Experiencing Royal Korean Culture

Last month, I attended an educational program at the National Palace Museum of Korea, called ‘Experiencing Royal K-Culture’. This program is designed for Native English teachers to learn more about the Joseon era of Korean Royal culture.

Royal K-Culture

The Royal Korean Culture program included four evening sessions with a variety of hands-on activities and a field trip around the Palace on Saturday.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t attend this month’s Palace field trip because I already had other plans, but I hope to be able to attend another session in the near future.

Experiencing Royal K-Culture: Schedule & Program

If you would like to attend these educational lectures and workshops, please see the National Palace Museum of Korea for more information.
※ Royal Korea Culture Lectures are delivered in English.

An overview of the History and Culture of the Joseon Dynasty

The first session involved a lecture on the history and culture of the Joseon Dynasty, followed by a small tour of selected pieces in the museum.

The Joseon dynasty was established in 1392, and it lasted 519 years! There were 27 different kings who reigned during the Joseon Dynasty, who upheld Confucianism as their political ideal in Korea.

The Joseon Kings Confucianism regimes and ideologies supported scholarly studies, they brought advances in agriculture, astronomy, medicine, Korean literature and Korean arts.

Dragons and phoenixes were created to mark the King’s divinity and authority. In Korean culture, dragons are protective mythological creatures who bring good fortune.

The Royal Seals

The Royal seals are stamps that were used in place of signatures. Today most Koreans have their own personal seals. Companies and government agencies also have their own seals which are deemed to be more formal and authoritative, although hand signatures are accepted.

Making Eobo: Royal Korean Soap

After the museum tour, we had our practical soap making session. This was a little messy, but we did manage to cast soap to take home with us.

Education & Literary Arts of Joseon Royals

The Confucianist Joseon society regarded intellectuals and academic learning as extremely important. Every King began studying diligently during their childhood, and this was something that they would continue throughout their entire life. Consequently, the King earned respect not only the county’s divine ruler but also as a respected and authoritative scholar. Academic achievement and continuous learning are still held with high esteem in Korean society today.

Calligraphy of King Heonjong

Joseon Kings studied and produced calligraphy using Chinese characters, hanja.

Joseon Scholars nicknamed their writing materials; the brush, the inkstone, ink stick and paper as the ‘four friends of study’.

Boxes of bamboo sticks contained questions about Confucianist texts

Joseon Kings’ used to these Confucianist questions and texts on the bamboo sticks to enhance their knowledge.

King Sejong the Great

King Sejong the Great (r. 1418-1450) was responsible for several successful advancements within Korean art and culture.

Under King Sejong’s guidance, scholars at the royal academy created the Korean alphabet Hangeul, which is a simple phonetic language system designed to help educate all of the Korean people.

King Sejong was also interested in science and astronomy. He instructed his team of scholars to create Sundials, water clocks, celestial globes and astronomical maps.

Korean Placenta Jars

Historically, Koreans’ believed the placenta of a newborn baby must be carefully preserved to ensure a healthy life.

In the Joseon era, the placenta of a newborn prince or princess would be put in a simple ceramic jar and then buried in a stone chamber. This birth relic was one of the more unusual Joseon Royal Rituals.

Example of a Royal Birth Relic

Our Calligraphy Lesson

Our Royal Calligraphy lesson.

Program 3: Food for the Royals