Side-stitched binding is the most prevalent traditional binding style in East Asia. Originating in China, this structure—known as Seonjang in Korean—became popular in Korea in the 13th century due to its practicality and durability (Song 2009). It was designed to accommodate one-sided printings and folded sheets while ensuring ease of handling and the sturdiness of the sewn binding. This was feasible by using East Asian papers made with paper mulberry. These papers are thin and translucent—making it necessary to print text on only one side—but also flexible and strong enough to withstand side-stitching without tearing or breaking. Although Korean side-stitched bindings share similarities with their Chinese and Japanese counterparts, they have distinct local characteristics and traditions. For example, Seonjang often features five evenly spaced sewing holes, yellow covers, and red sewing threads—though many variations exist.

Building on my technical study of Korean traditional bindings at Winterthur/UD, I wanted to create a model of a Korean side-stitched binding. Ann generously supported my research by providing the necessary tools and materials, and we organized an in-house workshop to make the binding together. Given the limited resources available in English (and only a few in Korean), I compiled an instructional guide with a list of materials and step-by-step procedures (see the attachment at the bottom of the page). Since the binding structure itself is straightforward, my main focus was on replicating the yellow burnished covers. Many traditional Korean bindings have distinctive yellow covers, often dyed with Gardenia seeds or Amur cork tree, and burnished with patterns—most commonly Buddhist motifs. To reproduce this effect, I carved a repeating swastika pattern into a piece of basswood and tested different burnishing techniques. I ultimately decided to apply wax to the wood and dampen the paper minimally and as evenly as possible. We also purchased dried Gardenia seeds to prepare the dye and successfully dyed the Korean papers.