Editing Hunminjeongeum

{{Short description|1446 Korean document on Hangul script}}
{{About||the Korean alphabet|Hangul}}
{{cleanup lang|date=December 2022}}
{{italic title}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2012}}
{{Infobox manuscript
| name = Hunminjeongeum
| image = Hunminjeongum.jpg
| Date = October 9, 1446 {{nowrap|(government of Joseon)}}
| below = {{Infobox Korean name
|title=Modern spelling
|hangul=훈민정음
|hanja=訓民正音
|rr=Hunminjeongeum
|mr=Hunminjŏngŭm
|child=yes
|othername1=Original spelling
|hangul1={{Script|Kore|훈〮민져ᇰ〮ᅙᅳᆷ}}
|context=old
<!--|text=[[Yale romanization of Korean|Yale romanization of original spelling]]: Hwunmincyongqum-->
}}
| location = [[Gansong Art Museum]], [[Seoul]], South Korea
| Language(s) = 
| Place of origin = Seoul, [[Joseon]]
| Author(s) = {{plainlist|
* [[Sejong the Great]]
* Hall of Worthies
}}
| Contents = Introduction of the native Korean writing system [[Hangul]]
| Also known as = The Proper Sounds for the Instruction of the People
| Script = [[Classical Chinese]]
| Scribe(s) = [[Hall of Worthies]]
| caption = The first page of ''Hunminjeongeum Haeryebon'' written by {{nowrap|King [[Sejong the Great]]}}
}}

'''{{transliteration|ko|rr|Hunminjeongeum}}''' ({{Korean|hangul=훈민정음|hanja=訓民正音|lit='The Correct/Proper Sounds for the Instruction of the People'}}) is a 15th-century manuscript that introduced the Korean script [[Hangul]]. The name of the manuscript was also the original name of the script.

King [[Sejong the Great]] commissioned the royal research institute [[Hall of Worthies]] to write the ''Hunminjeongeum'' to describe the writing system he had invented in 1443. The manuscript was then published in 1446.<ref name="CHA" />

''Hunminjeongeum'' was intended to be a simpler alternative to the incumbent Chinese-based [[Hanja]], in order to promote literacy among the general populace. It originally included 28 letters, but over time, four of those (ㆆ, ㆁ, ㅿ, ·) were abandoned,<ref>{{Cite web |title=한글 |url=https://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Article/E0061508#section-19 |access-date=2024-02-17 |website=[[Encyclopedia of Korean Culture]] |language=ko}}</ref> leading to the current 24 letters of Hangul.

Sejong the Great also commissioned the creation of a companion explanatory manuscript entitled ''[[Hunminjeongeum Haerye]]''.<ref name="CHA" /> In 1940, a copy of the ''Hunminjeongeum Haerye'' was discovered in Andong, Gyeongsang Province.<ref name="CHA" /> An early copy of the document is in the [[Gansong Art Museum]] in [[Seoul]], South Korea.<ref name="CHA" /> In 1962, ''Hunminjeongeum Haerye'' was designated a [[National Treasure (South Korea)|National Treasure]] in South Korea<ref name="CHA" /> and was registered by UNESCO in the [[Memory of the World Programme]] in 1997.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hunminjeongum Manuscript |url=https://www.unesco.org/en/memory-world/hunminjeongum-manuscript |access-date=2023-08-02 |website=[[UNESCO]]}}</ref>

[[File:Gyeongbokgung(palace) Geunjeongjeon(hall).jpg|thumb|Geunjeongjeon Hall at [[Gyeongbokgung]], where [[Sejong the Great]] sat on the throne]]

