Talisman to Protect Against Fire with the Chinese Character for “Dragon (龍)”

This depicts a dragon drawn on a red paper. A large Chinese character meaning water “水” is filled with a thousand small Chinese characters meaning dragon “龍” on red paper. This talisman was found near the upper floor roof during the reconstruction of Geunjeongjeon Hall, the Hall of Diligent Rule in Gyeongbokgung Palace, Palace of Resplendent Happiness, in 2001. At that time, one architectural record on the 1867 reconstruction of Geunjeongjeon Hall, one record listing the officials in charge of the reconstruction of Gyeongbokgung Palace, one record on Regent Yi Haeung, a talisman of a dragon, and five hexagonal silver talismans were also discovered. Dragons were considered to have the ability to control water and was an animal symbolizing the king’s authority. In this regard, the talisman seems to have been made and placed with the architectural records with the intention to prevent outbreaks of fire in the palace.