A revised and expanded English edition of "Jingbirok," a Joseon-era chronicle of Japan's invasions of Korea in the late 16th century, has been published, offering an account of the war and its lessons by Ryu Song-nyong (1542-1607), a prominent scholar-official who reflected on the failures that led to the conflict.
The new edition was revised and expanded by Choi Byong-hyon, a former professor at Honam University, more than 20 years after he published the first English translation, titled "The Book of Corrections," through the Institute of East Asian Studies at the University of California, Berkeley, in 2002.
Ryu, who served as chief state councilor during the Japanese invasions of 1592-98, wrote "Jingbirok" to document the causes and course of the war. After the conflict ended, he returned to his hometown of Andong, North Gyeongsang Province, where he recorded his own experiences and accounts from others who had taken part in the fighting.
The book is considered an important historical source on the invasions, alongside "Nanjung Ilgi," the wartime diary of Adm. Yi Sun-sin (1545-1598).
Ryu wrote that he intended the book to help ensure that "such a misfortune would never happen again."
The expanded edition includes a new translation of "Nokhu japgi," a collection of notes Ryu used as source material for "Jingbirok." It also includes a chronology of events related to the book and a timeline of Ryu's life, giving readers a broader understanding of the war and the circumstances in which he wrote his account.
The English title has also been changed from "The Book of Corrections" to "Reprimands and Admonitions" to better convey the work's themes of reflection, remorse and warnings to future generations, Choi said.
"Every war is fought twice: once on the battlefield and once in memory," Choi said, explaining the historical significance of "Jingbirok."
"While Adm. Yi Sun-sin fought on the ground, Ryu waged the war in memory, reinterpreting a tragic chapter of history and leaving lessons for future generations."
Choi said he hoped the new edition would also encourage readers to take a closer look at Ryu's contributions, including his role in recommending Yi for military command.
"Without Ryu's recommendation, would Yi have become the national hero he is today?" Choi said. "I hope this book will provide an opportunity to think more deeply about Ryu's contributions."
hwangdh@heraldcorp.com