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Idu script | |
Korean name | |
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Hangul | 이두 |
Hanja | |
Revised Romanization | Idu |
McCune–Reischauer | Idu |
Korean writing systems |
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Hangul |
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Hanja |
Mixed script |
Braille |
Transcription |
Transliteration |
Idu (Korean: 이두; Hanja: 吏讀 "official's reading") is an archaic writing system that represents the Korean language using Chinese characters ("hanja"). The script, which was developed by Buddhist monks, made it possible to record Korean words through their equivalent meaning or sound in Chinese.[1]
The term idu may refer to various systems of representing Korean phonology through hanja, which were used from the early Three Kingdoms to Joseon periods. In this sense, it includes hyangchal,[2] the local writing system used to write vernacular poetry[2] and gugyeol writing. Its narrow sense only refers to idu proper[3] or the system developed in the Goryeo (918–1392), and first referred to by name in the Jewang ungi.