A Study on the Korean-translated Manuscripts Dongyugi Preserved at the Institute of Oriental Manuscripts of the Russian Academy of Sciences

Abstract

This study comprehensively examines the Korean-translated manuscripts of the novel Dongyugi preserved at the Institute of Oriental Manuscripts of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Dongyugi is the translation of the novel Saomei-dunlun-Dongdu-ji (掃魅敦倫東度記) (100 chapters) written by Fang Ruhao (方汝浩) in the late Ming period. Saomei-dunlun-Dongdu-ji is also known as Dongdu-ji (東度記), and in some cases is referred to as Xu-zheng-dao-shu-Dongyou-ji (續證道書東遊記) or Xinbian-Dongyou-ji (新編東遊記). The earliest edition currently identified is Saomei-dunlun-Dongdu-ji, published in the late Ming period, but it was not brought to Korea. The two Korean editions are from the Qing period titled Xu-zheng-dao-shu-Dongyou-ji and Xinbian-Dongyou-ji, and are preserved at Chungnam National University and Seoul National University. In other words, the title of the translated manuscripts Dongyugi seems to have been obtained from the original Xinbian-Dongyou-ji. The Korean-translated manuscripts currently have four remaining books - volumes 2, 3, 4, and 6. The translated portions are from Issue 8 through 40. The original consists of 100 issues in total and less than half of them were translated; that is, many parts are missing and thus, have not been passed down. The books are stamped “Library (藏書) of Aston (阿須頓) from Britain (英國)”, indicating William George Aston (1841～1911), British consular official in Korea in the late 19th century. The books seem to have been collected between 1884～1886 when Aston served as consul-general in Joseon. The final page of Volume 4 displays a transcription of “戊寅.” Considering the archaic words and antiquated style of the translated manuscripts, they seem to have been written in the late 19th century, implying that “Wu yin (戊寅)” may be 1878. The translation is characterized by its lack of chapter titles (回目名) that are only numbered (回次), omitting and reducing many portions of the original. However, these manuscripts are the only translation of Dongyou-ji (東遊記) in existence today, thus granting them substantial value and significance.