Muyedobothongji, compiled in 1790, is one of the representative books of martial arts in which 24 kinds of martial arts are illustrated and explained.

  The book is consisted of 5 volumes of Thongji and 1 volume of Thongbo and it was compiled by Ri Dok Mu(1741-1793) and Pak Je Ga(1750-1805), censors of Kyujang Hall (state archives), who were the famous historians and writers of those days, Paek Tong Su, an officer of Jangyongyong (military barrack), and others. It is assumed from the painting style that the vivid illustrations of martial art movements were drawn by Kim Hong Do, the famous painter of those days.

  In 16^th century, before the publication of this manual, Han Kyo synthesized 6 kinds of martial arts which were popular then and compiled the book Muyebo.  Afterwards, in the middle of 18^th century, a book of the 18 kinds of martial arts was published in which 12 kinds of martial art movements were newly added. Later, 6 kinds of martial art movements were added again and it developed into 24 kinds of martial art movements and the martial art movements of the Middle Ages came to perfection. Muyedobothongji is the book which synthesized and compiled it.

  This book acquired its value by synthesizing and compiling the martial arts which continued to develop in the period of the feudal Joson dynasty.

  An important feature of the book is that it gives explanations of the martial art movements with illustrations. There are illustrations for individual movements and there is a full score of series of illustrations classified by the name of the movements. Thus, one can perform the series of martial art movements with this manual just like singing with a musical score. This shows the novel idea and the wisdom of our forefathers which we can be proud of.

  Muyedobothongji is a precious cultural heritage that was published for several times and distributed as a training manual of martial arts in the army in the period of the feudal Joson dynasty. This manual is preserved at the Grand People’s Study House.