'의친왕 Family Costume' Featuring Elegance and Restraint Unveiled to the Public

Actual Artifacts on Display at the National Palace Museum

The Cultural Heritage Administration announced on the 12th that, together with Gyeonggi Girls' High School Gyeongun Museum, it will hold an exhibition commemorating the designation of the "Uichinwang Family Attire" as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage at the National Palace Museum in Jongno-gu, Seoul, until May 11.

'Royal Prince Uichin's Family Costume' Wonsam
Photo by National Heritage Administration Provided

The Uichinwang Family Attire, designated as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage on the 26th of last month, consists of royal women's clothing preserved by the family of Uichinwang Yi Kang (1877?1955), son of King Gojong of Joseon. It comprises seven pieces in six categories, including the ceremonial outer robe (wonsam), dangui, sran chima (skirt), hwagwan (flower crown), norigae (ornamental pendant), and palace maid's daedae (large belt). These items were passed down from Uichinwang's wife, Yeonan Kimssi (1880?1964), to their daughter Lee Haegyeong (aged 95), and are now owned by Gyeonggi Girls' High School Gyeongun Museum, which received them as a donation from Ms. Lee.

The wonsam displayed to the public is an outer garment with a short front hem and a long back hem. The sleeves and hems are decorated with patterns combining the characters "subok (壽福)" meaning longevity and happiness, along with floral motifs, which are regarded as representative of the style of wonsam worn by royal women at the time. The dangui, which has open sides like the wonsam, was worn as ceremonial attire by women of the royal court and noble families. It is embroidered with dragon patterns symbolizing the wearer's status and authority.

'Uichinwang Family Costume' Seuran Chima
Photo by National Heritage Administration

The sran chima, worn together with the wonsam and dangui, features the gubongmun (Nine Phoenix Pattern) adorned with nine phoenixes. This previously unknown form holds significant research value. The hwagwan, worn on the head by royal women when wearing the dangui, is a frame made of thick paper decorated with silk, gold paper, and jade ornaments, with binyeo (hairpins) inserted on both sides. The norigae has a gourd-shaped ornament, drawing attention from a craft perspective, and the two palace maid daedae are estimated to have been made in 1893 when Uichinwang and his wife held their wedding ceremony.

'Uichinwang Family Costume' Court Ladies DaeDae
Photo by National Heritage Administration Provided

A Cultural Heritage Administration official stated, "Visitors can appreciate the dignity and restrained beauty of the Uichinwang family's clothing and accessories not only through the seven actual artifacts but also via high-definition videos," adding, "This will be an opportunity to understand the court clothing culture, which varied colors and patterns according to social status, and to confirm the unique aesthetic and dignity inherent in our traditional attire."

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