Bamboo Investiture Book of King Jeongjo

This bamboo investiture book was given by King Yeongjo in 1759, the 35th year of King Yeongjo’s reign, when King Yeongjo appointed his grandson who would later become King Jeongjo as a heir to the throne. Royal investiture book was usually bestowed, along with the royal seal. Tributes or entreaties to the recipient were inscribed on the book and it was bestowed when entitling the queen, crown prince, consort of the crown prince or conferring posthumous or honorary titles. Materials used for the production of the book varied, ranging from jade or bamboo to gold, depending on the benefactor’s status. Bamboo books were made by connecting panels, composed of five to six long bamboo strips bound together in sequence with thread and hinges or rings.