[Gallery Walk] The Military Ceremonies of the Joseon Royal Family That Captured Ghosts

National Palace Museum Special Exhibition 'Symbol of Joseon Royal Military Power, Military Ceremonies'
Highlighting Gye-dong Daena and Others Recreated in the Drama 'Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo'
Conveying the Solemn Spirit That Drove Away Plagues Through the Only Remaining Bangsangsi Mask

Masks used in Bangsangsi at Gye-dong Daena

Wang So (Lee Joon-gi), the Fourth Prince, appears in the palace courtyard wearing a mask with four eyes. Dressed in black clothes and a red skirt covered with bear fur, he looks gallant. He is a Bangsangsi (方相氏), who drives away evil spirits during the Narye (儺禮) ritual. Wielding a spear and shield, he displays bravery. Following him are Jinja (the prince and his attendants) and Changsuu (a person who drives away evil spirits with incantations), each wearing different masks. Seungji (承旨) Choi Ji-mong (Kim Sung-kyun) reports to King Taejo Wang Geon (Jo Min-ki), "All the subjects have gathered, and we request to drive away the evil spirits." When Wang Geon raises his right arm to grant permission, the sound of drums echoes. Bangsangsi, Jinja, and Changsuu resume their military dance in rhythm. They show a solemn determination before the decisive battle with the evil spirits.

This is the Gyedong Daenaui (季冬大儺儀) depicted in the drama ‘Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo’ (2016). It was held in the twelfth lunar month to drive away bad energy and welcome the new year. The custom of driving away evil spirits originated in ancient China. In Korea, it is said to have started in the 6th year of King Jeongjong of Goryeo (1040). It was performed in the palace after cleaning the royal residence to expel evil energy.

A scene of Gye Dong-dae-na in the drama 'Moon Lovers - Scarlet Heart Ryeo'

Gyedong Daenaui continued until the reign of King Yeongjo of Joseon. Detailed procedures are recorded in the ‘Annals of King Sejong’.

"On the day before the event, the Seowungwan (書雲觀, the meteorological observation office) selects forty-eight Jinja aged between 12 and 16, dividing them into two squads. Each squad forms a single line of six wearing masks, dressed in red headbands (Jeokgeon, 赤巾) and red clothes (Jeogui, 赤衣), holding whips. Twenty artisans also wear red headbands and red clothes. Four Bangsangsi wear masks with four golden eyes, don black clothes (Hyeonui, 玄衣) made of bear fur, and red skirts (Jusang, 朱裳), holding a spear in the right hand and a shield in the left. (...) When the Jinja pass through the gate, ritual officials such as Chuksa (祝史) and Jaerang (齋郞) offer sacrifices and read prayers. After the ritual, the Chuksa buries the prayer document and chicken meat in a pit and withdraws."

A scene of Gye Dong-dae-na in the drama 'Moon Lovers - Scarlet Heart Ryeo'

This was not a simple seasonal custom but one of the eight military ceremonies (Gunrye, 軍禮) of Joseon. It aimed to expel epidemics through military power, contributing to national stability and the restoration of daily life. The bold spirit can be felt at the special exhibition ‘Symbol of Joseon Royal Military Power, Military Ceremonies’ held by the National Palace Museum until March 1. The exhibition features the only surviving Bangsangsi mask from the Joseon era (National Intangible Cultural Property No. 16). Its form closely resembles that in ‘Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo.’ The face with four eyes and large ears looks fierce and valiant.

Bangsangsi originally represented a deity in ancient Chinese Narye rituals. In Korea, it was introduced during the Goryeo period as a mask used in the Gyedong Daenaui and similar exorcism rituals (Gunaeuisik, 驅儺儀式). It was also worn by those who danced at the front of funeral processions to ward off evil spirits. Masks made of wood were used by the royal palace or large noble families, paper masks by the general yangban class, and commoners made them woven from straw.

Armor components housed at the Grassimuseum in Leipzig, Germany

The National Palace Museum also sheds light on the meanings and contents of other military ceremonies through various artifacts. The Gangmuui (講武儀), a ritual offering game hunted by soldiers mobilized by the king for the Jongmyo ancestral rites, is explained with military summons (Balbyeongbu, 發兵符), saddles, stirrups, and Cheollik (帖裏, a military uniform connecting a jacket and pleated skirt at the waist). The Guilsikui (救日食儀) was held to save the sun temporarily disappearing during a solar eclipse. The listed costumes convey the solemnity of the time. Artifacts related to Daesaui (大射儀), a grand archery event symbolizing harmony between the king and officials, include the ‘Daesarye Uigwe’ and ‘Daesarye Do’ records from the 19th year of King Yeongjo’s reign (1743), bows, and arrows.

In the Daeyeolui (大閱儀) space, the largest military ceremony and large-scale tactical training directly overseen by the king, visitors can see armor, helmets, weapons, command flags, musical instruments, and gunpowder weapons essential for tactical training. Especially notable are the well-preserved armor, helmets, armor boxes (for storing armor and helmets), helmet covers, undergarments worn beneath armor, and wrapping cloths borrowed from the Grassi Museum of Ethnology in Leipzig, Germany.

Armor Exhibition Hall Overview

The National Palace Museum has arranged large-scale video projections in the background to create the feeling of generals and soldiers parading before the king’s gaze. Various flags in the collection are also displayed on the opposite wall to give a sense of the impressive scale.

This exhibition is accompanied by online lectures for deeper understanding. On the 21st, Professor Lee Wang-mu from the Department of History at Kyonggi University will share various stories under the theme ‘Joseon Royal Military, Military Ceremonies.’ On the 4th of next month, Professor Park Ga-young from the Department of Fashion Design at Soongui Women’s College will lecture on ‘Joseon Era Military Ceremonies and Costumes,’ and Director Choi Hyung-guk of the Korean Traditional Martial Arts Research Institute will speak on ‘Late Joseon Military Signal Systems and Military Training.’ These can be accessed on the National Palace Museum’s website and YouTube channel.