[KS] Translations of works by Yi Deok-mu

[Brother Anthony]

Members of the list might not have noticed the publication in the UK at the start of 2018 of "The Aphorisms of Yi Deok-mu: Musings of a Grateful Reader" Editors: Jung Min, Ji-yung Kim Cambridge Scholars Publishing. ISBN (13): 978-1-5275-0389-2 

This 130-page volume contains excerpts from Seongyuldang nongso [蟬橘堂濃笑: The Inexorable Glee of Master Seongyuldang] and Imokgusimseo [耳目口心書: First-hand Observations] by the 18th-century (1741-1793) scholar Yi Deok-mu. http://www.cambridgescholars.com/the-aphorisms-of-yi-deok-mu (this site gives access to a very useful sample of the book's first pages).

The English translation is made from the 2000 edition by Professor 정민 of Hanyang University of selected texts by Yi Deok-mu with modern Korean translations, 한서 이불과 논어 병풍, This book was long out of print but has now been re-published (in May 2018) by Yeollimwon. The English volume offers translations by Ji-yung Kimof a well-chosen selection from the rather longer Korean publication. Both volumes follow Prof Jung Min's usual practice of giving the Chinese text, with a close 'literal' translation of that, and also a freer explanatory version designed to make clear the implied meanings. The books are designed for general readers and do not include the detailed annotations, or textual apparatus  found in more strictly 'academic' volumes.

Professor Jeong Min's deep interest in Dasan Jeong Yak-yong is well-known. He is currently publishing a weekly column about him in the Hankook Ilbo, a series which can most easily be accessed by doing a Google search "정민" "다산" "한국일보" and he continues to discover previously unknown texts by him and related to him. 

Brother Anthony
President, RAS Korea