Censorship and autocensorship: Some considerations on the editorial history of the Parhaego

Abstract

In this article, we have examined some aspects of the editing of the Parhaego (Reflections on Parhae). First of all, we have tried to contextualize the work within the panorama of late Chosŏn historiography. In this sense, we have remarked that the work is part of a gradual reshaping of the story of Parhae, rearticulated within the narrative of Chosŏn history. Yu Tŭkkong’s major contribution was not to revolutionize the historical narrative of Korea nor the perception of the Parhae kingdom, but rather to collect all the sources then available for reconstructing the history of the kingdom, enjoying his privileged position within the Kyujanggak (the Royal Library). In considering this, we have observed that despite the apparent liberalism of the Chŏngjo reign, publishing and scholarship were actually under strict surveillance. During this period, the king imposed a ban on the import of books from the Qing Empire and also forced several scholars to correct their literary style. Amid this climate of control and censorship, the editing of the Parhaego took place－a work that had a rather unusual and troubled genesis, being subjected to numerous alterations and corrections since its publication in 1784. Reconstructing the genesis of this book, albeit only partially, may also provide a starting point for further reflections on authorship during this crucial phase of the Chosŏn period, when the book was exposed to possible corrections, rewritings, and expansions, even without the full consent of the original author. This process is particularly evident in the Parhaego, which was not merely historical work, but also highly political as a manifesto giving voice to the policy of reconquering the Northern Territories that was in vogue in those years.