Vol.48SPRING 2020
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K O R E A N HERITAGE Cultural Heritage Administration www.koreanheritage.kr ISSN 2005-0151 Government Publications Registration Number 11-1550000-000639-08 KOREAN SPRING 2020 HERITAGE VOL. 48 Upon the foundation of the Joseon Dynasty, Hanyang, the central area of today’s Seoul, SPRING 2020 Vol. 48 SPRING 2020 Vol. was designated as the capital. Its location at the geographical heart of the Korean Peninsula facilitated political centralization, while the nearby Hangang River promoted the development of trade and commerce. Its basin landform provided a natural fortress, contributing to the prevention of infiltration by enemies. The selection of this site for the capital roughly 620 years ago laid the foundation for the growth of Seoul into the global megacity it is today. The cover features an old map of Hanyang (“Doseongdo”) from the late 18th-century compilation Atlas of Korea, showing the city wall, royal palaces, and the street network of the time (photo courtesy of the Kyujanggak Institute for Korean Studies). Cultural Heritage Administration Cultural KOREAN HERITAGE is also available on the website (www.koreanheritage.kr) and smart devices. You can also download its PDF version and subscribe to our newsletter to receive our latest news on the website. The articles featured in this magazine only reflect the contributing authors’ opinions. Cultural Heritage Administration, 2020 This publication is copyrighted. No part may be reproduced by any process without written permission. Copyright © Cultural Heritage Administration * Photographs in this issue that are not marked with their providers are attributed to the image provider UTO Image. Featured 02 08 16 26 CURATOR’S KOREAN CULTURAL LOCAL HERITAGE SELECTION FOOD ROOTS GUIDE Lighting the Dried Foodstuffs 620 Years of Historical Darkness in the Korean Seoul Buildings Diet Adapted for Cultural Uses JOSEON STORIES 34 Meticulous Records of Joseon Fuel Creativity Today CHANGING TIMES 38 Emperor Gojong, a Visionary Leader HERITAGE ISSUES TODAY 42 Visit Korean Heritage Campaign Date of Publication Translation Cultural Heritage Administration March 13, 2020 Park Jung-eun 189 Cheongsa-ro, Seo-gu, Daejeon, Republic of Korea Published by Copy Editing CULTURAL HERITAGE ADMINISTRATION HEADLINE Cultural Heritage Administration Republic of Korea Bill Sharp 52 Publication Management Coordination by Tel 82-42-481-4737 The World’s Oldest Rain Gauge Entered into the List Director of International Cooperation Division CH121 Fax 82-42-481-4759 of National Treasures Content Coordination Printed by Contact [email protected] Kim Byung-yun, Cho Ha-young Daehan Printech Co., Ltd. Website www.koreanheritage.kr Two Joseon State Seals Returned Home 03 CURATOR’S SELECTION Lighting the Darkness Early humans harnessed fire and drove back the darkness. By FEATURED bringing light to the night, they could extend the span of their activities and accelerate the development of culture. A wide range of lightening devices has since been developed. As in other parts of the globe, oil lamps and wax candles were the primary means to lighten the dark hours in traditional Korean society. They were long familiar to Koreans at night until the introduction of modern sources of illumination, such as petroleum lamps and electricity. Text by Kim Hee-soo, the National Hangeul Museum Photos by the National Folk Museum of Korea A lampstand with an oil receptacle below the lamp holder to catch any dripping oil 0402 (photo taken by Seo Heun-kang) FEATURED CURATOR’S SELECTION 04 05 Lighting up Life Left_ A candlestick. A candle can be fixed on the central spindle. (photo taken by Seo Heun-kang) Right_ A nickel lampstand with a reflection plate and snuffers Lamps (photo taken by Seo Heun-kang) Traditional Korean lamps (called deung) were commonly fueled by vegetable oils extracted from sesame seeds, soybeans, or castor beans, but animal and fish oils were mentioned as a rare commodity during the Goryeo used as well. Surviving artifacts illustrate the ancient Dynasty (918–1392). Ceremonial candles such Korean lifestyle that relied on these sources of light, as “grand red candles” (hongdaecho) and “dragon including the oil dishes found in the wall niches of the candles” (yongcho) were used in the royal court tomb of King Muryeong (r. 501–23), the 25th monarch at this time, but average people could not afford of Baekje, and multi-dish lamps from the Silla period. them. Candles were still limited in the Joseon era The fundamental form of traditional Korean lamps is as well: King Taejong (r. 1400–18) ordered private the dish type. Oil was placed in a small saucer with a households to use pine knots as a source of light; wick floated in the middle or hung loose along the edge. and King Sejong (r. 1418–50) encouraged the This type of lamp remained in use until the introduction Buddhist community to replace wax candles with of petroleum