Wood Block for Printing

Physical Description:

This woodblock contains Fascicle 24 of Essentials of the Comprehensive Mirror (通鑑節要, Tonggamjeolyo, Ch. Tongjian Jieyao), recording famous “Memorial for Northern Expeditions (出師表, Chulsapyo, Ch. Chushibiao) by Zhuge Liang (諸葛亮, 181-234) presented to his king, Liu Shan (劉禪, 207-271, r. 223-263), before his expedition to conquer Kingdom of Wei (魏, 220-265). Essentials of the Comprehensive Mirror is a compendium of Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance (資治通鑑, Jachitonggam, Ch. Zizhi Tongjian), a chronological history compiled by Sima Guang (司馬光, 1019-1086) of Northern Song (960-1127), edited by Jiang Zhi (江 贄, 12th century) who lived during the reign of Huizong (徽宗, 1082-1135, r. 1100-1125). Jiang’s compendium abbreviated a massive volume of 294 fascicles into 50 fascicles. Both Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance and Essentials of Comprehensive Mirror became known by the abbreviated title Comprehensive Mirror (通鑑, Tonggam, Ch. Tongjian). Essentials of Comprehensive Mirror was used as a core textbook in Confucian village schools of Joseon. The woodblock has been chipped in various places and is missing parts of its left, right, upper and lower sides. Its reverse side retains of two nails used for hanging it.

[Korean Collection, University of Michigan Museum of Art (2017) p. 291]

Usage Rights:

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