The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
  • Hangzhou Asian Games
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_X_on_2023.svgbt_X_over_2023.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
  • Hangzhou Asian Games
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_X_on_2023.svgbt_X_over_2023.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
  • Login
  • Register
  • Login
  • Register
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
  • 1

    Korea to expand visa benefits to accelerate inbound tourism

  • 3

    Why Korean shoppers flock to Chinese e-commerce sites

  • 5

    Will Korea avoid hard landing in housing market?

  • 7

    Israeli TV shows footage of stripped detainees in Gaza

  • 9

    Hyundai Motor hires former US Ambassador to Korea Sung Kim as adviser

  • 11

    Footballer Hwang's sister-in-law indicted for disclosing his private videos

  • 13

    US defense policy bill calls for maintaining 28,500 US troops in Korea

  • 15

    CITYSCAPESDrone pilot explores Korea's hardest-to-reach places

  • 17

    LG Energy Solution wins battery module supply deal in Poland

  • 19

    REVIEWMusical 'Monte Cristo' returns with riveting tale of vengeance, love

  • 2

    Seoul awards honorary citizenship to outstanding foreign residents

  • 4

    INTERVIEWEx-NIS chief urges politicians to stop misusing spy agency

  • 6

    Seoul-Moscow ties likely stuck in limbo amid blame game

  • 8

    'Squid Game' director promises 'deeper story' with new characters, games for Season 2

  • 10

    '12.12: The Day' goes strong at box office, attracts younger generation

  • 12

    Pro-labor 'yellow envelope bill' scrapped in revote after Yoon's veto

  • 14

    K-pop's appeal reflected in global accolades

  • 16

    Hanwha signs $2.4 bil. deal to export infantry fighting vehicles to Australia

  • 18

    Korea's current account surplus hits 2-yr high in Oct. on recovering exports

  • 20

    NK urges people to follow leader Kim Jong-un in climbing Mount Paektu

Close scrollclosebutton

Close for 24 hours

Open
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
Sun, December 10, 2023 | 01:04
Trends
Rare Joseon-era spherical sundial unveiled to public
Posted : 2022-08-18 17:16
Updated : 2022-08-21 10:41
Kwak Yeon-soo
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link
                                                                                                 Choi Eung-chon, head of the Cultural Heritage Administration, speaks during a press event to unveil 'Iryeongwongu' at the National Palace Museum in Seoul, Thursday. Yonhap
Choi Eung-chon, head of the Cultural Heritage Administration, speaks during a press event to unveil "Iryeongwongu" at the National Palace Museum in Seoul, Thursday. Yonhap

By Kwak Yeon-soo

The "Iryeongwongu," a portable spherical sundial from the 1392-1910 Joseon Kingdom era, has been unveiled to the public after returning from the United States, the Cultural Heritage Administration (CHA) said Thursday.

The CHA and the Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation purchased the rare relic at an auction in the U.S. in March.

The bronze globe sundial is believed to have been produced in 1890 by Sang Jik-hyeon, a military officer, under King Gojong's reign, as the inscription on the repatriated item reads, "It was newly produced at the beginning of the seventh lunar month of the gyeongin year, corresponding to the 499th year of the founding of the Joseon Kingdom."

It measures 11.2 centimeters in diameter and 23.8 centimeters in height. The use of elaborate metal casting methods, refined silver inlay decoration, designs of a dragon, a sailing ship, and the Chinese characters meaning the sun and moon, and other features, attest to the advanced level of science and artistry measuring time in Korea in that period.

                                                                                                 Choi Eung-chon, head of the Cultural Heritage Administration, speaks during a press event to unveil 'Iryeongwongu' at the National Palace Museum in Seoul, Thursday. Yonhap
A bronze globe sundial called "Iryeongwongu" was unveiled at the National Palace Museum in Seoul, Thursday. Courtesy of Cultural Heritage Administration

"The Iryeongwongu carries historical and scientific value as its producer and production date can be confirmed through the featured inscription and seal. It also demonstrates the advancement of science and technology of the Joseon Kingdom," a CHA official said.

Lee Yong-sam, a professor of astronomy at Chungbuk National University, explained how the returned Iryeongwongu differs from other conventional sundials produced during the Joseon era.

"Sundials produced during the Joseon Kingdom are generally hemispherical. They tell the time through the shadow cast over its cauldron-shaped body based on the sun's position, allowing it to be measured only at a single location," he said.

