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A Study on the Increase of the Buddhist Publication in the 16th Century and Its Significance of the Bibliographical History

Son Seong-pil 1

1한국고전번역원

Accredited

ABSTRACT

Bibliographical analysis on the existing Buddhist texts from the Joseon Korea suggests that the Buddhist society in the 16th century experienced a significant increase in quantity of published materials. In the 16th century, a great number of Buddhist texts were published and this period can be called as the era of Buddhist publication in the entire history of the Joseon Korea. In the 1530s, a significant quantity of Buddhist text was published and it was quadrupled compare to the earlier period. The size of Buddhist publication stayed unchanged till 17th century. In 20 years from 1570s to 1580s, before the 1592 Invasion of Hideyoshi, the publication quantity was doubled and a massive amount of Buddhist book was published during that time. Existing accounts of Buddhist history and general understandings of bibliographical history can not properly explain this phenomenon, the increase of Buddhist publication at the time. When one considers the publishing fashion of Confucian texts and Chinese publishing trend at the time, it is possible to assume that the 16th century witnessed the general increase of publication and popularization of books. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct an overall examination of the expanding tendency of the publication in the 16th century and elucidate its significance of the history of publishing culture.

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