This study examines the Geumgangsan Mountain Travelogue Literature and Painting of the Group of Namin (南人) Calligraphers and Painters in the Vicinity of Capital Seoul, which in the period spanning from the second half of the 17th century to the first half of the 18th century, consisted of such as Yi Hajin (1628-1682), Yi Seo (1662-1723), Yun Duseo (1668-1715), Yi Manbu (1664-1732), and Yun Deokhui (1685-1766). It also examines the significance of the art history of Yun Deokhui’s Geumgangyusangrok (金剛遊賞錄), which I have recently discovered in the ancient Nogudang Residence in Haenam (海南 綠雨堂).
Travel literature and “true view” landscape paintings are known to have been led and enjoyed exclusively by the so-called Baegaksadan (白岳詞壇) group which was made up of the Kim Changhyeop (1651-1708) and Kim Changheup (1653-1722) brothers and other literati. But the Namin Calligraphers and Painters Group in the Vicinity of Capital Seoul, likewise enjoyed traveling around Geumgangsan Mountain, and played a leading part in the Geumgangsan Mountain Travelogue Literature and Painting.
Seven years earlier than Kim Changhyeop, in 1664, Yi Hajin authored Geumgandorogi (金剛途路記). Subsequently, influenced by him, his son named Yi Seo, Yi Seo’s close friend Yi Manbu, and Yi Seo’s follower Yun Deokhui, among other literati, endeavored to travel around Geumgangsan Mountain and write travelogues.
The Namin Calligraphers and Painters Group in the Vicinity of Capital Seoul, pioneered new painting trends in the second half period of Joseon such as Donggukjinche (東國眞體), genre paintings, western painting style, and the Southern school literati painting style. Likewise, this group pioneered a new arts culture centered on the Painting of Geumgangsan Mountain, ahead of the Baegaksadan group. In 1700, Yi Seo traveled around Geumgangsan Mountain, and crafted the Painting of Geumgangsan Mountain, the earliest work of the Namin Calligraphers and Painters Group in the Vicinity of Capital Seoul, which was produced eleven years earlier than the Painting Album of the Autumnal Scenery of Geumgangsan Mountain (楓嶽圖帖) painted in 1711 by Jeong Seon (1676-1759). Yi Seo both wrote travelogue and crafted painting of Geumgangsan Mountain, and attempted a new painting style of a complete view of the sea and mountains which featured Geumgangsan Mountain and the Gwandong area (eastern parts of Korea). His paintings were collected and enjoyed by Yun Duseo, and were commented by Yi Manbu. Given all of these, a new artistic trend centered on Yi Seo’s painting of Geumgangsan Mountain.
Collected in the ancient Nogudang Residence, Yun Deokhui’s Geumgangyusangrok concerns a travel diary about his 35-day trip of Geumgangsan Mountain, Gwandong area, and Seoraksan Mountain from March 22 to April 27 in 1747 - the 23rd year of the reign of King Yeongjo - at his age of 63. This 57-page book is a valuable material to research into the literati painter’s journey of Geumgangsan Mountain in the second half period of Joseon. In this book, Yun Deok-hui said that he sketched Geumgangsan Mountain seen from the Sanyeongnu Pavilion of Jangansa Temple, and Geumgangsan Mountain seen from Heolseongnu Pavilion of Jeongyangsa Temple, which suggested that he also painted Geumgangsan Mountain when Jeong Seon was active as a painter. Yun Deok-hui’s Paintings of Geumgangsan Mountain, which currently exist only in records, are regarded as one of literati painter’s relatively early paintings of Geumgangsan Mountain in the second half period of Joseon along with the works of Yi Seo, Jeong Seon and Heo Pil (1709-1768). This work was based on his theory of “true view” (眞景觀) which he established at age of 25 (1706), and by which painters should the true images of sceneries. According to extant historical records, for thefirst time, the term, “true view” (眞景), was used by Yun Deokhui in 1706, and it emerged in association with the “true view” landscapes which were actively painted in the 18th century, drawing attention. In his travelogue, Yun Deokhui significantly handled the custom of traveling around Geumgangsan Mountain, confirming that he was a genre picture painter. Not only his records of Geumgangsan Mountain, but also calligraphical works of his cousin Yun Sun, Yi Hwon (1708-?), and other literati provide valuable materials in the history of calligraphy.
Therefore, it cannot be argued that the representative artistic trend at that time - travel literature about Geumgangsan Mountain and true view landscapes painting- was created exclusively by the Baegaksadan group led by the Kim Changhyeop and Kim Changheup brothers and other literati. But it is deemed that the Namin Calligraphers and Painters Group in the Vicinity of Capital Seoul also shared this culture and led the development of the 18th century true view landscape paintings.