"However, the Iryeongwongu was made in the shape of a sphere. The rare relic was designed to allow the measurement of time in different regions by adjusting the body (comprised of two attached hemispheres) and a bar attached to the sphere," he said.

                                                                                                 Choi Eung-chon, head of the Cultural Heritage Administration, speaks during a press event to unveil 'Iryeongwongu' at the National Palace Museum in Seoul, Thursday. Yonhap
A bronze globe sundial called "Iryeongwongu" was unveiled at the National Palace Museum in Seoul, Thursday. Courtesy of Cultural Heritage Administration

One of the hemispheres is marked with 96 vertical lines and an inscription of the 12 animals of the zodiac as an indication of time. These markings are in accordance with the time system used during the late Joseon Kingdom that divided the day into 12 hours and 96 "gak" (with one gak equaling 15 minutes). Moreover, below the noon mark is a round hole known as a "sibochang."

The "Jagyeongnu," a self-striking water clock invented during the Joseon Kingdom, and the "Honcheonsigye," an armillary clock, both of which have been designated as national treasures, were also equipped with devices indicating time in accordance with the 12 animals of the zodiac system.

The design shows that the Iryeongwongu inherited the science and technology of the Joseon Kingdom, but with its portable size, resembling a small globe, it was also designed for use in other countries, as there was increasing demand for foreign trade at the time, according to the CHA.

The returned spherical sundial will be displayed at the special exhibition, "Treasures of Ours, Treasured by Others: Journey of Korean Cultural Heritage," held at the National Palace Museum of Korea until Sept. 25.
Emailyeons.kwak@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
wooribank
LG group
Top 10 Stories
1Korea to expand visa benefits to accelerate inbound tourism Korea to expand visa benefits to accelerate inbound tourism
2Seoul awards honorary citizenship to outstanding foreign residents Seoul awards honorary citizenship to outstanding foreign residents
3Will Korea avoid hard landing in housing market? Will Korea avoid hard landing in housing market?
4Why Korean shoppers flock to Chinese e-commerce sites Why Korean shoppers flock to Chinese e-commerce sites
5Justice minister challenges opposition leader in polls for potential next president Justice minister challenges opposition leader in polls for potential next president
6Seoul-Moscow ties likely stuck in limbo amid blame game Seoul-Moscow ties likely stuck in limbo amid blame game
7'12.12: The Day' goes strong at box office, attracts younger generation '12.12: The Day' goes strong at box office, attracts younger generation
8K-pop's appeal reflected in global accolades K-pop's appeal reflected in global accolades
9Hyundai Motor hires former US Ambassador to Korea Sung Kim as adviser Hyundai Motor hires former US Ambassador to Korea Sung Kim as adviser
10'British Spider-Man' ends 6-month stay in Korea 'British Spider-Man' ends 6-month stay in Korea
Top 5 Entertainment News
1[INTERVIEW] How AmazeVR revolutionizes aespa's LYNK-POP concert INTERVIEWHow AmazeVR revolutionizes aespa's LYNK-POP concert
2'12.12: The Day' goes strong at box office, attracts younger generation '12.12: The Day' goes strong at box office, attracts younger generation
3K-pop's appeal reflected in global accolades K-pop's appeal reflected in global accolades
4[REVIEW] Musical 'Monte Cristo' returns with riveting tale of vengeance, love REVIEWMusical 'Monte Cristo' returns with riveting tale of vengeance, love
5[INTERVIEW] Meet the man behind giant rubber ducks that once took over Seoul INTERVIEWMeet the man behind giant rubber ducks that once took over Seoul
DARKROOM
  • It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

    It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

  • 2023 Thanksgiving parade in NYC

    2023 Thanksgiving parade in NYC

  • Appreciation of autumn colors

    Appreciation of autumn colors

  • Our children deserve better

    Our children deserve better

  • Israel-Gaza conflict erupts into war

    Israel-Gaza conflict erupts into war

  • Turkey-Syria earthquake

    Turkey-Syria earthquake

  • Nepal plane crash

    Nepal plane crash

  • Brazil capital uprising

    Brazil capital uprising

  • Happy New Year 2023

    Happy New Year 2023

  • World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

    World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

CEO & Publisher: Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email: webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel: 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No: 서울,아52844
Date of registration: 2020.02.05
Masthead: The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Services
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Site Map
  • Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Ombudsman
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group