Clerical Script by Joseon Master Calligrapher Lee Gwangsa and Sunjong's Handwritten Plaque Return to Korea

"Baekja Cheonghwa Ijin Geommyeoji" and "Sunjong Yeje Yepil Hyeonpan"

Returned Through Brothers' Donation... Unveiled at the National Palace Museum of Korea

Baekjachunghwa Ijingeommyoji

Calligraphy works in the clerical script by Lee Gwangsa (1705–1777), one of Joseon's renowned calligraphers, as well as a plaque directly written and composed by Emperor Sunjong, have returned to Korea through a donation. On May 8, the Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation unveiled the "Baekja Cheonghwa Ijin Geommyeoji" and the "Sunjong Yeje Yepil Hyeonpan" at the National Palace Museum of Korea.

The Baekja Cheonghwa Ijin Geommyeoji is a tomb inscription (myoji) for Lee Jingeom (1671–1727), a civil official who served as Minister of Rites in the late Joseon period. It was produced in 1745. Lee Jingeom's family lineage traces back to Jeonju; his great-grandfather was Lee Gyeongjik, his grandfather was Lee Jeongyeong, who served as Minister of Donnyeongbu, and his father was Lee Daeseong, Vice Minister of Finance.

The tomb inscription consists of ten white porcelain plaques, each inscribed with blue pigment. The front of each plaque records details about Lee Jingeom's life, achievements, family background, and funeral, while the reverse side contains information about the tomb's location, orientation, and feng shui elements.

Baekja Cheonghwa Ijin Sword Tomb Site

The text was composed by Lee Deoksoo (1673–1744), who also served as Minister of Personnel, and the calligraphy was done by his son, Lee Gwangsa, one of the most prominent calligraphers of late Joseon. Most surviving works of Lee Gwangsa are written in semi-cursive or cursive script, but the front of this tomb inscription is unusually rendered in clerical script. According to a foundation representative, "The strokes are concise and show a unique style, as if carved with an iron stylus. Its calligraphic style differs from other examples of Lee Gwangsa's clerical script, giving it significant value in the history of Korean calligraphy."

The "Sunjong Yeje Yepil Hyeonpan" is a plaque inscribed with a text that the then crown prince Sunjong personally composed and wrote in September 1892 for a royal banquet (jinchan). Jinchan was a banquet held at the royal court to celebrate significant national events.

Sunjongyeje Yepil Hyeonpan

The inscription on the plaque contains wishes for longevity in celebration of his mother, Empress Myeongseong's birthday. The plaque is quadrilateral with dragon and phoenix heads carved into the border, following the format of high-ranking royal plaques. The text is carved in relief on a wooden board, with the background painted black and the characters in green. The border is decorated with lotus and hollyhock patterns. A foundation representative explained, "It is rare for the characters to be painted green, which symbolizes the preciousness of the inscription."

This donation is especially meaningful as the two brothers jointly contributed cultural heritage items. Kim Gangwon, who donated the Sunjong Yeje Yepil Hyeonpan, has donated cultural heritage to the foundation four times, including this occasion. His previous donations were the Baekja Cheonghwa Kim Gyeongon Myoji in 2021, the Baekja Cheolhwa Lee Seongnip Myoji in 2022, and the Johyeonmyo Gakwoon poetry plaque in 2024. Encouraged by his younger brother's successive donations, his elder brother Kim Changwon also decided to contribute by donating the Baekja Cheonghwa Ijin Geommyeoji.

Sunjongyeje Yepilhyeonpan

Kim Gangwon stated, "Since the plaque written by Sunjong is a royal artifact of Joseon, I believed it belonged in Gyeongbokgung Palace." Kim Changwon said, "While collecting old calligraphy, I discovered a tomb inscription written by Lee Gwangsa. As he is a celebrated calligrapher of Joseon, it is right for the state to manage his works rather than a private individual." He added, "Cultural heritage reveals its true value only when it is in its rightful place."

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