National Palace Museum exhibition sheds light on military rituals of Joseon
Installation view of "Military Protocol: Symbol of the Military in the Joseon Dynasty" exhibition at the National Palace Museum of Korea / Courtesy of National Palace Museum of Korea
By Kwon Mee-yoo
The 1392-1910 Joseon Kingdom is known as a country of scholars, governed by Confucian scholar-officials. However, the monarchy was in fact operated based on a delicate balance between officials and military top brass.
Titled "Military Rituals ― Symbol of the Joseon Dynasty's Military Power," an exhibition at the National Palace Museum of Korea, located next to the Gyeongbok Palace in central Seoul, sheds light on how Joseon was governed not only by civil officials, but also through military power, which was displayed through various rituals.
"Though Joseon is known for its literati governance, it does not mean that the kingdom was effeminate. Military officials were one of the mainstays of Joseon's governmental system," Lim Ji-yun, curator of the exhibit, said. "Military power was used to deal with various situations in times of war, hardship and when infectious diseases spread, and the military's power was demonstrated through its rituals. This exhibition is the first to look into the military rites of Joseon."
The exhibit features some 176 items including armor and helmets worn by soldiers, a wide range of weapons and military flags.
"The military activities were ritualized to emphasize the king's symbolism for commandership," Lim said.
The first section, "Military Endeavors of the Joseon Dynasty," presents how the kings of Joseon put effort in overcoming crises through military activities, dividing Joseon into two periods: before and after the Japanese Invasions of Korea (1592-1598), or the Imjin War, which had a big impact on Joseon's military.
"Joseon was governed through Neo-Confucian principles. At the same time, the country also paid attention to national defense. Joseon's first king, Taejo, founded the country based on military power, and King Sejo wrote a book on military tactics even before he acceded to the throne," Lim said.
"Folding Screen of Various Battle Formations" from the late Joseon era / Courtesy of National Palace Museum of Korea
The Japanese Invasions lasted for seven years, having a great impact on Joseon.
"King Jeongjo oversaw the writing of 'Byeonghakjinam,' or the Comprehensive Military Training Manual, and the 'Folding Screen of Various Battle Formations' visualizes volumes 3 and 4 of the manual," Lim said. "It shows specific battle formations and methods of operation using various symbols representing flags and weapons. Orientation is marked on the top of each screen, suggesting that the screens were set up accordingly."
The second section, "Military Rituals of the Joseon Dynasty," focuses on the six military rituals of the Joseon era, displaying the king's sovereignty and power.
Gangmuui is a military ritual in which the king goes hunting with his soldiers and captures wild game for sacrificial rites at the Jongmyo Shrine.
"Balbyeongbu, or the Wooden Tablet Authorizing Military Mobilization, was divided into two pieces ― one was kept in the royal palace and the other was kept in the possession of the military commander of each region. Soldiers could be mobilized only when both pieces were combined together," Lim explained.
'Cheollik' is a popular type of modernized hanbok nowadays, but it originated from the pleated robe of military officials.
"Higher ranking officials wear indigo, while lower ranking officials wear blue. When they go outside the palace, they all wear red robes, according to a set of regulations from the King Yeongjo era," Lim said.
"Portrait of King Cheoljong" shows the 25th king of Joseon in military attire, which showcases an example of the costumes of the commander-in-chief, including the commander's club, waist band, thumb ring and sword.
"Wooden Tablet Authorizing Military Mobilization" / Courtesy of National Palace Museum of Korea
Daesaui is a military ritual in which the king practiced archery with his subjects. The rite was discontinued for some 200 years until revived by King Yeongjo in 1743 and then documented in the "Painting of a Formal Archery Ritual."
"Archery was a virtue for both civil servants and military officials. So King Yeongjo revived the event and documented it in a book and painting," Lim said.
Military rites were also held to stabilize natural phenomena in a symbolic way. Guilsigui was performed during the solar eclipse. "The king and his subjects wore white mourning clothes, reflecting fear and respect for the sun," Lim explained.
Gyeongdongdaenaui was performed to drive away evil spirts that were believed to cause infectious diseases. A Bangsangsi mask, worn by an exorcist, is on display at the exhibit.
Daeyeorui is the largest kind of ritual in which soldiers divided in two groups simulate battle formations, commanded by the king.
The highlight of the exhibit is a collection of armor and a helmet from the Grassi Museum of Ethnography Leipzig.
Curator Lim said this collection of armor initiated the exhibit on Joseon's military rites. "The German museum had a full collection of armor, a helmet, a storage box for the set, a helmet cover, an inner garment, and wrapping cloth and our museum supported the preservation treatment cost. The ties led us to borrow the armor and helmet for this exhibition," she said.
"The collection showcases typical armor of the late Joseon era. The red cotton flannel ones are expected to be worn by a ranking general, while the yellow cotton ones are for infantrymen.”
Installation view of "Military Protocol: Symbol of the Military in the Joseon Dynasty" exhibition featuring flags at the National Palace Museum of Korea / Courtesy of National Palace Museum of Korea
Colorful flags bearing dragons, tigers and phoenixes are displayed on the wall to portray the authority of the king and his military power.
"The flags were used as part of a military signaling system. During the chaos of fights, signaling was the key to move the soldiers according to formation. The flag representing the king was the largest and features two dragons, one ascending and one descending, and are adorned with a red border," Lim said.
The exhibit, which was scheduled to run through March 1, has been extended through March 28. Reservation is required. A virtual reality (VR) tour of the exhibition is available at the museum's website.