The Official Seal-Stamped Goryeo Civil Service Exam Certificate Becomes a National Treasure

Cultural Heritage Administration Designates Choi Gwangji's Hongpae, Yukjo Daesa Beopbodan Gyeong, and Late Joseon White Porcelain Jar as Treasures

Choi Kwang-ji Hongpae (National Seal part)

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jong-gil] Choi Gwang-ji was a civil official active from the late Goryeo to early Joseon periods. In the first year of King Chang of Goryeo (1389), he passed the civil service examination as the ‘third person in the third class (Byeonggwa 제3인, 丙科 第三人).’ This was the sixth overall rank. At that time, the examination ranks were divided into Eulgwa (乙科), Byeonggwa (丙科), and Dongjinsa (同進士). Three, seven, and twenty-two candidates respectively received passing notifications. Choi Gwang-ji received a Hongpae (紅牌), a red certificate, as proof of passing. On the red-dyed paper were two lines of text: his name and rank, ‘Seonggyun Saengwon Choi Gwang-ji Byeonggwa Third Person Passer (成均生員 崔匡之 丙科 第三人 及第者),’ and the issuance date, ‘Hongmu 22nd Year, September, Day (洪武 貳拾貳年 玖月 日).’ Above the issuance date was the national seal stamped, reading ‘Seal of the King of Goryeo (高麗國王之印).’

The civil service examination certificate issued 630 years ago was recognized as a treasure. It is the only existing official Goryeo document bearing the national seal, the ‘Choi Gwang-ji Hongpae (紅牌).’ On the 23rd, the Cultural Heritage Administration announced that the certificate owned by the Jeonju Choi clan’s Song-ae branch, the late Goryeo Buddhist scripture ‘Yukjo Daesa Beopbodan-gyeong (六祖大師法寶壇經),’ and a Joseon period white porcelain jar held by the Busan Museum were each designated as treasures. Hongpae were certificates of passing the civil or military service exams issued on paper dyed red with safflower and other dyes. Those who passed the Saengwon or Jinsa exams received Baekpae (白牌), certificates written on white paper.

Kwangji Choi Red Plaque (Full)

So far, six Hongpae from the Goryeo period have been confirmed: Jang Yang-su (National Treasure No. 181), Woo Tak (undesignated), Jang Gye (Treasure No. 501), Lee Ja-su (undesignated), Yang I-si (Treasure No. 725), and Yang Su-saeng (Treasure No. 725). All were issued earlier than the ‘Choi Gwang-ji Hongpae,’ but since they were issued by government offices on behalf of the king, they lack the royal seal. The ‘Choi Gwang-ji Hongpae’ shows a complete form as an official document directly executing the king’s orders in terms of format and nature. It bears the national seal and carries the document title ‘Wangji (Royal Decree).’ The ‘Seal of the King of Goryeo’ was a seal granted to Goryeo by the Ming dynasty Hongwu Emperor in 1370. It was returned to China in 1393, shortly after the founding of Joseon. This seal was also used in the National Treasure ‘Ije Gaeguk Gongshin Gyoseo’ granted by Joseon’s founder King Taejo Yi Seong-gye to Ije, a founding meritorious subject, in October 1392.

The Cultural Heritage Administration explained, “It is the only example with formal completeness,” and “It was inherited by later generations and greatly influenced the official document system of the Joseon period.” They added, “It is the first physical evidence confirming the record in the ‘Goryeosa (History of Goryeo)’ that the term ‘Wangji’ was used on examination certificates from the second year of King Chungnyeol of Goryeo (1276). It has high historical and academic value and rarity due to its close relation to the document system of the Joseon period.”

Yukjo Daesa Beopbodan Gyeong (Preface)

The ‘Yukjo Daesa Beopbodan-gyeong’ designated as a treasure together is a printed edition compiled by the Yuan dynasty Zen master Mengshan Deyi (蒙山德異) in the 16th year of King Chungnyeol (1290). It was accepted by the Goryeo Suseonsa (修禪社) monk Hyegam Guksa Manhang (萬恒) and published in 1300 at Seonwonsa Temple in Ganghwa. It is currently held at Baekcheonsa Temple in Sacheon-si, Gyeongsangnam-do. The Yukjo Daesa Beopbodan-gyeong is a book in which Huineng (慧能) of the Tang dynasty delivered ten Dharma talks to the public on the process of reaching the position of the Sixth Patriarch and the practice of his disciples, compiled by his disciple Beophae (法海). Mengshan Deyi, who compiled this, is evaluated to have had a significant influence on Goryeo Buddhism through close exchanges with Manhang.

This book was continuously published in Korea until the 19th century. The copy preserved at Baekcheonsa is the earliest and shows differences in printing style compared to the Joseon Deok-i edition series. It is the oldest extant edition of this type of scripture, making it highly valuable. The Cultural Heritage Administration emphasized, “It is a precious resource for Buddhist studies and for understanding the woodblock printing culture of late Goryeo. Due to its high academic and bibliographic value, it needs to be designated and managed as a treasure.”

Busan Museum Baekja DaehO

The ‘white porcelain jar’ held by the Busan Museum is a large jar 52.6 cm tall, made in the late 17th to early 18th century. Minor cracks on the rim and shoulder have been repaired, maintaining an almost complete form. Although the left and right sides are slightly asymmetrical, it gives a natural and dignified impression. The white glaze with a calm bluish tint is evenly applied, giving it an elegant quality.

This jar is presumed to have been produced at the official kiln (Gwan-yo, 官窯) for royal porcelain, as its stable shape and excellent technique indicate. It is cited as an important example showing that the official kiln porcelain production technology had reached a mature stage at that time. The Cultural Heritage Administration explained, “Based on its appropriate form, refined glaze, and excellent firing, it can be evaluated as an important artifact in the history of Joseon ceramics.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.