Branding Iron with Chinese Character “通符 (Night Pass)” Branding Iron with Chinese Character “通符 (Night Pass)”

This branding iron was stamped on the night pass, next to the carved two Chinese characters for night pass “通符”. The night pass was for guests of the royal palace during Joseon Dynasty. A branding iron refers to a stamp that is heated in fire. It was primarily used on horse acquisition tablets, issued by the state, and on the royal and military goods. Its use was to prevent any counterfeit activity by branding the tablets that had to be carried as a certificate for official occasions, such as entering a palace, night patrol of the city, opening and closing of the doors of the palaces and city, supplying horses, orders of urgent work, night duty in royal palaces, and military drafts.

This branding iron was stamped on the night pass, next to the carved two Chinese characters for night pass “通符”. The night pass was for guests of the royal palace during Joseon Dynasty. A branding iron refers to a stamp that is heated in fire. It was primarily used on horse acquisition tablets, issued by the state, and on the royal and military goods. Its use was to prevent any counterfeit activity by branding the tablets that had to be carried as a certificate for official occasions, such as entering a palace, night patrol of the city, opening and closing of the doors of the palaces and city, supplying horses, orders of urgent work, night duty in royal palaces, and military drafts.