==History==
Before Hangul, the Korean alphabet, was created, Chinese characters were used to transcribe Korean words through systems such as [[Idu script|''idu'']], ''[[hyangchal]]'' and ''[[gugyeol]]''.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.korean.go.kr/eng_hangeul/setting/001.html|title=알고 싶은 한글|website=[[National Institute of Korean Language]]|access-date=2020-04-28}}</ref> Since Chinese language and Korean language share few similarities, borrowing Chinese characters proved to be inefficient to reflect the spoken language.<ref name=":0" /> In addition, at the time when [[Sejong the Great]] was inventing Hangul the Ming dynasty had just come to power in China, which changed the pronunciation of Chinese characters, making it harder for Koreans to learn the new standard pronunciation to record their words.<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal|last=Lee|first=Sang Gyu|title=The World's Preeminent Writing System: Hangeul|url=https://issuu.com/the_korea_foundation/docs/2007_03_e_b_a|journal=Koreana |volume=21 |issue=3 |pages=8–15 |date=Autumn 2007}}</ref> The illiteracy level also stayed high since reading and learning Chinese characters was restricted among the ordinary people. They were generally used in official documents by the ruling class.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite journal |doi=10.1075/wll.00027.pae|title=More than an alphabet|year=2019|last1=Pae|first1=Hye K.|last2=Bae|first2=Sungbong|last3=Yi|first3=Kwangoh|journal=Written Language & Literacy|volume=22|issue=2|pages=223–246|s2cid=216548163}}</ref> The ruling class took advantage of this and learning the Chinese characters became a symbol of power and privilege.<ref name=":0" /> In order to make written language more accessible for common people, Sejong the Great started creating Hangul secretly, since the ruling class would be appalled by the news.<ref name=":0" />

[[Hangul]] was personally created by Sejong the Great, the fourth king of the Joseon dynasty, and revealed by him in 1443.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Kim-Renaud|first1=Young-Key|title=The Korean Alphabet: Its History and Structure|date=1997|publisher=University of Hawaii Press|isbn=9780824817237|page=15|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nonRl2cerIgC&pg=PA15|access-date=16 May 2018|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=알고 싶은 한글|url=http://www.korean.go.kr/hangeul/setting/002.html|website=[[National Institute of Korean Language]]|access-date=4 December 2017}}</ref><ref name="CHA">{{cite web |title=Hunminjeongeum Manuscript |url=http://english.cha.go.kr/cop/bbs/selectBoardArticle.do?ctgryLrcls=CTGRY168&nttId=57977&bbsId=BBSMSTR_1205&mn=EN_03_03 |website=[[Cultural Heritage Administration]] |publisher=[[Cultural Heritage Administration]] |access-date=28 February 2019}}</ref><ref name="Koreana">{{cite web|last1=Paik|first1=Syeung-gil|title=Preserving Korea's Documents: UNESCO's 'Memory of the World Register'|url=http://koreana.kf.or.kr/view.asp?article_id=664&lang=English|website=[[Koreana (magazine)|Koreana]]|publisher=The Korea Foundation |date=Winter 1997 |access-date=February 28, 2019|archive-date=August 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170809092445/http://koreana.kf.or.kr/view.asp?article_id=664&lang=English|url-status=dead}}</ref> Although it is widely assumed that Sejong the Great ordered the Hall of Worthies to invent Hangul, contemporary records such as the ''[[Veritable Records of the Joseon Dynasty|Veritable Records of King Sejong]]'' and [[Chŏng Inji]]'s preface to the ''[[Hunminjeongeum Haerye]]'' emphasize that he invented it himself.<ref name=":0" /> This is stated in Book 113 of The Annals of King Sejong (Sejongsillok) on the 9th month and the 28th year of reign of King Sejong and at the end of ''An Illustrated Explanation of Hunminjeongeum'' ({{transliteration|ko|rr|Hunminjeongeum Haeryebon}}; ''Hunminjeongeum Haerye'').<ref name=":1" /> Afterward, King Sejong wrote the preface to the ''Hunminjeongeum'', explaining the origin and purpose of Hangul and providing brief examples and explanations, and then tasked the Hall of Worthies to write detailed examples and explanations.<ref name="CHA" /> The head of the Hall of Worthies, [[Chŏng Inji]], was responsible for compiling the ''Hunminjeongeum''.<ref name="Koreana" /> The ''Hunminjeongeum'' was published and promulgated to the public in 1446.<ref name="CHA" /> The writing system is referred to as Hangul today but was originally named as ''Hunminjeongeum'' by King Sejong. "Hunmin" and "Jeongeum" are respective words that each indicate "to teach the people" and "proper sounds."<ref name=":1" /> Together ''Hunminjeongeum'' means "correct sounds for the instruction of the people."<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Lee|first= Ji-young|title=Hangeul|url=https://intl.ikorea.ac.kr:40666/korean/UserFiles/UKS1_Hangeul_eng.pdf|journal=The Understanding Korea Series |publisher=[[Academy of Korean Studies]] Press |date=December 2013 |url-status=unfit |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210309030136/https://intl.ikorea.ac.kr:40666/korean/UserFiles/UKS1_Hangeul_eng.pdf |archive-date= March 9, 2021 }}</ref>

