Book-loving King Jeongjo Surrounded by Chaekgado Behind the Royal Throne... Scholars Follow Suit

National Folk Museum Publishes Collections on Chaekgado and Munbangdo
Detailed Spotlight on 'Chaekgado 8-Panel Folding Screen'... Works by Lee Hyung-rok Included

King Jeongjo of the Joseon Dynasty placed a chaekgado (冊架圖) behind his royal throne to soothe his desire to be close to books. Chaekgado is a painting depicting books, ceramics, stationery, incense burners, and bronze ware as subjects. Along with the similar genre of munbangdo (文房圖), it reflects the cultural trend that valued books and scholarship. Among scholars of the time, munbangcheongwan (文房淸婉) was popular. They placed chaekgado or munbangdo in their rooms and collected books, ancient bronze ware, and ceramics. Even among commoners, munbangdo was displayed on the table at a child's first birthday party, expressing the hope that the child would grow up to be a scholar.

Chaekkado 8-panel folding screen

A collection of materials dealing with the diverse values of chaekgado and munbangdo has been published. The National Folk Museum of Korea analyzed twenty-seven items from its collection and published 'Chaekgado·Munbangdo' on the 6th. The book introduces the paintings and examines their characteristics within the history of Korean painting. A representative from the National Folk Museum explained, "This is the first collection of paintings from our holdings published in 18 years since 'Minhwa and Formal Folding Screens' in 2005. We designate paintings featuring bookshelves as chaekgado, and those focusing on stationery and related subjects as munbangdo."

The most notable item in the collection is the 'Chaekgado Eight-Panel Folding Screen.' Through comparison with similar examples, it is considered to apply a perspective method adapted in the Joseon style. The origin, format, and purpose are analyzed in detail, including frequent depictions of drawers and document chests. The characteristics of munbangdo painted by court painters are examined through the works of Lee Hyung-rok (1808?1883). By studying the seals, books, eyeglasses, paintings within paintings, and letter envelopes depicted, information about the era is provided. The pigment analysis results of seventeen major works are also disclosed.

Exhibition of Munbangdo and Doljabi

The National Folk Museum of Korea is also holding a related exhibition in its permanent Gallery 3. The exhibition features scenes such as a doljanchi (돌잔치) first birthday ritual with a munbangdo folding screen displayed behind the dol table. A museum official stated, "You can see how these paintings, used throughout a lifetime from the wish for offspring conception to funerals and ancestral rites, are utilized in various contexts."

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