Gifts from Korean king to Russia unveiled for first time in 127 years

Korean Heritage

Published: 09 Feb. 2023, 17:01

Gifts from Korean king to Russia unveiled for first time in 127 years

A black najeon (lacquerware inlaid with mother-of-pearl) clothing chest, which was gifted by King Gojong to Emperor Nicholas II of Russia for his coronation ceremony in 1896, will be revealed for the first time in 127 years at a special exhibit organized at the Kremlin Museums in Moscow. [MOSCOW KREMLIN MUSEUMS]

A beautiful two-story black najeon (lacquerware inlaid with mother-of-pearl) clothing chest, narrative figure paintings by renowned Joseon painter Jang Seung-eop and two incense burners were among the royal gifts that King Gojong (1852-1919) sent to Emperor Nicholas II of Russia for his coronation ceremony in 1896.

Since the ceremony, the important artifacts were kept in the dark, in the Moscow Kremlin Museums' Armoury Chamber. The Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation said the artifacts will be unveiled for the first time in 127 years at the Russian museum for a special exhibition titled “Korea and the Armoury Chamber: The History of the Coronation Gift to the Last Emperor.”

The exhibit kicks off on Feb. 10 and runs until April 19. The Kremlin Museums' Armoury Chamber was created in 1508 as the Russian Imperial Armoury and used as a storage facility for weapons and imperial jewelry, among other items. After Russia moved its capital to St. Petersburg, the Armoury Chamber was turned into a museum in 1806 and opened to the public in 1813. It was officially incorporated into the Kremlin Museums in 1960.

According to the museum, the artifacts that will be displayed by the Kremlin Museums are some of the diplomatic gifts from King Gojong, who was taking refuge at the Russian legation in Seoul from Feb. 11, 1896 to Feb. 20, 1897. Such gifts were sent to Russia by a diplomat named Min Yeong-hwan who was dispatched to Russia by King Gojong to congratulate Emperor Nocholas II on his coronation on May 26, 1896.

Some of the gifts were mentioned in the diary of Yun Chi-ho, who accompanied Min to the coronation ceremony, but according to the Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation, this is the first time that the actual items have ever been shown to the public.

It was revealed during the preparation of this exhibit that King Gojong had sent a total of 17 gifts. The exhibition will display only five of them, which include the black najeon clothing chest, two narrative figure paintings and two incense burners, all of which now belong to the Kremlin Museums.

The Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation said the artifacts on display are “regarded as important cultural heritages of Korea that demonstrate the essence of high-quality craftsmanship and art in the 19th century.”

“In particular, the black najeon clothing chest is very significant as it is presumed to have been produced by the most outstanding mother-of-pearl craftsman at the time under a special order of Emperor Gojong,” said Kwak Dong-gu, an official from the foundation. “It is also noteworthy that the bottom of the chest bears the 10 Symbols of Longevity to pray for the good health and longevity of Nicholas II upon his ascension to the throne.”

As for painter Jang’s narrative figure paintings, it was confirmed for the first time that four pieces have been preserved by the Kremlin Museums, though only two will be unveiled at the exhibit. These works by Jang, who was one of the four major painters of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), have never been studied by experts, and are evaluated as masterpieces.

One of Jang Seung-eop's four paintings that were gifted to Russia. [MOSCOW KREMLIN MUSEUMS]

All four paintings have the word “Joseon” written on each of them, along with Jang’s pen name, Owon Jang Seung-eop. Experts say the country’s name — Joseon — is rarely found on other works of Jang's, indicating that these pieces were specifically created as diplomatic gifts.

The incense burners are shaped as a square and a circle, reflecting the ancient concept of the universe called Cheonwonjibang, which means that the sky is round and the Earth is square.

Two incense burners [MOSCOW KREMLIN MUSEUMS]

The foundation said the incense burners were also specifically created to gift to the Russian emperor as “Hyangyeonjeongseo,” which means “burning incense reveals an auspicious aura,” was inscribed on the body of the square burner, while “Jinsuyeongbo,” meaning “truthfulness, longevity, and eternal treasure,” was inscribed on the body of the round burner.

BY YIM SEUNG-HYE [yim.seunghye@joongang.co.kr]