Joseon Dynasty Joseon ( ; ; also romanized as ''Chosun''), officially Great Joseon (), was a dynastic kingdom of Korea that existed for 505 years. It was founded by Taejo of Joseon in July 1392 and replaced by the Korean Empire in October 1897. The kingdom w ...

Korea Korea is a peninsular region in East Asia consisting of the Korean Peninsula, Jeju Island, and smaller islands. Since the end of World War II in 1945, it has been politically Division of Korea, divided at or near the 38th parallel north, 3 ...

Mianfu Mianfu () is a kind of Chinese clothing in hanfu; it was worn by emperors, kings, and princes, and in some instances by the nobles in historical China from the Shang to the Ming dynasty. The mianfu is the highest level of formal dress worn by ...

coronation A coronation ceremony marks the formal investiture of a monarch with regal power using a crown. In addition to the crowning, this ceremony may include the presentation of other items of regalia, and other rituals such as the taking of special v ...

Lunar New Year Lunar New Year is the beginning of a new year based on lunar calendars or, informally, lunisolar calendars. Lunar calendar years begin with a new moon and have a fixed number of lunar months, usually twelve, in contrast to lunisolar calendar ye ...

soil and grain __NOTOC__ Soil and grain was a common Chinese political term in the Sinosphere for the state. Shejitan, the altars of soil and grain, were constructed alongside ancestral altars. Chinese monarchs of the Ming and Qing dynasties performed ceremon ...

Sajikdan Sajikdan () is a Neo-Confucian altar located in Sajik-dong, Jongno District, Seoul, South Korea. It was built and used during the Joseon period to perform rituals related to soil and grain. Myeonbok symbolizes the dignity of king when conducting important ceremonies.Myeonbok Gangsil
''jongmyo.net''. Access date: pada 18 Mei 2010.

Types of myeonbok

Myeonbok is divided into ''gujangbok'' and ''sibijangbok''. Gujangbok (''nine-emblem myeonbok'') is worn by king and sibijangbok (twelve-emblem myeonbok) is worn by emperor. The ''myeonbok'' of Korean Kings could only use nine symbols instead of the

Twelve Ornaments The Twelve Ornaments () are a group of ancient China, ancient Chinese symbols and designs that are considered highly auspicious. They were employed in the decoration of textile fabrics in ancient China, which signified authority and power, and wer ...

as only the Emperor (typically Chinese Emperors) could wear the Twelve Ornaments. The Korean kings have used the nine symbols since the year 1065 AD after the Liao emperor had bestowed a nine-symbol robe (; ) to the Korean king in 1043 AD. The myeonbok is worn with seok (shoes worn for rituals); the seok also originated from China before developing further into a unique Korean style.

History

In early

Joseon Joseon ( ; ; also romanized as ''Chosun''), officially Great Joseon (), was a dynastic kingdom of Korea that existed for 505 years. It was founded by Taejo of Joseon in July 1392 and replaced by the Korean Empire in October 1897. The kingdom w ...

, King Taejong attempted to develop positive relationship with China's

Ming dynasty The Ming dynasty, officially the Great Ming, was an Dynasties of China, imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol Empire, Mongol-led Yuan dynasty. The Ming was the last imperial dynasty of ...

; this positive political orientation towards Ming dynasty China lead to the formal recognition of Joseon and the inauguration of King Taejong as the King of Joseon, along with the bestowal of the

Mianfu Mianfu () is a kind of Chinese clothing in hanfu; it was worn by emperors, kings, and princes, and in some instances by the nobles in historical China from the Shang to the Ming dynasty. The mianfu is the highest level of formal dress worn by ...

.

Gojong of Korea Gojong (; 8 September 1852 – 21 January 1919), personal name Yi Myeongbok (), later Yi Hui (), also known as the Gwangmu Emperor (), was the penultimate List of monarchs of Korea, Korean monarch. He ruled Korea for 43 years, from 1864 to 19 ...

appropriated the

Twelve Ornaments The Twelve Ornaments () are a group of ancient China, ancient Chinese symbols and designs that are considered highly auspicious. They were employed in the decoration of textile fabrics in ancient China, which signified authority and power, and wer ...

on his enthronement costume (i.e. ''myeonbok'', 면복/冕服) when he became the Emperor of Korea in 1897 which followed the dress system of ancient China. Out of the occasions where myeonbok would have been worn, the ancestral rites at Jongmyo and the

soil and grain __NOTOC__ Soil and grain was a common Chinese political term in the Sinosphere for the state. Shejitan, the altars of soil and grain, were constructed alongside ancestral altars. Chinese monarchs of the Ming and Qing dynasties performed ceremon ...

rite at

Sajikdan Sajikdan () is a Neo-Confucian altar located in Sajik-dong, Jongno District, Seoul, South Korea. It was built and used during the Joseon period to perform rituals related to soil and grain.Hereditary Prince Imperial, wearing the 12-ornamented myeonbok, presides in place of the Emperor.

References

{{Reflist Korean clothing Folk costumes id:Myeonbok

Types of myeonbok

History

See also

References