Books Published by the RAS-KB

In recent decades the RAS-KB has published nearly 30 volumes. These have mostly been scholarly studies of some aspect of Korean history, culture or society. New publication proposals are welcomed.

NOTE: See the updated list (with updated prices!) HERE.

Bands, Songs, and Shamanistic Rituals. Keith Howard, RAS-KB, 1989. Softbound. 295 pp.

Describes the folk music performed by the rural people of Chindo, an island off the southwest coast of Korea; full of examples of the music and words of farmers' band music, work songs, death songs, and shaman songs. Descriptions of the people who perform them. $20

Catholic Church in Korea: Its Origins 1566-1784, The. Juan Ruiz de Medina, SJ. English trans. by John Bridges SJ, RAS-KB, 1994. Hardbound. 380 pp. ISBN 978-89-93699-06-7

A concise work rich in new information collected from unedited documents found in five European libraries, about the history of the Korean Catholic Church before the time of its officially recognized foundation in 1784. $25

Challenged Identities:North American Missionaries in Korea 1884-1934. Elizabeth Underwood, RAS-KB, 2004. Hardbound, 326 pp.ISBN 978-89-954424-0-1

A fascinating look into the lives of the first Protestant missionaries to Korea: the challenges they faced in their lives, from overcoming culture shock and learning the language to raising a family and building a house; and the challenges they faced in the Christian work that they did, challenges that shaped their identities, their policies, and indeed their beliefs in the land of Korea more than a century ago. KW33,000

Changing Korean Village, The. Pat Ki-hyuk with Sidney Gamble, RAS-KB, 1975. Hardbound. 222 pp.

Economic and social life of three representative clan villages. Field research was conducted in 1961-2 before the impact of rural modernization. $25

Confucian Gentlemen and Barbarian Envoys: The Opening of Korea, 1875-1885. Martina Deuchler. RAS-KB and U of Washington p, 1977. Hardbound. 310 pp. ISBN 978-89-93699-05-0

The only thoroughgoing study of the opening of Korea after centuries as the "Hermit Kingdom": discusses the rivalries among China, Japan, and Russia and the problems of the traditional Confucian scholar-bureaucrats trying to cope with their rapidly changing world. $25

Discovering Seoul: An Historical Guide. Donald N. Clark & James H. Grayson. RAS-KB, 1986. Softbound. illustrated, with maps. 358 pp. ISBN 978-89-93699-04-3

This detailed guidebook written by two authors who have had long experience living in the city, describes the historical monuments and sites in Seoul, grouped by neighborhoods for easy location. It includes maps, references to the subway system, diagrams and color photographs, with explanations of the history and significance of each site. There is also a Chinese-character glossary and index. $6

Dutch Come to Korea, The. Gari Ledyard, RAS-KB, 1971. Softbound. 231 pp.

The absorbing story of the shipwreck of a Dutch vessel in the mid-seventeenth century and of the adventures of the crew during thirteen years of captivity in the Hermit Kingdom. Dr. Ledyard examines earlier translations of the original Dutch manuscript and adds important corrections and commentary. $25

Early Encounters with the United States and Japan: Six Essays on Late Nineteenth-Century Korea. Lew, Young-Ick, RAS-KB, 2007. Hardback and Softbound. 249 pp. ISBN 978-89-954424-8-7

The book consists of six essays on late 19th century Korean history. All of them were originally prepared and presented as conference papers or keynote speeches at major conferences held in Korea and the US. They deal with Korea’s relations with the US and Japan mainly between 1882, when the Jeoson Kingdom signed its first modern treaty with the United States, and 1905 when the same kingdom called the Daehan (Great Han) Empire from 1987, degenerated into a protectorate of Japan. $30

Encounters: The New Religions of Korea and Christianity. General editors: Kim Sung-hae and James Heisig. RAS-KB, 2008. Softbound. 191 pp. ISBN 978-89-954424-9-4

This book has chapters describing the origins, faith and practice of the three main 'new' religions of Korea, Cheondo-gyo, Daejong-gyo and Won-Buddhism, written by members of each, as well as general chapters considering them from a sociological viewpoint, and a Christian perspective. The book ends with a transcript of an open exchange between senior members of the religions. KW28,000.

