Men’s Coat

Jikryeong is a kind of men’s outer robe named after the shape of its straight collars. It was also referred to as Jikryeong robe, jikryeong straight-and-overlapped collared robe, or jikryeongeui. This type of men’s coat was first introduced when the rules of official uniforms were reformed at the end of the Goryeo era, and was worn with a hat by commoners and the lower classes. Until the early Joseon period, this garment was generally worn by commoners, but it became much more popular as to be worn by all kings after Sejong the Great. In the early Joseon period, this men’s coat had narrow sleeves and wide and rectangular mokpan collars with a rectangular mu, or a separate patch, on both sides of the body. In the mid-Joseon era, its sleeves became wider, its collars turned narrow and stiff with a pointy end  and it was worn with the upper part of its mu folded backward. In the late Joseon period, its sleeves became duri sleeves  which are wide and round, its collar end became round, and its mu was completely folded backward and fixed to a panel called gil, or the large section of the garment, on both the front and the back. During the reign of King Gojong, this coat was banned with the aim to simplify clothing.