Overview
The Mongeō Ruikai (蒙語類解, 몽어유해) is a trilingual Chinese-Korean-Mongolian glossary compiled by the Sayŏgwŏn (司訳院, Office of Interpreters) of the Chosŏn Dynasty. A revised edition by Yi Ŏksŏng was published in 1768 (44th year of King Yŏngjo), and the extant Kyujanggak edition represents a second revision by Pang Hyoŏn in 1790 (14th year of King Chŏngjo). The glossary contains a total of 5,317 lexical entries, with Mongolian transcribed in Hangeul (Korean script)—its most distinctive feature.
This dictionary is the only source that records the phonology of 18th-century literary Mongolian. Because Hangeul is an excellent phonetic writing system, it accurately reproduces the actual pronunciation of contemporary Mongolian (particularly colloquial forms influenced by Khalkha Mongolian). This enables scholars to track the linguistic changes during the transition from Middle Mongolian to the modern period.
Today, it remains a fundamental resource for comparative linguistics, lexicographic history, and East Asian studies, demonstrating the multilingual context of East Asia and the realities of language contact during the Qing period.
Basic Information:
- Full Title: Mongeō Ruikai (蒙語類解, 몽어유해)
- Compiling Institution: Sayŏgwŏn (司訳院, Office of Interpreters)
- Original Edition: Unknown (estimated late 17th to early 18th century)
- Revisions: 1768 (Yi Ŏksŏng revision), 1790 (Pang Hyoŏn second revision)
- Languages: Chinese-Korean-Mongolian (Hangeul transcription)
- Lexical Entries: 5,317 items (Vol. 1: 1,916; Vol. 2: 1,926; Supplement: 1,475)
- Extant Manuscripts: Kyujanggak (Seoul National University), Tokyo University of Foreign Studies Library
Historical Background
Chosŏn and the Mongols
From its founding, the Chosŏn Dynasty regarded Mongolian resurgence with vigilance and prioritized Mongolian language education. This policy stemmed from Koryŏ’s historical experience under Mongol rule. After the founding of the Qing Dynasty in 1644, vigilance toward the Mongols intensified.
Immediately after the Pyŏngja Horan (丙子胡乱, Manchu invasion of 1636-1637) ended in 1637, Qing general Longguoda received reports that “Mongolian soldiers were still in the capital, injuring people and looting,” and immediately expelled them from the city. This incident symbolizes Chosŏn’s need for Mongolian language competence.
Sayŏgwŏn and the “Three Mongolian Studies Texts”
The Sayŏgwŏn was a state institution responsible for foreign language education and interpreter training. Mongeō Ruikai was one of the “Three Mongolian Studies Texts” (蒙学三書), along with:
- Mongeō Nogeoldae (蒙語老乞大) – Conversational Mongolian textbook
- Cheophae Mongeō (捷解蒙語) – Mongolian primer with translations
- Mongeō Ruikai (蒙語類解) – Classified vocabulary dictionary
Content and Structure
Overall Structure
The work comprises four parts:
Volume 1 (상권): 27 categories including astronomy, seasons, geography; 1,916 entries
Volume 2 (하권): 27 categories including agriculture, grains, vegetables; 1,926 entries
Supplement (보편): 48 categories including astronomy supplement, seasons supplement; 1,475 entries
Glossary Notes (어록해): Brief explanatory notes at the end
Ozawa Shigeo estimates that including phrasal entries in the supplement, the total vocabulary exceeds 5,500 items.
Classification System
Vocabulary is arranged by semantic categories: astronomy, geography, human body, kinship, time, animals and plants, clothing, weapons, etc. This classification system is shared with 13th-14th century multilingual dictionaries. The arrangement shows remarkable similarity to the Ming Zhiyuan Yiyu and the Ilkhanid Ibn Muhannā glossary.
Linguistic Value
Significance of Hangeul Transcription
The defining feature of Mongeō Ruikai is its transcription of Mongolian in Hangeul.
Phonological Precision
Because Hangeul is an excellent phonetic writing system, it records with high accuracy the actual pronunciation of 18th-19th century Mongolian (particularly colloquial forms influenced by Khalkha Mongolian). For example, phonemic distinctions not marked in Mongolian script are clearly indicated in Hangeul transcription.
