This study was conducted to investigate the kinds and production methods of embroidery Hyoongbae excavated from tombs in Joseon Dynasty and to make reproductions of the relics on the basis of the results.
Literary documents about costumes ornamente...
This study was conducted to investigate the kinds and production methods of embroidery Hyoongbae excavated from tombs in Joseon Dynasty and to make reproductions of the relics on the basis of the results.
Literary documents about costumes ornamented with embroidery have remained so far through Joseon Dynasty since the Three Kingdom Period. Introduced first in Joseon Dynasty, Hyoongbae was used by directly weaving patterns or making and attaching additional patterns to men's official dress, Dalyeong, or women's formal dress, Wonsam or Dangeui, and especially it was such important a part of the costume those days that the kinds of animal patterns were determined depending on wearers' official ranks.
As for the research methods and contents, this study examined the literary documents and relic data about embroidery and Hyoongbae, and based on the results, this study prepared a list of excavated relics. After photographing each relic of embroidery Hyoongbae, this study investigated its composition with pattern and embroidery techniques and made a reproduction of Hak (crane) Hyoongbae designed by Jeong Tae-je (1621~1669) and stored in Seok Juseon Memorial Museum. This relic only didn't have any damaged part out of all the embroidery Hyoongbae relics excavated and was filled with embroider threads without blank space, and especially it was the only case that the crane pattern was processed with inside stitch and then with couching stitch with gold threads.
Through the literary documents, it was found that embroidery was used for Buddhist articles, ornamental goods and household items in addition to costumes even before Joseon Dynasty. Besides, during the periods of Goryeo Dynasty and Joseon Dynasty, there were master craftsmen working for a governmental agency to supply embroidery used for the palace, and in such areas as Anju and Soonchang, even commercial embroidery was produced during the Joseon Dynasty period. The Hyoongbae system was first introduced in the second year of King Danjong's reign (1454) to be used for the third official grade, and there were a variety of animal patterns to symbolize people's social position and status. Afterwards, its use was expanded to the sixth official grade in the 18th year of King Sukjong's reign (1692) and to the ninth official grade in the 18th year of King Jeongjo's reign (1794) once again, but it was simplified to the crane patter for civil servants and the tiger pattern for military servants.
It was found that the 67 pieces of Hyoongbae excavated from the tomb belong to the period between the 16th century and the 19th century, and in terms of production method, they were classified into Jickgeum (Weave with Supplememtary Wefts), Jickgeum-janghwadan (Brocade) and embroidery. Whenever patterns were directly put on the cloth, spun gold thread was used for Jickgeum Hyoongbae. Embroidery Hyoongbae features in having appeared after the 17th century and was composed of animal patterns, plant patterns and longevity patterns, and especially this study found that it was produced with such embroidery techniques as satin stitch, outline stitch, knot stitch, couching stitch and mat stitch.
Based on the results of the investigation into literary documents and relic data, this study made a reproduction of embroidery Hyoongbae so that it might express similarities in the frontal and back sides of embroidery Hyoongbae and the materials and production methods. For the first time, this study presented pictures of each part of the relic and attempted Nabsasu Technique used for Hyoongbae. As for the materials, this study used cotton yarn thick enough to express cubic effect, different-thickness gold threads to express the crane and tiger patterns and spun colored thread specially produced for this study. This study has significance, in that it provided basic data in making reproductions of other embroidery products excavated. Moreover, it is anticipated that with the production methods and embroidery techniques of the excavated Hyoongbae and reproduction, Jickgeum or Jickgeum-janghwadan Hyoongbae can be produced by using gold and colored threads.