Embroidered Patch

This is an embroidered patch attached on mourning clothes. Designs were differentiated based on the rank of officials. For government officials, square patches were attached at the chest and the back, while for royal family members, round patches called bo were fixed on the back, chest and both shoulders. The patches for the king and the queen used a dragon motif, which was first used during the reign of King Sejong. The patch designs for government officials were completed in the reign of King Danjong. According to the design, motifs of winged animals were used for civil officials, while motifs of four-legged animals were used for military officials. Great princes used a mythical horse-like animal; the palace guard commander a lion; princes a mythical white lion-like animal; and the inspector-general a mythical lion-like animal. In the reign of King Gojong, third- or higher rank civil officials used two cranes while fourth- or lower rank civil officials used a single crane. Military officials used one or two tigers, depending on the rank.