Silver Seal of King Jeongjo

This is a silver seal King Yeongjo granted to his grandson prince regent, later King Jeongjo, with a handwritten inscription of “To My Filial Grandson”in 1776, the 52nd year of King Yeongjo’s reign, at his age of 83. King Yeongjo bestowed his writing Will of Admonitionalong with this silver seal to show his sentiment towards his grandson’s filial piety for his deceased father, Crown Prince Sado. On the engraved surface of the seal, there are inscriptions of “To My Filial Grandson”in large script and “Wrote at the age of 83”in small cursive handwriting. This is the only royal seal that carries the king’s own handwriting. Later, King Jeongjo placed this silver seal and the Will of Admonitionat the front during his coronation ceremony and the royal processions. Those two items were seen as major symbols to represent the legitimacy of his succession to the throne and his royal power.