Transcription Methodology
The transcription is based on the Hangeul system from Sibi Jadumun (十二字頭文), with reference to Manchu-Mongolian dictionary transcription methods. To follow Mongolian orthographic conventions, additional notation marks were applied to certain entries.
Value as Linguistic Data
The text shows features similar to other 17th-18th century sources and is the only resource for tracking linguistic changes during the transition from Middle Mongolian to the modern period.
Contribution to Comparative Linguistics
The dictionary is important not only for Mongolian studies but also for research on Korean and Chinese. The trilingual format reveals the realities of language contact and interpretation systems in East Asia.
Extant Manuscripts and Collections
Extant Manuscripts
Only two copies of Mongeō Ruikai survive:
Kyujanggak Library (규장각) – Seoul National University Kyujanggak Institute for Korean Studies (1790 edition)
Tokyo University of Foreign Studies Library – Japan collection
The Kyujanggak and Tokyo editions are believed to be copies of the same edition (showing identical omissions and unclear passages).
Facsimile Publications
- 1971 – Seoul National University Press (Kyujanggak edition facsimile)
- 1986 – Daejaegak (대제각)
- 1995 – Hongmungak (홍문각)
- 2006 – Seoul National University Kyujanggak Institute, “Kyujanggak Materials Series: Linguistics Vol. 8” (with Cheophae Mongeō)
Digital Access
Free Access Resources:
Wikimedia Commons: Scanned PDF of Mongeō Ruikai Vol. 1 freely available
- File ID: CNTS-00047689265_2_蒙語類解.pdf
- Direct URL: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:CNTS-00047689265_2_蒙語類解.pdf
Academic Institution Databases:
- Kyujanggak Original Text Search Service: https://kyudb.snu.ac.kr/
Sayŏgwŏn Glossary Series
Mongeō Ruikai is part of a multilingual dictionary series compiled by the Sayŏgwŏn:
- Yŏgŏ Ruihae (訳語類解) – Chinese language study
- Tongmun Ruihae (同文類解) – Manchu language study
- Mongeō Ruikai (蒙語類解) – Mongolian language study
- Waeo Ruihae (倭語類解) – Japanese language study
This series demonstrates Chosŏn’s systematic foreign language education policy.
Academic Significance
- 18th-century Mongolian Phonology – Unique Hangeul phonetic record enabling reconstruction of colloquial pronunciation
- Middle to Modern Mongolian Transition – Critical evidence of linguistic change processes
- East Asian Multilingual Context – Reveals language contact and interpretation systems during the Qing period
- Comparative Linguistics – Foundational resource for contrastive studies with Manchu, Chinese, and Korean
- Lexicographic History – Development of vocabulary classification and dictionary compilation techniques in East Asia
Comparison: Contemporary Multilingual Mongolian Sources
| Source | Date | Region | Script System | Language Combination |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leiden MS | 1343 | Islamic world | Arabic script | Mongol-Persian-Arabic |
| Georgian Chronicles | 14th c. | Caucasus | Georgian script | Mongolian in Georgian |
| Mongeō Ruikai | 1768 | Korean Peninsula | Hangeul | Chinese-Korean-Mongolian |
| Hua-Yi Yiyu | 1382 | China (Ming) | Chinese characters | Chinese-Mongolian |
Research Literature
Japanese-Language Studies
- Ozawa Shigeo, “Mongolian Dictionaries,” in Sekai no Jisho (Dictionaries of the World), Kenkyusha, 1992
Korean-Language Studies
- Han’guk Minjok Munhwa Daebaekkwa Sajeon (Encyclopedia of Korean Culture), “Mongeō Ruikai (蒙語類解)”
- Daoruna (2023). “Supplementary Discussion on the Phonological Features of Mongolian in Mongeō Ruikai,” Mongol Studies 64, Korean Association for Mongol Studies
Related Articles
- Hua-Yi Yiyu – Ming Dynasty Chinese-Mongolian glossary
- Beilu Yiyu – 16th-century Mongolian-Chinese glossary
- Sayŏgwŏn – Chosŏn interpreter training institution
- East Asian Multilingual Dictionary Tradition – Yuan-Ming-Qing glossary compilation
Last Updated: November 28, 2025
Author: Itako (itako999.com)
This article is part of the linguistics content at itako999.com/linguistics/