun'gwan 홍문관 弘文館:
Hŭmbonggak 흠봉각 欽奉閣:
huswaebon 후쇄본 後刷本: lit. “later-dating print run”
hwalchabon 활자본 活字本: lit. “movable-type edition.” Refers to books printed in the traditional Korean movable metal-type printing technology. Despite the name, the actual method is to be distinguished from the Gutenberg-style letterpress printing technology. Interchangeably used with hwalp’anbon 활판본 活版本.
hwalp'anbon 활판본 活版本: see hwalchabon above.
Hwimunʼgwan 휘문관 徽文館: A publishing house established by Min Yŏnghŭi 閔泳徽 (민영휘; 1852-1935; active 1905-1909; associated with a school in Seoul Min Yŏnghŭi built called Hwimun ŭisuk 徽文義塾); published mostly educational texts such as literacy primers and books on history and practical manuals on geography, agriculture, etc.
I
ibon 이본 異本: lit. "different/variant edition; version.” Refers to a particular book form of a text that survives in a variety of versions in the same material and/or inscriptional form or in different material and/or inscription forms. For example, Kuunmong, a fictional narrative from the late seventeenth century, survives in woodblock printing, manuscript, and letterpress printing. In terms of language, Kuunmong survives in versions written in Literary Sinitic, written using the Korean alphabet only, and in mixed-script writing (i.e., kuhakmnun honyong 國漢文混用). Some ibon of Kuunmong, both print and manuscript, were commercialized, while others were manuscript editions for private collection.
inbo 印譜: seal catalogues, seal alumbs
inbon 인본 印本: a printed edition.
injang 印章 / inmun 印文: writing and design of seals. See also changsŏin 藏書印.
K
Kaeyuwa 개유와 皆有窩: Together with Yangsimhap and Yŏlgogwan, Kaeyuwa was a repository of books located in Ch’angdŏk Palace. Kaeyuwa and Yŏlgogwan were conjoined buildings established in 1777 as auxiliary repositories of Kyujanggak.
kŏmsŏgwan 검서관 檢書官:
Kep'anbon 게판본 揭板本:
kyŏngja cha 경자자 庚子字:
kyemi cha 계미자 癸未字:
Kwan'gak 관각 館閣: Refers to both Hongmun'gwan 홍문관 弘文館 and Yemun'gwan 예문관 藝文館. See also Hongmun'gwan. See also Yemun'gwan.
kuhakmnun honyong 국한문혼용 國漢文混用:
Kyujanggak 규장각 奎章閣:
Kyujanggak chi 규장각지 奎章閣志:
Kyujang ch’ongmok 규장총목 奎章總目:
Kyuyŏng 규영 奎瀛 = Kyujanggak 규장각 奎章閣:
Kunsŏ p'yogi 군서표기 羣書標記:
Kyosŏgwan 교서관 校書館:
Kyosŏgwan changp'an 교서관장판 校書館藏板: lit. "printing blocks based on books held by Kyosŏgwan."
kyunjajang 균자장 均字匠:
M
Munyŏn'gak 문연각 文淵閣 (Wényuān Gé): Hall of Literary Profundity, an imperial library in the forbidden city in Beijing.
N
Naegak changp'an 내각장판 內閣藏板: lit. "printing blocks held by Naegak." "Naegak" here refers to Kyujanggak, the royal library established by King Chŏngjo (r. 1776–1800).
Naegak pangsŏ rok 내각방서록 內閣訪書錄
naesa 내사 內賜:
naesabon 내사본 內賜本:
O
Odaesan 오대산 五臺山:
P
p'anmok 판목 板木: lit. "printing block." A wooden board created for the printing of books. Also called ch'aekp'an 冊板.
Pisŏsŏng 비서성 秘書省:
pŏn'gak 번각 飜刻:
Pongmodang 봉모당 奉謨堂:
T
tohae 도해 圖解:
S
saengsaengja 생생자 生生字:
sajun 사준 司準:
Sŏnwŏn'gak 선원각 璿源閣:
Y
Yemun'gwan 예문관 藝文館:
Yŏlgogwan 열고관 閱古觀:
Yurich'ang 유리창 琉璃廠 (Liúlíchǎng):