Essays on Korean Traditional Music. Lee Hye-ku, trans. by Robert C. Provine, RAS-KB, 1980. Softbound. 278 pp. ISBN 978-89-93699-03-6

The only Korean musicologist of international repute. Dr. Lee Hye-Ku has struggled over the past few decades to keep Korean traditional music from being swallowed up in the tide of Westernization. Until now, apart from a few translated articles, his work has been accessible only to Korean speakers. A definitive text on Korean traditional music in English. $20

Hamel's Journal and a Description of the Kingdom of Korea, 1653-1666. Hendrik Hamel, English translation by Jean-Paul Buys, RAS-KB, 1998. Softbound. 107 pp. ISBN 89-7225-086-4

The first Western account of Korea is the glory of a group of sailors shipwrecked on Cheju-do. Some thirteen years later, after escaping to Japan, Hamel gave the outside world a firsthand description of Korea, an almost unknown country until then. Dr. Jean-Paul, who is Dutch, has made the first translation based on the original manuscript. $12

Imjin War, The. Sam Hawley. RAS-KB and the Institute of East Asian Studies, UC Berkeley, 2005. Hardbound, xvi pp. + 664 pp. + 20 pp. illustrations. ISBN 978-89-954424-2-5

The most comprehensive account ever published in English of this cataclysmic event, so little known in the West. It begins with the political and cultural background of Korea, Japan, and China, discusses the diplomatic breakdown that led to the war, describes every major incident and battle from 1592 to 1598, and introduces a fascinating cast of characters along the way.

In This Earth and In That Wind. Lee O-young, translated by David Steinberg, RAS-KB, 1967. Softbound. 226 pp. ISBN 89-954424-5-X

A collection of 50 vignettes of commonplace Korean life allowing the reader to draw from the daily habits, customs and events his own picture of Korean society. The author often contrasts aspects of Korean culture with that of foreign nations and draws a variety of conclusions about Korean society from these contrasts. $8

Introduction to Korean Music and Dance, An. Lee Hye-ku, RAS-KB, 1977. Softbound. 54 pp.

A general discussion for non-specialist Western reader. $6

James Scarth Gale's History of the Korean People, edited by Richard Rutt, RAS-KB, 1967. Hardbound. 174 pp. ISBN 978-89-954424-1-8

A reprint of the classic English-language history of Korea first published in 1927. It has been extensively annotated by Bishop Rutt with reference to sources and including commentary. It is introduced by an extensive and, to date, the only biography of Dr. Gale. a towering scholar in the early days of Western residence in Korea. $30

Korea and Christianity: The Problem of Identification and Tradition. Spencer J. Palmer, RAS-KB, 1967. Softbound. 174 pp. ISBN 978-89-93699-10-4

An early study of the success of Christianity in Korea, especially in contrast to China. $12

Korean Shamanism: Revivals, Survivals and Change. Keith Howard, ed., RAS-KB, 1998, Softbound, 258 pp.

A thoroughly readable collection of critical research from prominent scholars in the fields of anthropology, religion, history, and the arts. Koreans, virtually alone in the world, have kept the ancient traditional religion of shamanism alive at a time of massive industrialization, modernization and Westernization. $25

Korea Under Colonialism: The March First Movement and Anglo-Japanese Relations. Ku Dae-yeol, RAS-KB, 1985. Hardbound. 350 pp. ISBN 978-89-93699-09-8

A thorough study on March First Movement, a Korean uprising against Japanese colonial rule in 1919, with special emphasis on its international implications and Britain's role in the uprising. $25

Korea's 1884 Incident: Its Background and Kim Ok-kyun's Dream. Harold F. Cook, RAS-KB, 1982, Softbound. 264 pp. ISBN 978-89-93699-08-1

