Ilwol Obongdo Sets the Yin-Yang and Five Elements in Order

Conservation Treatment Knots on Four-Panel Folding Screen of Ilwol Obongdo at Injeongjeon, Changdeokgung
New Folding Screen Frame Made... Traces of Reused Past Exam Answer Sheets Found

Ilwol Obongdo after preservation treatment

Ilwol Obongdo (日月五峯圖) is a painting depicting the sky, mountains, sea, and forest. In the sky, a white moon and a red sun are positioned on the left and right, floating roundly. Below, five mountain peaks rise steeply. At the foot of the mountains, waves surge turbulently, and on both ends of the painting, lush pine trees with red trunks stand in pairs. This was not a painting that could be seen anywhere. During the Joseon Dynasty, it was placed behind the throne where the king sat. The sun and moon symbolize Yin and Yang, and the five peaks represent the Five Elements (Ohaeng). It signifies the creation and transformation of the universe and the Yin-Yang and Five Elements theory. For the owner of the painting, the king, it conveyed the meaning of being the master of the universe or representing the master of the universe.

Ilwol Obongdo was depicted as a folding screen behind the throne in places such as Geunjeongjeon Hall in Gyeongbokgung Palace, Injeongjeon Hall in Changdeokgung Palace, Myeongjeongjeon Hall in Changgyeonggung Palace, and Junghwajeon Hall in Deoksugung Palace. However, the four-panel folding screen that was in Injeongjeon Hall of Changdeokgung Palace had cracked surfaces and peeling pigments. This was due to exposure to outside air after Injeongjeon was opened to the general public. Even the folding screen frame that supported the structure was warped, so it was moved to the Cultural Heritage Conservation Science Center of the National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage in 2015. The following year, it was fully dismantled and underwent conservation treatment. The Cultural Heritage Conservation Science Center completed the conservation treatment at the end of last year after more than six years. The process and research results can be seen in the report "Conservation Treatment of Ilwol Obongdo in Injeongjeon, Changdeokgung Palace," published on the 19th.

Screen disassembly

During the dismantling process, the Cultural Heritage Conservation Science Center confirmed the layered structure in the order of the painting surface, backing paper (paper attached to the back to support and mount calligraphy and paintings), 1960s newspaper, shikgwon (test papers), and folding screen frame. An official explained, "When treating Ilwol Obongdo in the 1960s, the existing folding screen frame used at the time of production was reused." The conservation treatment was carried out by analyzing the materials and applying appropriate methods. This included the wood species of the folding screen frame, pigments, backing paper, and the base painting surface. However, the existing folding screen frame became unusable due to structural damage such as insect damage and warping, so a new frame was made based on the wood species analysis results. The mounting (decorating calligraphy or paintings into scrolls, folding screens, books, etc.) was recreated with green cloud-patterned silk adorned with floral gold leaf, reproducing the appearance from the Uigwe (royal protocol). An official said, "It was completed based on investigations of the 'Injeongjeon Reconstruction Uigwe,' 'Injeongjeon Repair Uigwe,' early 1900s glass plate photos of Ilwol Obongdo, and Ilwol Obongdo in Sinseonwonjeon of Changdeokgung Palace."

Janghwang Jaehyeon

The Cultural Heritage Conservation Science Center conducted joint research on old documents during the conservation treatment process. As a result, it was revealed that twenty-five shikgwon sheets used as the first backing paper for the folding screen frame were answer sheets from the Shiknyeon Gam-si Chosi (式年監試初試), a civil service examination held every three years during the Joseon Dynasty. This exam collectively refers to the Saengwon-si and Jinsa-si. An official explained, "These are answer sheets from a candidate who failed the Shiknyeon Gam-si Chosi in 1840," adding, "It was confirmed that the paper was recycled for production and that the production date was after the 1840s."

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