Life and Aesthetics of Women in Korea's Joseon Dynasty

This exhibit introduces fashion and accessories, together with cosmetic, writing, and sewing implements which provide insights into the lives of upper class women living on the Korean Peninsula from the end of the 19th century through the first half of the 20th century.

Confucian ethics were important for the people of Joseon dynasty, and based on its philosophies, the living spaces of women and men were kept completely apart. Outings were strictly limited for daughters of the royal family and the yangban noble class in particular, and these women consequently spent most of their day in their chambers, known as an-bang.

In contrast with the sobriety of their everyday lifestyle, however, many of their outfits, along with their accessories and implements, are characterized by brilliant colors. The coloring is based on the Yin-yang and Five Elements theories, but must have brought pleasure to the lives of these women who spent most of their time indoors.