Vernacular Explanations of the Comprehensive Illustrated Manual of Martial Arts (Muye dobo tongji eonhae)

The Comprehensive Illustrated Manual of Martial Arts (hereafter Illustrated Manual) is a text on martial arts compiled by Yi Dongmu (李德懋), Park Jega(朴齊家), Baek Dongsu (白東脩) and others in 1790. In fact, this is an expanded edition combining a 1598 text by Han Kyo (韓嶠), the Martial Arts Illustrations (Muye chebo 武藝諸譜), and a 1759 text New Martial Arts Illustration (Muye sinbo 武藝新譜). The Martial Arts Illustrations contained six sets of skills (gi 技), and the following enlarged edition, New Martial Arts Illustration, contained eighteen sets. The Illustrated Manual presents an additional six sets, or a total of twenty-four sets. For the explanatory remarks and the main text of the Illustrated Manual, each Hanja are accompanied by a vernacular transcription, showing the intended pronunciation of that time. Thus, this source is also invaluable for linguistic studies.