Iminjinyeondobyeong(壬寅進宴圖屏)

Reading the Meaning of Iminjinyeondobyeong and the Royal Court Documentary Culture of Korea

Dobyeong (圖屛, Folding Screens with Paintings)>

The royal court of the Joseon Dynasty preserved court rituals, music, and dance, using various written materials to record the dignity and achievements of the royal family for posterity. Among these documents, uigwe (儀軌, royal protocols), and dobyeong preserve state-level ceremonies. In them, various scenes of the ceremonies performed on particular court occasions are vividly portrayed with detailed paintings in colors as splendid as photographs.

This painting, called jingwejang (進几杖), portrays the scene in which the emperor bestows anseok (案席, a leaning chair) and gwejang (几杖, a cane) to the aged courtiers.

The third picture, entitled gisaseogyeon (耆社錫宴), captures the scene at the banquet for the honored courtiers, portraying dancing by boy-dancers with bells in their hands, accompanying musicians with their instruments, and a figure of the jipbakjeonak (執拍典樂), the music director.

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This picture illustrates a scene at chinlimsayeon (親臨賜宴)—a feast held by the emperor for the civil and military officials at Hamnyeongjeon (咸寧殿), Deoksu Palace. Some types of court dances both from dangakjeongjae (court dance derived from the court dance of Song China, such as Suyeonjang, Yeonbaegbokjimu, and Jesuchang), and from hyangakjeongjae (such as Hyangryeongmu and Saseonmu) are painted along with deungga (登歌, an instrumental ensemble on the terrace) and heonga (軒架, an ensemble on the ground) groups that are in charge of accompanying the dances as well as the whole ceremony itself.

In the deungga ensemble, banghyang (a set of tuned iron slabs), teukjong (a single bronze bell), and teukkyeong (a single stone chime) are shown. Meanwhile, in the heonga ensemble that is divided into two parts, geongo (a large drum), chuk (a wooden square box with a mallet), eunggo (a small drum), and pyeonjong (a set of tuned bronze bells) are displayed on the east side while eo (a tiger-shaped scraper), sakgo (a middle-sized drum), and pyeonkyeong (a set of tuned stone chimes) are depicted on the west as vividly as in photos.

B. Yeonbaekbokjimu

This is a type of dangakjeongjae created during the time of King Sunjo (r. 1800–1834). During the performance, dancers sing a song with lyrics wishing for the emperor’s longevity and countless fortunes. In the dance, a main dancer who carries a peach on a silver tray performs harmoniously with other dancers who assist her. Two jukganja holders lead the entrance and exit of the whole company of dancers.

C. Jesuchang

This dance is also a type of dangakjeongjae created during the time of King Sunjo. During the performance, a dancer chants a poem declaring the longevity of the emperor by virtue of his goodness.

D. Hyangryeongmu

Please refer to the painting on the third panel.

E. Saseonmu

Saseonmu is a type of hyangakjeongjae created during the time of King Sunjo embodying the dance of saseon (四仙), the representative hwarang (elite-youth-warrior) of the Silla Kingdom.

This painting portrays the scene at oejinyeon—a type of royal banquet dedicated to an abdicated king or a king at the royal palace. Muaemu is a type of hyangakjeongjae dancing using a gourd bottle with a tasseled string, which dates back to the Silla Kingdom. It is performed by two main dancers with other dancers who assist them. The two main dancers face each other, both of them holding a gourd bottle which they elegantly pat and stroke.

This painting presents a scene of naejinyeon, a type of royal banquet dedicated to the queen of an abdicated king or a queen, where the guests are primarily women. The grandeur of the feast is indicated by Ssanggomu, a dance using two large drums, and Chunaengjeon, the most-frequently performed court dance even today.

This painting records the scene at Yajinchan(夜進饌), a luxurious night-banquet held especially for women. These women are from two different groups: naemyeongbu, whose members are ladies in the palace with official ranks, and oemyeongbu whose members are mothers or wives of royal families and high-ranking courtiers, who received official ranks. One can appreciate the entertaining mood of the feast by looking at the depiction of Seonyurak, the most solemn and splendid among all court dances, and the large-scale accompanying orchestra.

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The painted scene is from igilhoejak (翌日會酌), a feast held on the day after the main banquet for the king. On the screen, the court dance called Gainjeonmokdan, which means “a beautiful person picking a peony,” describes people enjoying the beauty of peonies that symbolize riches and honors.

[Section Three]

Introducing the Production Team

The names and official ranks of the people who were in charge of the court banquet ceremony are written here.