Calligraphy by King Yeongjo

This is the draft manuscript that King Yeongjo wrote in July 1744 (the 20th year of his reign), at the age of 51, in composing the memorial-stone inscription (myogalmun) for Soryeongmyo, the tomb of his birth mother, Royal Consort Suk-bin Choi. In this draft, details such as the names of his mother's ancestors, the dates of their posthumous titles, and the age at which she entered the palace are left blank; on the memorial stone actually erected at Soryeongwon, Suk-bin Choi's tomb, all of these are filled in, and some further content was added. The draft also states that King Yeongjo would write the large characters on the front of the stone while Yi Yo, Lord Seopyeong, would write the text on the back. On the memorial stone as actually made, however, King Yeongjo wrote the large front characters, the inscription on the back, and the seal-script characters at the top, while Yi Yo, Lord Seopyeong, was assigned to write the location and date of erection of the grave marker (1718) and the spirit-path stele (1725), to be carved onto the base of the memorial stone. This manuscript is one of the works of calligraphy King Yeongjo produced during the project to posthumously honour his birth mother after his accession, and it shows the distinctive calligraphic style of his later years, one that vividly evokes his exacting personality. Among the many draft manuscripts of poetry and prose composed and written by King Yeongjo held at the Jangseogak Archives, this piece, together with the draft memorial text for the shrine of Royal Consort Suk-bin Choi, is regarded as a particularly significant example of his calligraphy.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Seongnam, Gyeonggi

Designation

Treasure · 보물