National Palace Museum Special Exhibition 'Hanging the Ideals of Joseon, Royal Court Signboards'
Exhibition of 81 Royal Court Signboards from the World Heritage Site Daeanmun and Others
A hyeonpan (懸板) is a wooden plaque carved with letters or pictures and hung above doors or on walls. The Joseon royal family imbued these plaques with wishes for national prosperity and harmonious governance. The National Palace Museum will hold a special exhibition titled "Hanging the Ideals of Joseon, Royal Court Hyeonpan" from the 19th of this month until August 15th to reflect on their value. The exhibition will showcase over 100 related artifacts, including eighty-one royal court hyeonpan pieces registered in 2018 on the UNESCO Memory of the World Asia-Pacific Regional Register, the Gisagyecheop (耆社契帖), and tools used by gakjajang (刻字匠) artisans. The Gisagyecheop is a booklet created in 1719 to commemorate King Sukjong's admission to the Giroso. Gakjajang refers to craftsmen who carve letters or pictures onto wooden boards.
The largest hyeonpan is the Daeanmun (大安門) plaque displayed in the prologue area. It measures 374 cm in width and 124 cm in height. Daeanmun was the former main gate of Deoksugung Palace, now renamed Daehanmun (大漢門). According to the Gyeongungung Junggeondogam Uigwe, the name "Daehan" carries the meaning of "Hanyang becoming prosperous." The earlier name "Daean" is said to have been given with the hope that the country would remain greatly peaceful amid turbulent history.
The exhibition is divided into four sections: "Making," "Containing," "Hanging," and "Hyeonpan, Together Beyond Time." The "Making" section highlights the techniques and artisans involved in creating the hyeonpan. It also displays calligraphy from kings, renowned calligraphers of the time, and court eunuchs who participated in writing the plaques. The most notable artifact is the Uilyeolsa-gi (義烈祠記) hyeonpan, created based on the calligraphy of Seokbong Han Ho (1543?1605). It records the history of the Uilyeolsa shrine, which enshrined loyal subjects from the Baekje King Uija and Goryeo King Gongmin periods. The text was authored by Seoae Ryu Seong-ryong (1542?1607).
The "Containing" section introduces the content of the hyeonpan divided into four themes: the virtues of a sage king and care for the people, harmony with subjects, filial piety, and more. The "Hanging" section displays various functional hyeonpan hung on walls. These mainly include orders and instructions from the king to his officials, information and regulations for government offices, lists of officials, and dates of national events. Some plaques also feature poems expressing the king’s personal reflections or experiences. The "Hyeonpan, Together Beyond Time" section presents photographs and videos showcasing hyeonpan around us and the people who preserve their value.
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