British Diplomat in Korea, James Scott’s Theory of ‘the Origin of Hunmin­jeongeum(訓民正音) and Manyeonsabon Jineonjip(萬淵寺本 『眞言集』)

Abstract

This paper investigates ‘the origin of Hunminjeongeum(訓民正音)’ claimed by James Scott and his theory about the Cultural Ecologies of Korean Language and Classics in 19th century. Especially, this study is intended to examine the process and context that Scott learns about Buddhist civilization in Korea and the linguistic knowledge of Buddhist intellects in Korea through ‘Manyeonsabon Jineonjip’(萬淵寺本眞言集). The articles and materials in The Korean Repository(1892) reveal the fact that the Korean Protestant missionary group, too, did share the historical records on the Korean Alphabet and Hangeul(한글)materials from Buddhist temples. Scott, however, conducted precise research on ‘Manyeonsabon Jineonjip’ and gained differentiated result from that of the Korean Protestant missionaries. First, he did infer the lost letters of Hunminjeongum(訓民正音) and their phonetic value which were not commonly used then. Second, he realized the system chart about Hangeul consonants close to the Yeui Part(例義篇) of Hunminjeongum. Third, he examined the word forms of Korean Siddhamatika(悉曇文字) to see how they are related with Hangeul. Lastly, he was able to conceive a structure to examine the history of Korean letters.