It is impossible to dispute the fact that China has had an enormous influence on the culture of the entire Korean Peninsula. The writing system, the thoughts of Chinese philosophers, paper, the xylography method and the idea of a movable type – all this came to the peninsula long before the founding of the Joseon State.
China was not only the overlord of Joseon, but also a kind of cultural donor. Of course, under such conditions, the Joseon authorities considered contacts with this region as the most important area of foreign policy and trade. In addition, a significant part of various kinds of literature — from Confucian writings to treatises on medicine was acquired in China for further circulation in Joseon.
Due to the constant need for official and commercial communication between states, it was impossible to go without knowledge of a spoken language. For this purpose, the textbook titled “Nogeoldae” (lit. “Elder brother from China”) was created. Using the Goryeo merchant’s trip to China (in later editions this became the Joseon merchant) as the key example, the main situations accompanying such trips were examined in the form of dialogues. With the help of this manual it was possible to learn the phrases necessary for communication in the courtyard, conducting trade negotiations, participating in banquets, communicating with a doctor, and so on. The exceptional practical benefit ensured that this manual underwent several systematic reprints, as well as translation into Manchurian, Mongolian and Japanese languages.
“Nogeoldae” is a unique written source on the history of the development of both the northern dialect of the Chinese language and Korean in the late Middle Ages and Early Modern times.
Features and Significance of the “Nogeoldae” Textbook about the Spoken Chinese Language of the Joseon Era
