* National Palace Museum of Korea YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/gogungmuseum

* Cultural Heritage Administration YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/chluvu

This month’s selection is a type of brass ruler taking the form of a rectangular shaft that was produced during the Joseon Dynasty. This example from the National Palace Museum of Korea collection is the only one to have survived. According to historical records, the ruler was produced by royal command in 1740 (the twelfth year of the reign of King Yeongjo) for the reestablishment of measurement standards that had fallen into disorder. It was made by Choe Cheonyak, the most prominent engineer in science technology at the time.

Although it is not particularly ornate compared to many other artifacts from the Joseon royal court, the ruler is deeply important in that it represents the establishment and management of a national standard for measurement, demonstrating the state’s efforts to wisely and harmoniously rule the people. During the late Joseon Dynasty, covert secret inspectors, who oversaw the conduct of provincial magistrates in order to prevent abuse or corruption, carried these brass rulers together with a medallion (mapae) that allowed the use of government horses. They sought out and rectified any improper use of measurement. The brass ruler is on display in the Measurement corner in the gallery of Scientific Achievement of the Joseon Dynasty on floor B2 in the museum.

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Division: The National Palace Museum of Korea

            Exhibition & Publicity Division

Contact person: Lim Gyeong-hee (02-3701-7631), Lee Ji-hye (02-3701-7634)