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Korean Court Culture of the Joseon Dynasty

  • Image of "Ceremony at the Royal Court (detail), Joseon dynasty, 19th century"

    Ceremony at the Royal Court (detail), Joseon dynasty, 19th century

    Japanese Archaeology and Special Exhibition (Heiseikan) Thematic Exhibition Room
    February 4, 2020 (Tue) - March 15, 2020 (Sun)

    This thematic exhibition introduces the court culture of the Joseon dynasty (1392–1897). The exhibits include court furniture and clothing along with the possessions of the court’s elite Confucian scholars (yangban). The objects reveal the court’s continued affinity for Korean traditions even as they adopted ideologies from China.

    At the beginning of the Joseon dynasty, the first king moved the capital to Hanyang (present-day Seoul) and ordered the construction of Gyeongbokgung Palace. The architectural layout borrowed heavily from palaces built at the Chinese court. Brick floors were used in rooms for conducting affairs of state and a raised chair was used as a throne. Yet, in the living quarters, the rooms were characterized by traditional Korean furniture and architectural design, such as raised wooden floors (maru) and heated floors (ondol).

    Over the next few centuries, the Joseon kings constructed several such grand palaces in Hanyang. The practice of incorporating both Chinese and Korean elements gradually permeated all layers of court life and is visible in the architecture, furniture, and clothing of the Joseon dynasty.
     

 Major works in this exhibition
* Works listed below are in the TNM Collection unless otherwise indicated.
 Major works in this exhibition
* Works listed below are in the TNM Collection unless otherwise indicated.
Ceremony at the Royal Court, Joseon dynasty, 19th century
Government Official's Court Costume (Dallyeong), Joseon dynasty, 19th century (On exhibit through February 24, 2020)
Box with Dragons and Clouds (For Diplomatic Letters), Joseon dynasty, 17th–18th century (Important Cultural Property, On exhibit from February 26, 2020)
Box with Birds and Animals, Joseon dynasty, 18th–19th century
Two-Tiered Wardrobe with Phoenixes and Symbols of Longevity (Bandaji), Joseon dynasty, 19th century
Upper Garment (Dangui Jeogori), Joseon dynasty, 19th century (Gift of the Ogura Foundation, On exhibit through February 24, 2020)

Thematic Exhibition Catalogue

Korean Court Culture of the Joseon Dynasty
Korean Court Culture of the Joseon Dynasty
by Inokuma Kaneki
(In Japanese)

Issued by: Tokyo National Museum
Price: 600 yen (Tax exclusive)
All colore 24p (210㎜×297㎜)

On sale in the museum shop from February 4, 2020.

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