A description of an attempted coup aimed at bringing more rapid reform and modernization to Korea in the early years after her opening to the rest of the world and the role of one of the leaders. The work includes an analysis of the situation in 1884 and evaluates the motives of the plotters and the results of the attempt both on the nation and for the individuals. Scholarly, yet exciting reading, and of some insight to political attitudes in Korea even today. $15

Korean Political Tradition and Law. Hahm Pyong-choon, RAS-KB, 1971, Hardbound. 249 pp. ISBN 978-89-93699-07-4

A compendium of articles by a noted law professor (later Ambassador to the United States), ostensibly on various legal perceptions but giving deep insight into some of the conflicts between western and Korean legal and social concepts. Very helpful in understanding some cultural differences. $20

Korean Works and Days. Richard Rutt, RAS-KB, 1978, Softbound. 205 pp. ISBN 89-954424-6-8

Rural Korea in the 1950s from the perspective of a sensitive and inquisitive foreign village priest; a record of the seasons, the harvest, the customs of the people, and conversations with local Confucian scholars. $5

Life of Buddha in Korean Painting, The. Zozayong, ed., RAS-KB/Emileh Museum Pub., 1975, Softbound. 47pp.

At a time when much Buddhist artwork has been lost through theft or lack of preservation, Yongmun and Tongdo temples are unique repositories of the extraordinary heritage of Paintings of Buddha's life. Superb color photographs and excellent commentary by Zozayong. $12

Pioneer American Businessman in Korea: The Life and Times of Walter David Townsend. Harold F. Cook, RAS-KB, 1981. Softbound. 100 pp. ISBN 978-89-93699-11-1

This biography of one of the first foreign businessmen in Korea becomes the framework for a unique view of early trade issues and difficulties, with a description of life for foreign traders in Korea a century ago. $5

Songs of the Dragons Flying to Heaven: A Korean Epic. 2nd ed. Translated by James Hoyt, RAS-KB, 1979. Softbound. 187 pp. ISBN 978-89-93699-02-9

One of the classics of Korean literature, both in its own right and as the first book to have been written entirely in Hangul, the Korean alphabet promu1gated by King Sejong In 1446. This edition contains both the Korean version and a literary translation, with extensive commentary, bibliography, and glossary. $6

Taegu Guide. Grayson, James Huntley, Lowell T. Jacobson, and Lynn Olson, RAS-KB, Rev. Ed. 1982 Softbound. 71 pp.

Definitive guide with photos and maps of Taegu: history of Taegu, detailed tour suggestions, museums, transportation, food, etc. Large removable map. $2

Virtues in Conflict: Tradition and the Korean Woman Today. Sandra Mattielli, ed., RAS-KB, 1977. Softbound. 214 pp. ISBN 89-954424-7-6

The confrontation of modern society with the Confucian ideas of women: traditional behavioral influences on women and the contemporary response. A very timely collection of scholarly articles, of interest to the general reader as well as the scholar. $15

Virtuous Women: Three Classic Korean Novels. Translated by Richard Rutt & Kim Chong-un, RAS-KB, 1974. Hardbound. 399 pp. ISBN 89-954424-3-3

The three most significant works of traditional Korean fiction: A Nine Cloud Dream, The True History of Queen Inhyon, and The Song of a Faithful Wife, Ch'unhyang. The major characters are all women and the three novels together give a vivid picture of the Korean ideal of womanhood before it felt the impact of Western culture. $25

Wind and Bone. Ruth Stewart, RAS-KB, 1980. Softbound. 145 pp. ISBN 978-89-93699-01-2

Delicate word-paintings of contemporary rural Korea, its people and their changing milieu, by a sensitive author who has spent some 30 years in rural Korea. W3,500

Yogong: Factory Girl. Robert F. Spencer, RAS-KB, 1988. Softbound. 185 pp. ISBN 89-954424-4-1

The author's work is based on a field study done on one of the reasons for Korea's economic miracle, the workers. Here the author focuses on the girls or the young women who work behind the scenes producing the goods that have pushed Korea into another classification. A look at background data, the workers in a Korean context, work situation, associations, relationships and future perspectives. $6