Famous Extant Items

Compiled by Ásfríðr Ulfvíðardóttir/ Rebecca Lucas.

The National Treasures of South Korea are items, sites and buildings that are recognised for their cultural, historical or artistic value. These treasures are administrated by the Cultural Heritage Association, and include many items of clothing worn or made prior to 1600 CE.
Many of these treasures are displayed on their website, and have been grouped together below, according to garment type.

This is by no means an exhaustive list, so please look at the resources in the bibliography for other places to look.

All links last checked 21st June 2009. Hopefully I've linked to more stable addresses!
If the links have broken, follow the instructions on this page for searching the Cultural Heritage Association database, and use the 'Important Folklore Material' and 'Treasure' numbers below.

Baji (바지, pants), Mens.

Baji (바지, pants), Womens.

Beoseon (버선, socks)

  • Padded socks of Lady Im, from a tomb in Jangheung. [No Photograph]
    Also online here [No photograph].
    Included in this list, because it is a female gravefind that included socks.
    Died in the 1590s.
    Important Folklore Material 112-12
  • Socks from the tomb of Kim Ham (1568-1598)
    Also online here.
    Important Folklore Materials 209-7
  • 17th Century Beoseon:
  • Socks from the tomb of a Jinju Ha clan lady. She was the second wife of Gwak Ju, around 1646.
    Also online here.
    And online here, too.
    Important Folklore Materials 229-1-5
  • Socks from the tomb of the son of Yi Cheongi (1610~1666) and his family. These socks were found with his third son, Yi Ji-young.
    Also online here.
    Important Folklore Materials 37-7
  • Socks from the tomb of Hong Geuk-ga (?~1670)
    Also online here.
    Important Folklore Materials 40-4
  • National Folk Museum of Korea's webpage about sock history.

Cheollik (long jacket with attached skirt).

  • Described by Cho (2005; 161) as being worn, by military men, underneath the dapho (sleeveless underwear). However, has also been found in female graves.
  • Purple silk cheollik of Kim Wi (mid-Joseon period).
    Also online here.
    Important Folklore Material 118-3
  • Silk cheollik of Kim Wi (mid-Joseon period).
    Also online here.
    Important Folklore Material 118-10
  • Cheollik, found in the grave of the wife of Chae Muyeok (1537-1594)
    Important Folklore Materials 109-1
  • Ramie cheollik of General Kim Deok-ryeong (1567-1596).
    Also online here.
    Important Folklore Materials 111-2
  • Lined and padded winter cheollik of General Kim Deok-ryeong (1567-1596). [No picture]
    Important Folklore Materials 111-3

Chima (치마). Skirt.

Dangui (당의, 唐衣).
Shaped woman's jacket, for court wear.

Dapho (답호)

Dopo (도포, 道袍)
Overcoat worn by Confucian scholars.

Durumagi (두루마기)

  • Outer robe, worn over jeogori by both men and women.
  • Durumagi from the grave of the wife of Chae Mu-yeok (1537-1594).
    Also online here.
    Important Folklore Material 109-1-4

Gwanbok (관복)
Clothing of government officers.

Jangot (장옷)
Jacket-shaped veil.

  • Jangot, believed to have been worn as a normal jacket instead of a veil.
    16/17th century, belonging to a family member of General Nam Iheung.
    Important Folklore Material 21-8
  • Cotton padded jangot, belonging to the wife of Yi Cheon-gi.
    Yi Cheongi lived 1610-1666, and his wife was from the Heungryeo Park clan.
    Also online here.
    Important Folklore Material 37-4.
  • Jangot with pheonix-patterned fabric
    Also online here.
    Belonged to the third sons' wife of Yi Cheon-gi. The third son, Yi Ji-young, was married to Lady Hwang from Pyeonghae.
    17th century?
    Important Folklore Material 37-3.

Jeogori (저고리)
Roughly Arranged by Date

Mokdori (scarf)

Po (outer coat)

Shinbal (신발)
Footwear

  • Hemp sandals (mituri, 미투리) of Lady Im, from a tomb in Jangheung. [No Photograph]
    Also online here [No photograph].
    Died in the 1590s.
    Included, as it shows the presence of mituri in a female grave.
    Important Folklore Material 112-13
  • Hemp and human hair sandals, buried with Lee Eung-Tae, d. 1586.
    The sandals were made by his wife with her hair, as a folk rememdy to cure him from an illness. It appears that he died before the shoes could be finished.
    Article in Korea Magazine, "A Buried Love Resurfaces at Last" Webpage links to a 8.3Mb PDF file, but the photographs are very high quality.
    Photograph online here.
    Does not appear to have a CHA ID associated with it.

Veils

(Some) Sets of Robes

Bibliography

  • Cho Sunmie. 2005. Joseon Dynasty Portraits of Meritorious Subjects: Styles and Social Fuction Korea Journal 45 no 2; 151-181 PDF Online, but you need to right-click the link, save the file, and add the .pdf to the end.
  • Cultural Heritage Association of Korea
    Select 'Heritage Info' then 'General Search' to access the images.
  • Gwangju Design Biennale. 2009. Jeogori of Joseon Dynasty in Relics Website and PDF. [Square Brackets refer to the Website Picture Gallery Page].
  • Suk, J. S. 1985. Ui [Clothes of the Joson Dynasty]. (Seoul: Dankook University.)