The furniture for banquet is the craft products manufactured under stringent standards to be used to perform auspicious day. The stringent standards was being a formality not only the point of ideological directive but also measure to strengthen socia...
The furniture for banquet is the craft products manufactured under stringent standards to be used to perform auspicious day. The stringent standards was being a formality not only the point of ideological directive but also measure to strengthen social order of Joseon dynasty as being a Confucian State. The Yeron(禮論-rites) values justification and order was the major pillar of governing rule of Joseon Dynasty. Joseon dynasty established the strict classification of hierarchy of social status through Ye(禮-proprieties) and promoted harmony between royal court and people through Lak樂-feat. Upon Confucianism view in Joseon dynasty, banquet was a ceremony based on Ye-Ak thoughts(禮樂思想) as well as national event with clear political purpose, thus furniture for banquet to be used for such function was also affected from such political idea.
Royal banquet is a Yeyeon(禮宴) the basis of Ye-Ak(禮樂思想) thoughts seeks order & harmony and the art craft used for banquet was manufactured based on ritual system(禮制). The furniture for banquet manufactured by royal court were presented its drawings in the Yeseo(禮書-ceremony book) and Euigwe(儀軌-ritual manuals). The furniture for banquet drawn in Yeseo(禮書) Joseon dynasty was manufactured based on previous examples, basically, it was based from Sejongsilrok, Oye and GukjoOyeeui. As a result, the furniture drawings shown in Yeseo & Euigwe indicates mostly similar form thus those furnitures manufactured on the basis of Dosul(圖說-picture book), have a characteristics with few changes in the passage of time.
Ye(禮) in Joseon dynasty not only in royal court but also private home had a function to keep order and restore harmony. At the end of Koryo dynasty upon acceptance of Jujagaye(朱子家禮-Family Rites) the role of Ye became much greater. Joseon dynasty accepted and distributed Jujagaye from national level. In the latter period of Joseon, social order was collapsed due to wars, and social status of people was changed due to economic development as a result of which society as a hole became insecure thus the importance of ritual system became greater. Thus, in the later part of Josun dynasty, Jujagaye became an authority in publication of ritual books Eui-Ye book(儀禮書) for nobility, and it became common aspect the Yeje(禮制-ritual system) of focused on four ceremony SaYe(四禮). Furniture for banquet in the private household was manufactured based on popularized sample drawing, and like furniture of royal banquet, it took an important role as a means represents social order and justification.
The Setting and form of Royal furniture for banquet can be studied through banquet folding screen and ritual drawings. In the banquet the setting of participants and furnitures were arranged on the basis of the Host of banquet seolhaengdaesang(設行對象). If the seat of host placed in the North, in line with order of rank, seats were placed with the order of East, West, South. Once the setting of seats was arranged based on rank, according to it, the seats of Jujung(酒亭), Dajung(茶亭), Chanan(饌案), Chisanjunmunan(致詞箋文案) were placed close to King, Prince, Queen. Hyangjwaah(香座兒) or Juhwadae(樽花臺), Noyonsang(爐烟床) were placed east and west by one pair each centering royal seat in the court. And depending on the host of banquet, it was called in different name to the same furniture and the number of furniture installed was changed. Even Royal banquet junghaeneonjinchan(丁亥年 進饌), host of banquet was changed according to Night time banquet(夜進饌), or Following Day banquet and based on it furniture setting was changed as well.
To examine the characteristics of the royal banquet furniture through Euigwe(儀軌-ritual manuals) and rituals folding screen, it could be noticed that until 18th century, the distinction of coloring depending on status was not clear but in 19th century the distinction of coloring depending on stratus became clear. And due to collapse of Gwangongjang(官工匠-government artisans) and manufacturing Royal crafts by private artisans, there was a tendency of schematization of pattern and decoration of furniture or disappearance of sincerity in craftsmanship.
Later period of Joseon was a transitional period collapsing existing feudal system of middle age in various fields in terms of politics, economy, society, culture etc. While experiencing two invasions from outside the social status system of Joseon dynasty gradually collapsed in 17-18 centuries. As a result, in 19th century only a few central authorities or district rich classes could maintain their status but most of collapsed yangban(兩班) nobilities became poor both central and district areas to the extent they could not maintain their status of living. But due to development of monetary economy, increase of agri-product, and collapse of gov’t run craft industry, created newly affluent class, and nominal nobility class was increased due to issuance of Gongmyungchup(空名帖) nominal yangban certificate. As the common peoples getting affluent, it could give birth new grade of people and their desire to posses culture was increased. Newly emerged rich class could posses civilization and culture of high grade society based on their economic power, and from the feeling of compensation, high grade crafts and paintings were imitated being used by royal court or high rank officials.
The Sagayonhangdo(私家宴享圖–private banquet painting), painted to commemorate the event of personal banquet Hoi-yeyon(會禮宴) or character of passage rite event, in the sense, they are similar to Gungjunyonhangdo(宮中宴享圖-royal banquet painting) painted for King or queen’s birthday, or Giroyeon(耆老宴-banquet for aged persons). And Sagayonhangdo and Gungjunyonhangdo have a common characteristic to demonstrate power and authority of the host through leaving Confucius rites and ceremonies to posterity. Sagayonhangdo contains Yangroyochin(養老孝親-respect aged person) and Chunghyosasang(忠孝思想-royalty based on confucianism) even though it is a ritual drawing privately created.
Those furnitures or types of Sagayonhang purpose and Gungjunyonhang purpose were similar in terms of form of manufacturing technique. Specially, the red lacquer(朱漆) that has been regarded as exclusive use in the royal court was used for Sagayonhang furnitures purpose as well. From the early Joseon dynasty red lacquer was prohibited but among rich private household it was used for furnitures painted not only black lacquer(黑漆) but also red lacquer. The reason of the phenomenon of appearing high grade banquet furniture at Saga(私家-private household) can be thought as follows; Turning into private craftsmen sajanghwa(私匠化) due to collapse of kyeonggongjang(京工匠-capital craftsmen), Emerging importance of banquet ritual, Increased demand of high quality crafts due to increase of affluent grade of people. Such social change made difficult to strict distinction of furnitures which contributed to the popularization of high quality crafts use. But furniture of Sagayonhang purpose was but limited to formal imitation that of Gungjunyonhang purpose, as such in terms of high quality materials or its details were typical characteristics of royal furniture that couldn’‘t be imitated by Saga.
Those furnitures drawn in the Gungjunyonhangdo and Sagayonhangdo provided information on type of furniture or usages yet known until today. Materials couldn’t be found from literature study could be verified through paintings, which in turn could provide an opportunity to find existing relics. Furnitures of Gungjunyonhang purpose could be verified the existing relics through Manual drawing Euigwedosik and painting materials but furniture of Sagayonhang purpose was consisted of mainly literature and painting. photo material as such there was a limitation that it was impossible to verify the specific form, manufacturing methods. Despite such limitation, this study could be placed its significance to have identified the Organic relationship of furniture and existing relics between royal court and private household based on 19th century social ideology background.