==Versions and content==
[[File:Hunmin jeong-eum.jpg|thumb|Worinseokbo / Hunminjeongeum Eonhae]]
[[File:Hunmin Jeongeum.svg|thumb|Preface of Hunminjeongeum]]
There are three versions of ''Hunminjeongeum.''

* ''Hunminjeongeum Yeui:'' Hanja version (''Hunminjeongeum Sillok'' ({{Korean|hangul=세종실록|hanja=世宗實錄|lit=''The [[Sejong]] Chronicles''|labels=no}}) is classified as ''Hunminjeongeum Yeui.''<ref>{{Cite web |title=우리역사넷 |url=http://contents.history.go.kr/mobile/kc/view.do?levelId=kc_r300900&code=kc_age_30 |access-date=2024-02-17 |website=contents.history.go.kr}}</ref>) 
* ''[[Hunminjeongeum Haerye]]:'' An Illustrated Explanation of Hunminjeongeum (''Hunminjeongeum Yeui'' + explanation: Haerye)<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=훈민정음(訓民正音) |url=https://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Article/E0065805 |access-date=2024-02-17 |website=[[Encyclopedia of Korean Culture]] |language=ko}}</ref>
* ''Hunminjeongeum Eonhae:'' [[Hangul]] version of ''Hunminjeongeum Yeui''<ref>{{Cite web |title=훈민정음(訓民正音) |url=https://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Article/E0065806 |access-date=2024-02-17 |website=[[Encyclopedia of Korean Culture]] |language=ko}}</ref>

''Hunminjeongeum Yeui'' is written in [[Classical Chinese]]/[[Hanja]] and contains a preface, the alphabet letters'','' and brief descriptions of their corresponding sounds.<ref name=":2" /> The [[Classical Chinese]] (Hanja) of the ''Hunminjeongeum'' has been partly translated into [[Middle Korean]]. This translation is found together with {{transliteration|ko|rr|Worinseokbo}}: an annotated [[Buddhist]] scripture and is called the ''Hunminjeongeum Eonhae''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=보물 월인석보 권1~2 (月印釋譜 卷一~二) : 국가문화유산포털 - 문화재청 |url=https://www.heritage.go.kr/heri/cul/culSelectDetail.do?pageNo=1_1_1_0&ccbaKdcd=12&ccbaAsno=07450100&ccbaCtcd=11&ccbaCpno=1121107450100 |access-date=2024-02-17 |website=Heritage Portal : CULTURAL HERITAGE ADMINISTRATION |language=ko}}</ref>

The first paragraph of ''Hunminjeongeum Haerye'' reveals Sejong the Great's motivation for creating [[Hangul]]:<ref name=aks />

