Le Lettere di Na Singŏl e le pratiche di scrittura della Corea del XV secolo

The Letters of Na Singŏl and the Writing Practices of 15th -Century Korea. This contribution examines two recently discovered vernacular Korean epistles penned around 1490 by Na Singŏl (나신걸, RR: Na Shin-geol, 1461-1524) to his wife. These letters, designated a National Treasure of Korea in 2023, compel a re-evaluation of the early diffusion and employ of the Korean alphabet. Through an analysis of translated excerpts, this study situates Na’s correspondence within the scriptorial practices of 15th-century Korea, highlighting its significance as the earliest extant example of vernacular letter writing. The content reveals intimate details of familial concerns, household management, and the emotional landscape of an official separated from his family. This analysis underscores the letters’ value as historical and linguistic documents, suggesting a more rapid and geographically widespread adoption of the new alphabet for personal communication than previously understood, involving both male and female correspondents shortly after the script’s promulgation.