The Asami Library: A Descriptive Catalogue

The Asami Library catalogue documents an extraordinary collection of Korean printed books, manuscripts, maps, and rubbings acquired by the East Asiatic Library of the University of California in 1950. Compiled by Chaoying Fang, this catalogue highlights the Asami collection’s unparalleled contribution to Korean studies in the United States. Assembled by Asami Rintarō, a Japanese legal scholar and bibliophile active in Seoul during the early 20th century, the collection comprises over 900 titles in approximately 4,000 fascicles and sheets. Notably, a significant portion of these documents pertain to law and governance, offering a rare glimpse into historical administrative practices. Additionally, the collection includes unique examples of Korean movable-type printing from the 17th to 19th centuries, representing a specialized art form and reflecting the scarcity of such publications due to their limited production runs.

Fang's meticulous effort, guided by scholarly expertise and enriched by consultations with prominent figures in Korean studies, produced a comprehensive descriptive catalogue. The compilation process involved applying standardized bibliographic methods and frequent reference to foundational works such as Chosen tosho kaidai and Kosen sappu. Fang’s work, further refined during his revisitation of the Asami materials in 1967, benefited from collaborative input and extensive examination of the collection’s rubbings and printed texts. The catalogue not only serves as a vital research tool but also underscores the intellectual and cultural significance of the Asami collection, ensuring its legacy as a cornerstone of Korean studies in the West.

This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press’s mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1969.