{| class="wikitable"
!System
!Text
|-
|Original [[Classical Chinese]]/''[[Hanja]]''<ref name="aks">{{Cite web |title=한국고전원문자료관 |url=https://kostma.aks.ac.kr/classic/gojunTextView.aspx?dataUCI=G002+CLA+KSM-WO.1446.0000-00000000.0002 |access-date=2024-02-17 |website=kostma.aks.ac.kr}}</ref>
|{{lang|lzh|國之語音<br>異乎中國<br>與文字不相流通<br>故愚民 有所欲言<br>而終不得伸其情者多矣<br>予爲此憫然<br>新制二十八字<br>欲使人人易習便於日用矣}}{{efn|In this last line, some digital transcriptions including the one by the [[Academy of Korean Studies]] replaces {{lang|lzh|矣}} with {{lang|lzh|耳}}.<ref name=aks />}}
|-
|[[Middle Korean]] pronunciation transliteration of Classical Chinese text{{Clarify|date=June 2024|reason=Which transliteration system is being used?}}
|Kwúyk ci ngě qum / Í hhwo tyung kwúyk / Yě mwun ccó pwúlq syang lyuw thwong / Kwó ngwu min wǔw swǒ ywók ngen / Zi cyung pwúlq túk sin kkuy ccyeng cyǎ ta ngǔy / Ye wúy chǒ mǐn zyen / Sin cyéy zí ssíp pálq ccó / Ywók sǒ zin zin í ssíp ppyen qe zílq ywóng zǐ.
|-
|''[[Hanja]]'' + ''[[Hangul]]''<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=StreamDocs |url=https://archives.hangeul.go.kr/streamdocs/view/sd;streamdocsId=hazUgqkO1LxHq53xlcm3PfTMJXfnOn_NmUbQe930Lhs |access-date=2024-02-17 |website=archives.hangeul.go.kr}}</ref>
|{{Script|Kore|國<sub>귁〮</sub>之<sub>징</sub>語<sub>ᅌᅥᆼ〯</sub>音<sub>ᅙᅳᆷ</sub>이〮 <br> 異<sub>잉〮</sub>乎<sub>ᅘᅩᆼ</sub>中<sub>듀ᇰ</sub>國<sub>귁〮</sub>ᄒᆞ〮야〮 <br> 與<sub>영〯</sub>文<sub>문</sub>字<sub>ᄍᆞᆼ〮</sub>로〮不<sub>부ᇙ〮</sub>相<sub>샤ᇰ</sub>流<sub>류ᇢ</sub>通<sub>토ᇰ</sub>ᄒᆞᆯᄊᆡ〮 <br> 故<sub>공〮</sub>로〮愚<sub>ᅌᅮᆼ</sub>民<sub>민</sub>이〮有<sub>우ᇢ〯</sub>所<sub>송〯</sub>欲<sub>욕〮</sub>言<sub>ᅌᅥᆫ</sub>ᄒᆞ〮야도〮 <br> 而<sub>ᅀᅵᆼ</sub>終<sub>쥬ᇰ</sub>不<sub>부ᇙ〮</sub>得<sub>득〮</sub>伸<sub>신</sub>其<sub>끵</sub>情<sub>쪄ᇰ</sub>者<sub>쟝〯</sub>ㅣ多<sub>당</sub>矣<sub>ᅌᅴᆼ〯</sub>라〮 <br> 予<sub>영</sub>ㅣ爲<sub>윙〮</sub>此<sub>ᄎᆞᆼ〯</sub>憫<sub>민〯</sub>然<sub>ᅀᅧᆫ</sub>ᄒᆞ〮야〮 <br> 新<sub>신</sub>制<sub>졩〮</sub>二<sub>ᅀᅵᆼ〮</sub>十<sub>씹〮</sub>八<sub>바ᇙ〮</sub>字<sub>ᄍᆞᆼ〮</sub>ᄒᆞ〮노니〮 <br> 欲<sub>욕〮</sub>使<sub>ᄉᆞᆼ〯</sub>人<sub>ᅀᅵᆫ</sub>人<sub>ᅀᅵᆫ</sub>ᄋᆞ〮로〮易<sub>잉〮</sub>習<sub>씹〮</sub>ᄒᆞ〮야〮便<sub>뼌</sub>於<sub>ᅙᅥᆼ</sub>日<sub>ᅀᅵᇙ〮</sub>用<sub>요ᇰ〮</sub>耳<sub>ᅀᅵᆼ〯</sub>니라〮}}
|-
|''Hanja'' + ''Hangul'' Transliteration
