Memory of the World
Comprehensive Illustrated Manual of Martial arts
Mu Ye Do Bo Tong Ji preserved in the Grand Peoples Study House is a collection of comprehensive martial arts books which summarizes precious traditional military art inherited in Korea and in East Asia The books were designated as a national treasure when they were first printed in 1790 since it was compiled by the order of the King who personally prefaced it This wood block printed book has 4 volumes altogether where comprehensive martial arts movements such as fencing boxing spearmanship and cudgelling are described It has clear illustrations of every movement of not only Korean traditional martial arts but also those of neighbouring countries Korean traditional martial arts were created during the period of Kojoson the first ancient country founded in the early 30th century BC by Tangun Koguryo dynasty 277BC~AD668 was the strongest country in the middle Korean history which encouraged traditional martial arts like horse riding and archery inherited from the olden times Mu Ye Do Bo Tong Ji printed on April 1790 is a comprehensive martial arts book that explains with respective illustrations the Korean traditional martial arts which became the origin of Taekwondo the international martial arts of today Its name Mu Ye Do Bo Tong Ji means a manual of martial arts with illustrations The books were compiled by the order of King Jongjo 17771800 the 22nd King of Korean Feudal dynasty and were also prefaced by him They explain various kinds of military arts such as fencing spearmanship cudgelling horse riding and boxing with respective illustrations Most of the fighting methods in the books are based on the Korean traditional martial arts but they are also combined with Chinese and Japanese which constitutes the basis of the East Asian martial arts
Democratic People's Republic of Korea -