Uigwe, The Royal Protocols of The Joseon Dynasty

Record of Royal Protocols including Detailed Texts and Vibrant Illustrations

The Uigwe, which literally means “a model for rituals”, records through text and illustrations all the major state ceremonies and events of the Joseon Dynasty (1392~1910). This guide not only covers royal weddings, funerals, and banquets, but it also contains instructions for how to construct for royal buildings and burial sites, and guides for the cultural activities of the royal family, as well as the various other state events, which were systematically organized according to the traditions. In addition to detailed descriptions of the protocols for events, the Uigwe also includes a list of the people in charge, the number of staff, including their position and responsibilities, items used, and expenditures for each event. Accompanying the texts are colored illustrations of major items used and sketches of events, creating a fascinating visual record.

Priceless Documents Recording the Royal Culture of the Past

Entries in the Uigwe cover politics, economy, architecture, fine arts, science, language, fashion, and cuisine, making it a valuable document for studying various historical fields. It is a vital document for recovering information on the lost royal culture of the past. In fact, the current restorations of Changdeokgung, Changgyeonggung, and Gyeonghuigung palaces are based on the Uigwe records. Traditionally, the first copy was handed to the king, while five to ten other copies were distributed to relevant departments for safekeeping. Produced with the utmost care on high-quality paper and protected by silk covers, the king’s copy has outstanding artistic value. During the French invasion of 1866, 296 of the King’s reference books, which were kept in Oegyujanggak (the former Royal Library, 외규장각) on Ganghwa-do island, were seized. They are now kept in the National Library of France.

A Banchado Illustration (반차도)

Banchado is an illustration that shows a grand procession and the order of the participants, which was decided according to their position in society. It offers a glimpse into the various details of royal processions, in terms of both scale and content. A Banchado illustration can also be seen at the Cheonggyecheon stream in Seoul. There the Banchado illustration is reproduced as a mural 2.4 meters high and 186 meters long. It is located in the area below the Samil Building in Cheonggye 2-ga. It depicts the 8-day royal parade of King Jeongjo (22nd king of Joseon Dynasty, 1752~1800) and his mother Hyegyeonggung Hongssi, on their journey to Hwaseong Fortress in Suwon and to Yungneung, the burial site of his father, Crown Prince Sado Seja (or posthumously designated King Jangjo). Created by leading artists of the time, this and other illustrations are priceless examples of Korean art. Recognized for their uniqueness in the world, the 3,430 books of the Joseon Dynasty Uigwe were listed on the UNESCO Memory of the World register in June 2007.

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