Abstract

This paper analyzed translational differences among different versions of Hyogyŏng ŏnhae, and studied their characteristics by a comparative method. Different versions analyzed in this paper are as follows: a version printed in 1590, a version printed in 1666, different versions of Kyujangkak’s collection, a version of the National Library’s collection. Two printed versions, i.e. a version printed in 1590 and a version printed in 1666, has been studied, so they are known to show Middle Korean and Modern Korean respectively. However, two other versions, i.e. different versions of Kyujangkak’s collection and a version of the National Library’s collection, has been rarely studied until now. In addition, no comparative research on these four different versions has been done. In orthography and phonology, but a version of the National Library’s collection is different from other three versions. In kukyel, grammar, and lexicography, a version printed in 1590 is different from other three versions. From these findings, one conclusion is that changes of translation started from a version printed in 1666, and two thereafter versions, i.e. different versions of Kyujangkak’s collection and a version of the National Library’s collection, followed those changes. Another conclusion is that unlike different versions of Kyujangkak’s collection, a version of the National Library’s collection shows language aspects of late 19th century, in which it was assumed to be written.