KOREAN PRINTING WOODBLOCKS

Production Cost of Woodblocks

The two biggest factors influencing the cost of manufacturing woodblocks are labor costs and material costs.

1. Labor costs

The largest share of the labor cost was to pay the engravers, which accounted for one-third of the total labor cost. This was followed by the wages of the printers. Fees for making corrections were also included.

2. Material costs

The material costs included: cost of the wood, delivery charges, cauldrons for boiling the boards, salt, engraving tools, end pieces, food for all involved, and extra expenses for tobacco and liquor. However, paper accounted for the largest portion of the material costs. The costs of constructing a jangpangak, often constructed when woodblock production began or ended, must also be factored in.

3. Cost procurement

A study was conducted on the production process for Master Seongjae’s Collection of Works, written by Heojeon. The work to produce the woodblocks for this collection began in 1889 and was completed in 1891. According to this research, a total of 632 boards were used to produce 17 volumes and cost approximately 8,500 ‘ryang.’ As a cow cost 51 ryang at that time, the cost was equivalent to buying 166 cows. Though an exact comparison is not possible, a cow weighing 400 kilograms costs 5 million won in 2013, therefore, engraving and printing one woodblock would cost 1.35 million won today, and 850 million won would be needed for the whole project.
The late Joseon society was not very affluent. Hence, it seems that the enormous cost necessary for manufacturing the woodblocks was an immense burden individually at a personal or clan level. In reality, the vast costs hampered the continuous manufacturing of woodblocks from time to time. In other words, the economic issues had to be addressed from the very beginning to continue manufacturing the woodblocks. Therefore, financial support from relatives, associated scholars and colleagues was great, not to mention the contributions from the sponsoring clan. In order to procure funds, circulars were issued, or certain amounts were allocated to associated academies or clans. When the author had written personal articles at the request of individuals and clans, those who asked for such writings were requested to pay for the costs needed to publish the author’s collection regardless of locations and periods.The woodblocks published with donated funds were not owned by an individual or clan but by the entire local community. Based on this concept, all the communities participated in their preservation and management.

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