toward the later years of the Joseon oil lamps during the performance of Water and Dynasty (1392–1910). With this more combustible fuel Land Ceremony. This scarcity of candles persisted available, small jar-type lamps with a wick drawn out in Korea until the popularization of paraffin through a hole in the lid were introduced. candles. A lampstand basically consisted of a base and shaft. A candlestick generally consisted of an arched The shaft was notched to fit a lamp holder in several base, a column driven into the center of the base, places along its length to allow the height to be adjusted. and a small dish with a spindle at the center Below the lamp holder would be installed a receptacle installed on top of the column. The pillar might to catch drips of oil. Lampstands could be made from emulate the shape of a joint of bamboo, stringed wood, clay, or metal, but wood was preferred for its beads, or a barrel drum. A reflection plate and wide availability and ease of processing. soot receptacle would be attached to these basic elements. Coming in the shape of a medallion, bat, butterfly, or banana leaf, the reflection plate was Candles designed to swivel and focus light toward the front. Candles were made from beeswax, tallow, vegetable wax, insect wax, or spermaceti (a waxy substance extracted from sperm whales). No documentary records Enlightening remain on the introduction of candle-making on the the Mind Korean Peninsula. However, a pair of crystal-decorated gilt-bronze candlesticks from the Unified Silla period Light not only brightened the night, but also (668–935) has been transmitted to the present and delivered Koreans’ dreams and aspirations. candle snuffers were excavated from Anapji Pond, a Candles were lit at royal ceremonies, as part of Unified Silla-era site, indicating that candles were in offerings to the Buddha, and on ritual tables for use in Korea from at least this period. Candles were ancestor worship, adding to the gravity of the FEATURED CURATOR’S SELECTION 06 07 A cheongsa chorong, or lantern with a blue-and-red silk shade. A candle can be installed through the upper opening. (photo taken by Seo Heun-kang) Left_Jojokdeung , or “lanterns to light the feet,” used to light a path at night. A vertical handle is connected to a round body with an opening at the bottom. Right_ A portable lamp with a wooden frame. The four sides can be opened by pulling the knob affixed to their lower section. (photos taken by Seo Heun-kang) occasion and expressing the sincere wishes of well, fundamentally in the form of a rigid frame those involved. Candles for these ceremonial with a covering shade. A candle would be set inside purposes mostly came in pairs. The use of candles the shaded frame, shining through the cover while for royal ceremonies, in particular, was strictly remaining sheltered. The frames were made from defined by a set of prescriptions confirmed in iron or wood and the shades from paper or silk. surviving uigwe recordings and paintings mounted A typical example of traditional Korean portable on folding screens. Candles were also considered lighting was the cheongsa chorong, a lantern with an indispensable element for weddings: the a blue-and-red silk shade. These blue-and-red flickering light of candles created a solemn and shaded lanterns, coming in various forms and sizes, sacred ambience and symbolized the birth and were used at royal banquets, parades featuring the continuation of a family. king, and at wedding ceremonies. Another type was the jojokdeung, or a “lantern to light the feet.” As suggested by its name, a jojokdeung shone light down toward the feet. Its vertical handle made it Lighting the Way convenient for illuminating a path, and the candle The basic form of portable lighting was the torch, holder installed inside could move freely depending essentially a burning piece of wood. Diverse other on the angle of the handle. forms of movable illumination were developed as 09 KOREAN FOOD The British social anthropologist Jack Goody pointed out preserving food as the most essential survival element for humanity before the development of canned food and refrigeration during the Industrial Revolution. He counts drying, pickling, and salting among the typical methods for food preservation. Dried In the book Cooking, Cuisine, and Class he relates, “The drying of fish and meat Foodstuffs enabled animal protein to be more widely distributed in time and space; in the Korean Diet the drying of vegetables such as okra prolonged their use into the dry season when soup ingredients were scarce. The preservation of meat and vegetables, FEATURED by drying, by pickling, by salting and in some regions by the use of ice, was characteristic of domestic economy in e a r l y E u r o p e .” Food preservation was equally important for people living on the Text by Joo Young-ha, Professor with the Graduate School of Korean Studies at the Academy of Korean Studies Korean Peninsula.