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- International Cooperation Division
- Date
- 2023-02-09
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The National Palace Museum of Korea Sheds New Light
on the Scientific Achievements of the Joseon Dynasty
- The Scientific Achievement of the Joseon Dynasty Gallery Reopened and Available for Public Viewing Starting December 27 (Tue) -
On December 27, 2022, the National Palace Museum of Korea (Director: Kim In Kyu), an affiliate of the Cultural Heritage Administration of Korea, will reopen the permanent Scientific Achievement of the Joseon Dynasty Gallery following major renovations. The remodeled gallery will present artifacts capturing the spirit of the scientific pursuits of the Joseon royal court, including the Stone Constellation Chart (cheonsangyeolchabunyajido gakseok; National Treasure), the second oldest of its kind in the world, and the Self-striking Water Clock (jagyeongnu; National Treasure) from Changdeokgung Palace that is introduced to the general public for the first time.
The renovated gallery features an exhibition themed on gwansang susi* (observing the sky and marking the seasons) that highlights the museum’s extensive collection of important astronomical instruments. It focuses on providing viewers with a simple explanation of the meanings and operating principles of these scientific and cultural artifacts that otherwise might be too specialized and convoluted to grasp. Moreover, a separate space has been set aside to display the Stone Constellation Chart, which is highly significant yet proved difficult to view in the past due to spatial and technological limitations. Viewers will be able to thoroughly examine the chart and enjoy the related immersive content. The exhibition displays a total of forty-five artifacts, including three national treasures and six treasures.
* Gwansang susi: The practice of observing celestial bodies, setting solar terms, dates, and times based on these observations, and distributing this information to the people.
The newly remodeled Scientific Achievement of the Joseon Dynasty Gallery consists of three main sections: I. The Joseon Ruling Ideology and Astronomy; II. Astronomy Projects of the Joseon Royal Court; and III. Astronomical Instruments of the Joseon Dynasty. The first section “The Joseon Ruling Ideology and Astronomy” highlights how gwansang susi, the foremost duty of Joseon kings, was a major component of the state ideology and an important means for governance. Celestial globes (honcheonui or seongiokhyeong) have been considered an emblem of royal authority since ancient times. Ceremonial swords called ingeom produced by the royal court were engraved with the Big Dipper, symbolizing the sovereign, and twenty-eight constellations. The pedestal (National Treasure) of the rainfall-measuring instrument at Imunwon Hall in Changdeokgung Palace was a device for governance used to help people farm and charge them appropriate taxes.
The second section, “Astronomy Projects of the Joseon Royal Court,” introduces astronomy-related projects sponsored by the royal court and the related outcomes, such as the publication of almanacs. King Sejong supported astronomical observations and the study of calendar systems. During his reign, a unique calendar system that enabled people to identify the local time in Hanyang (present-day Seoul) was established based on the study of Chinese and Islamic calendar systems. The publication of astronomical books continued from the early through late Joseon period, as demonstrated by Abstracted Astronomical Book (Cheonmunryucho) and The Revised and Enlarged Edition of the Comparative Review of Records and Documents (Jeungbo munheon bigo). Calendrical books and almanacs were published as well. This section of the exhibition features a calendar called naeyongsamseo that was designed for the exclusive use of the royal court. It also presents types of annual almanacs such as daetongnyeonk and siheollyeok. Each of these almanacs has a summary of the year and covers twelve months, with each month broken down by date. The traces of use remaining in the almanacs show how they were applied like present-day desk calendars or dairies to mark major anniversaries. However, unlike today’s desk calendars or dairies, Joseon-era almanacs also related unlucky times when one should avoid certain tasks or events as along with good times to do things. They were sometimes used to forecast good or ill fortune. The interactive information kiosk on a siheollyeok used by an official in 1772 allows viewers to thoroughly explore how calendars were applied during the Joseon period.
When hemispherical sundials were first produced, they were installed in the royal palaces and at busy spots in front of Gwanghwamun Gate and in Jongno. For the sake of illiterate people, each hour was engraved with an animal. There is also a portable hemispherical sundial ten centimeters long. In addition to a hemispherical dial to read the time, it contains a compass so that the direction can be determined from anywhere.
Water clocks could be used to tell the time at night. None of the original self-striking water clocks have survived. The self-striking water clock at Changdeokgung Palace was composed of three vessels providing a regulated flow of water and two long cylindrical tanks that captured the water flowing from the vessels. In the third section of the exhibition is the bead-releasing section of a self-striking water clock and its time-announcing bell that were excavated in Insa-dong in 2021.
Towards the end of the third section of the exhibition is a separate room displaying two pieces: the Stone Constellation Chart (National Treasure) and the Stone Constellation Chart (Treasure) that was later reproduced based on it. At the entrance of the space, viewers can thoroughly explore these stone constellation charts through an interactive information kiosk. Once they enter the room, they can appreciate the artifacts along with immersive content. In particular, the astronomical map on the stone constellation charts is recreated using immersive images that are connected to the charts. This effort to link the actual artifacts to immersive images at close range is particularly noteworthy.
The renovation of the Scientific Achievement of the Joseon Dynasty Gallery is a result of the museum’s multi-pronged efforts to enhance the convenience for visitors. As a case in point, informational video clips and interactive kiosks are provided throughout the exhibition halls for visitors who wish to learn more about the artifacts. It is not easy to understand how astronomical instruments such as the sun-and-stars time-determining instrument (ilseong jeongsiui) or the time- and season-determining instrument using the locations of the constellations (pyeonghonui) operate just based on the explanatory panels. If you see kiosks providing video clips, please take a look at them. They will satisfy your curiosity about the operating principles of these astronomical instruments. In the beginning of the gallery is the section “The Science Culture of the Joseon Dynasty at Your Fingertips” that presents four tactile objects (a celestial globe, pedestal for a rain gauge, hemispherical sundial, and long cylindrical tank for a self-striking water clock) for visually impaired visitors. Moreover, large-print information panels are installed throughout the exhibition halls to help elderly visitors and others who require it. The exhibition is also designed to allow visitors to appreciate scientific cultural heritage by using their different senses. Standing in front of the rain gauge pedestal, you can hear the sound of rain, while in front of the self-striking water clock you can hear the sound of a drum and bell that announce the time.
The National Palace Museum of Korea is striving to live up to its exhibition motto “elevating dignity and lowering barriers” through this remodeling of the Scientific Achievement of the Joseon Dynasty Gallery. It will continue to make efforts to improve its exhibitions so that royal cultural heritage can be loved by Korean citizens and accessed easily and comfortably.
Division: The National Palace Museum of Korea
Exhibition & Publicity Division
Contact person: Lim Kyoung-hee (02-3701-7631) Kim Jae-eun (02-3701-7632)
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