The Production Process of Iship kongshin hoemaengch’u of 1694 and its Significance in the History of Crafts : Focusing on the Analysis of Posagongshin bok’undogam ŭigwe

Abstract

This paper studies the materials, tools, and artisans recorded in the Posagongshin bok'undogam ŭigwe to understand the significance of Iship kongshin hoemaengch’u in the history of crafts in Korea. Iship kongshin hoemaengch’u is an elegantly decorated twenty-four-meter-long scroll made for King Sukjong, containing oaths of allegiance to the king in a time of political upheaval and reforms, and the names of 489 meritorious subjects. In making this scroll, a special directorate was set up and several government offices, including the Directorate of Fabrics, provided materials and tools, and artisans of various fields were assigned. The long fabric was made in the traditional way by cooperation of yŏnsajang(thread artisan), badijang(badi for loom artisan) and ch’ojang(silk artisan). The attaching layers were made by pulling the wooden frame tight with bamboo trees in the spacious floor of the Ministry of War building at Gyeongdeokgung Palace. The scroll was bordered with brilliant silk, and was fitted with jade caps made by okjang(jade artisan) from Pyeongando Province and a cord made by tahoejang(threaded cord artisan) was attached. Court painters drew guidelines for writings and official scribes wrote the oaths and names in regular script. Conclusively, Iship kongshin hoemaengch’u shows the best of court craftsmanship made in cooperation between skilled artisans of specialized fields, using the materials of highest quality to manifest King Sukjong’s will to assert his authority.