As a book composed of a series of books that was compiled within a short period of nine months, 《Dongguk Munheon Bigo 東國文獻備考》 is a book that provides an overall summary of rules, decorum and music, and cultural systems of Korea in 1770 (46th year of King Yeongjo) upon the order of King Yeongjo.
This is a product focusing on the restructuring of systems and culture at the national level in consideration of a compilation of nationwide knowledge by King Yeongjo. Concerning 「Akgo 樂考」 to be reviewed by this paper, it involves 13 volumes, which is not a small portion among the total of 100 volumes of the 《Dongguk Munheon Bigo》, and it is the third largest in number of volumes following 「Yeojigo」 and 「Yego 禮考」. This is represented both by 「Akgo」 and 「Yego」 out of the 《Dongguk Munheon Bigo》, which implies that it is very important.
《Dongguk Munheon Bigo》, which was first completed during the period of King Yeongjo, was modified and complemented throughout later periods of King Jeongjo, King Sunjo, and King Gojong. Thus, it was ultimately completed by the publishing of the 《Jeungbo Munheon Bigo 增補文獻備考》, which is nearly equivalent to 50 books of 250 volumes, in 1908 (Yungheui 2). As such, there was consistent modification and addition and complementation during every important period from the 18th century, and it is meaningful as a book that is poised in a crucial position that has been referred to whenever there was any national issue.
「Akgo」 in the 《Dongguk Munheon Bigo》 is meaningful as a previous case books that reveals the compilation method of knowledge about music, which was led by the government during a period in which the most reasonable compilation method for keeping knowledge was being seriously considered throughout studies in 18th century Joseon society. Accordingly, the meaning and contents of compilation and compilation method of s「Akgo」 in the 《Dongguk Munheon Bigo》 are a very important guide in terms of academic history, and it is meaningful as a book that discloses the compilation method of knowledge.
Regarding the characteristics of 「Akgo」, it compiled comprehensively knowledge about 18th century Joseon music by intensively collecting the most key discussions in the field of music during the times up to the period of King Yeongjo. Also, it shows the depth of thinking about the classification method for reasonable compilation. In addition, in recognition of the nature of the book, it was organized in a different way from that of existing music books. In classifying the fields included by 「Akgo」, again in the area of music studies, they may be classified into music theory, music history, musical instrument studies, orchestration, musical words, dance and costumes, musicians, traditional music and foreign music, and words and music. All of these fields have led to the research area of contemporary Korean musicology, which informs that research into Korean music studies has been continuous because all of the major fields of music studies were proposed already in the 18th century.