|Kwúyk ci ngě qum í / Í hhwo tyung kwúyk hó yá / Yě mwun ccó lwó pwúlq syang lyuw thwong hol ssóy / Kwó lwó ngwu min í wǔw swǒ ywók ngen hó ya twó / Zi cyung pwúlq túk sin kkuy ccyeng cyǎ y ta ngǔy lá / Ye y wúy chǒ mǐn zyen hó yá / Sin cyéy zí ssíp pálq ccó hó nwo ní / Ywók sǒ zin zin ó lwó í ssíp hó yá ppyen qe zílq ywóng zǐ ni lá.
|-
|Middle Korean<ref name=":3" />
|{{Script|Kore|나랏〮말〯ᄊᆞ미〮 <br> 中<sub>듀ᇰ</sub>國<sub>귁〮</sub>에〮달아〮 <br> 文<sub>문</sub>字<sub>ᄍᆞᆼ〮</sub>와〮로〮서르ᄉᆞᄆᆞᆺ디〮아니〮ᄒᆞᆯᄊᆡ〮 <br> 이〮런젼ᄎᆞ〮로〮어린〮百<sub>ᄇᆡᆨ〮</sub>姓<sub>셔ᇰ〮</sub>이〮니르고〮져〮호ᇙ〮배〮이셔〮도〮 <br> ᄆᆞᄎᆞᆷ〮내〯제ᄠᅳ〮들〮시러〮펴디〮몯〯ᄒᆞᇙ노〮미〮하니〮라〮 <br> 내〮이〮ᄅᆞᆯ〮爲<sub>윙〮</sub>ᄒᆞ〮야〮어〯엿비〮너겨〮 <br> 새〮로〮스〮믈〮여듧〮字<sub>ᄍᆞᆼ〮</sub>ᄅᆞᆯ〮ᄆᆡᇰᄀᆞ〮노니〮 <br> 사〯ᄅᆞᆷ마〯다〮ᄒᆡ〯ᅇᅧ〮수〯ᄫᅵ〮니겨〮날〮로〮ᄡᅮ〮메〮便<sub>뼌</sub>安<sub>ᅙᅡᆫ</sub>킈〮ᄒᆞ고〮져〮ᄒᆞᇙᄯᆞᄅᆞ미〮니라〮}}
|-
|Middle Korean transliteration
|Nalás mǎlssomí / Tyungkwúykéy talGá / Mwunccówálwó selu somostí aníholssóy / Ílen cyenchólwó elín póyksyéngí nilukwócyé hwólq páy isyétwó / Mochómnǎy cey ptútúl silé phyetí mwǒt holq nwómí hanílá / Náy ílól wúyhóyá ěyespí nekyé / Sáylwó súmúl yetúlp ccólól moyngkónwoní / Sǎlommǎtá hǒyGGyé swǔWí nikyé nállwó pswúméy ppyenqankhúy hokwócyé holq stolomínilá.
|-
|English translation
|{{blockquote|[Because] the spoken language of this country is different from that of China, it does not flow well with [Chinese] characters. Therefore, even if the ignorant want to communicate, many of them in the end cannot state their concerns. Saddened by this, I have [had] 28 letters newly made. It is my wish that all the people may easily learn these letters and that [they] be convenient for daily use.{{citation needed|date=August 2022}}}}
|}

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Wikisource|ko:훈민정음}}
{{Wiktionary}}

*
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20051014020418/http://www.hangul.or.kr/M2-4-1.htm Scanned copy of the Eonhae]
* [https://heritage.unesco.or.kr/%E3%80%8E%ED%9B%88%EB%AF%BC%EC%A0%95%EC%9D%8C%ED%95%B4%EB%A1%80%EB%B3%B8%E3%80%8F/?ckattempt=1 UNESCO] provides the photos of the book
* [[Memory of the World Programme]]
* [[Memory of the World Register – Asia and the Pacific]]
* [[List of Memory of the World Register in South Korea]]
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1446 books]]
[[Category:15th century in Korea]]
[[Category:1446 in Asia]]
[[Category:Hangul]]
[[Category:Works by Joseon people]]
[[Category:National Treasures of South Korea]]
[[Category:Manuscripts]]
[[Category:Memory of the World Register]]