Promulgated in September or October 1446, Hunmin Jeongeum (lit. The Correct/Proper Sounds for the Instruction of the People) was an entirely new and native script for the Korean people. The script was initially named after the publication, but later came to be known as Hangul. It was composed by King Sejong the Great personally, so that the common people illiterate in Hanja could accurately and easily read and write the Korean language. He faced fierce opposition from his own scholars of the Hall of Worthies (Jiphyeonjeon) and the literati of the time. Its supposed publication date, October 9, is now Hangul Day in South Korea.

Content

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The publication contains a preface, the alphabet letters (jamo), and brief descriptions of their corresponding sounds. It is later supplemented by a longer document called Hunmin Jeongeum Haerye. To distinguish it from its supplement, Hunmin Jeongeum is sometimes called the "Samples and Significance Edition of Hunmin Jeongeum" (훈민정음예의본 ; 訓民正音例義本).

The first paragraph of the document reveals King Sejong's motivation and reason for making the Hangul:

• In old Hangul: Linked from KTUG's Hanyang PUA Table Project. Based on data from The 21st Century Sejong Project
  • In Hanja:

  國之語音。異乎中國。與文字不相流通。故愚民。有所欲言。而終不得伸其情者多矣。予為此憫然。新制二十八字。欲使人人易習。便於日用耳。

  • Modernized rendition:

  나랏말싸미 듕귁에 달아 문짜와로 서르 사맛디 아니할쌔 이런 젼차로 어린 백셩이 니르고져 할배 이셔도 마참내 제 뜨들 시러 펴디 몯할 노미 하니라 내 이랄 위하야 어엿비 너겨 새로 스믈여듧 짜랄 맹가노니 사람마다 해여 수비 니겨 날로 쑤메 뼌안킈 하고져 할 따라미니라

  • Romanization of modernized Hangul:

  naratmalssami dyunggwike dala munjjawaro seoreu samatdi anihalssae ireon jyeoncharo eorin baeksyeongi nireugojyeo halbae isyeodo machamnae je tteudeul sireo pyeodi mothal nomi hanira nae iral wihaya eoyeotbi neogyeo saero seumulyeodeulb jaral maengganoni sarammada haeyeo subi nigyeo nalro ssume ppyeonankui hagojyeo hal ttaraminira

  • Translation:

  Because our language is different from China's, it is not communicable with ^* letters. Therefore, when the ignorant people wish to communicate something, many cannot achieve their intent. Because I am saddened by this, I have newly made 28 letters, which may be easily learned by everyone and be convenient in daily use.

  Versions

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  The manuscript of the original Hunmin Jeongeum has two versions:
  • Seven pages of Hanja and written in Classical Chinese, except where the Hangul symbols are mentioned. Three copies are left:
    • The one found at the beginning of the Haerye copy
    • The one included in Sejong Sillok (세종실록; 世宗實錄; "The Sejong Chronicles"), Volume 113.
  • Another, 36 pages, extensively annotated in Hangul, and all Hanja used have their Hangul counterpart written smaller immediately below them slightly to the right. The Hangul were written in both ink-brush and geometric styles. Four copies are left:
    • At the beginning of Weorin Seokbo (월인석보; 月印釋譜), an annotated Buddhist scripture
    • One preserved by Park Seungbin
    • One preserved by Kanazawa, a Japanese
    • One preserved by the Japanese Ministry of Royal Affairs

  Kept in the Kansong Art Museum (간송 미술관; 澗松 美術館), it is South Korean National Treasure number 70 and has been a UNESCO Memory of the World Register since October 1997.

  See also

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  • List of Korea-related topics

  References

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  External links

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  • Scanned original Hangul version
  • Hunmin in the Memory of the World Register - UNSECO web page
  • National Memory Heritage Service provides the pictures of the book.

  15th century books | Hangul | Korean language | Korean culture | national treasures of Korea | Manuscripts

  Hunmin Jeongeum (teul) | Hunminjeongeum | 훈민정음 | 訓民正音 | 訓民正音