King Yeongjo's 'Royal Crafts' Presented to Grandmother... Publication of Research Book

Seoul Craft Museum Publishes First Research Book on Its Collection

[Asia Economy Reporter Kiho Sung] The Seoul Museum of Craft Art announced on the 10th that it has published the first volume of the Collection Exploration Series, "Gyeonghye Inbin Sangsiho Bamboo Book," which easily unravels the historical aspects of crafts such as the era background, materials, tools, and artisans related to representative collections.

This book contains stories centered on artifacts about the role of crafts used in royal ceremonies during the late Joseon Dynasty, the creators who made them, and the craft techniques of the time involving materials and tools.

Chapter 1 deals with the origin and current status of royal ceremonial crafts in the form of books, such as the bamboo book and the royal edict (Eochek, 御冊). Chapter 2 vividly examines the background and process through historical records of King Yeongjo conferring a posthumous title to Inbin Kim in 1755 (the 31st year of Yeongjo's reign). Chapter 3 reappraises the historical value by comparing the current state of the bamboo book and its components, Gyeokyubo (隔??) and Chaekgap (冊匣), with the records in the Uigwe (royal protocol). Chapter 4 reveals the process and craft historical significance of how master artisans from across the country endeavored to produce the bamboo book using high-quality materials they procured.

Until now, the bamboo book has mainly been studied from the perspectives of classical Chinese literature and bibliography, focusing on the style of the inscribed text and its ideological meaning. The first volume of the Seoul Museum of Craft Art’s Collection Exploration Series, "Gyeonghye Inbin Sangsiho Bamboo Book," is significant in that it recognizes the bamboo book as a subject of craft history research, specifically clarifying aspects of material procurement, production processes, and artisans, and reinterpreting it from a new perspective. It is also noteworthy that the creators of Joseon royal crafts, previously unknown, and their activities have been identified.

Additionally, a mini book summarizing the contents of the research book has also been published. The mini book is small enough to fit in one hand (7×7cm) and is composed mainly of photos and illustrations, making it easier to read compared to the full book. Viewing the bamboo book artifacts displayed in the Seoul Museum of Craft Art’s permanent exhibition "Artisans, Benefiting the World" while flipping through the mini book is also a unique experience.

"Gyeonghye Inbin Sangsiho Bamboo Book" can be viewed at major public libraries in Seoul and purchased at the Seoul Museum of Craft Art museum shop and Seoul Bookstore located on the B1 floor of Seoul City Hall.

Kim Sujeong, director of the Seoul Museum of Craft Art, said, “I hope this book, which contains the social context surrounding late Joseon royal crafts and the stories embedded in the artifacts, will provide an opportunity to understand crafts more richly.” She added, “The Collection Exploration Series of the Seoul Museum of Craft Art will continue to be published, and we ask for the interest of many citizens.”