Unlocking Turkic Knowledge: Launch of the Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Turkic Humanities in Korean
Jan 17, 2024
The Encyclopedia of Turkic Humanities in Korean (8 Volumes) is a comprehensive humanities dictionary that systematically organizes key concepts across all humanities disciplines essential for understanding Turkology. Despite the significance of the 'Turkic Belt' nations, humanities research related to Turkic countries in Korea remains limited, posing challenges for the public to access even fundamental knowledge, let alone advanced research. To address this gap, the Institute for Eurasian Turkic Studies at Dongduk Women's University initiated a five-year project (August 2018 to June 2023) with financial support from the National Research Foundation of Korea, resulting in the creation of this encyclopedia.
Led by Professor Eunkyung Oh, a Turkic state expert, the project involved 21 authors and underwent meticulous supervision, with over 2,000 proofreadings by Professor Oh herself. The Institute for Eurasian Turkic Countries, established in 2016, quickly became Korea's sole research institute for Turkic studies, garnering international recognition, including an award from the Azerbaijani government in honor of its 100th anniversary.
Professor Oh's commitment to bridging the information gap and popularizing Turkic studies led to the decision to transform the project's database into an accessible dictionary. The coverage of Turkic humanities in this encyclopedia spans various subjects, encompassing language, literature, history, art, geography, folklore, and religion in Turkic Belt countries, as well as regions in the Russian Federation and Xinjiang Uighur.
Published as both a paper book and a PDF e-book, this substantial encyclopedia comprises 8 volumes, totaling 4,500 pages and featuring over 2,000 headwords. Available in Korean, it can be freely downloaded from the Institute for Eurasian Turkic Countries' website(https://eeurasiaturk.dongduk.ac.kr/bbs/board2/776).
Collaborations with global partners and translation efforts will ensure widespread integration and appreciation of Turkic knowledge. Culture Masters will continue to cooperate with the Institute for Eurasian Turkic Studies at Dongduk Women's University and other global partners in enriching the Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Turkic Humanities and facilitating the Turkic culture and knowledge globally.