Artifacts Used by General Jeong Chung-sin

General Jeong Chung-sin (1576–1636) joined the fighting during the Japanese invasions of 1592 (Imjin War) at the age of seventeen, under the command of General Gwon Yul. After passing the military service examination, he suppressed Yi Gwal's Rebellion in 1624, the second year of King Injo, for which he was honoured as a meritorious subject of the Jinmu merit roll. He later distinguished himself in the Manchu invasion of 1627 (Jeongmyo War) and served as Podo-daejang (chief of the capital police bureau) and as military commissioner of Gyeongsang-do, but died of illness a few months before the outbreak of the Manchu invasion of 1636 (Byeongja War). He excelled in astronomy, geography, divination and medicine, and was also renowned for his integrity. The artifacts of General Jeong Chung-sin were kept in his shrine at Jigok-myeon, Seosan-gun, but were stolen in 1975 and recovered two months later; at that time his helmet was found to be missing, and only a photograph of it remains. Five items are currently designated as National Folk Heritage. The armour, presented by King Injo together with a bow and arrows and a sword when he suppressed the military disturbance that broke out on Gado Island in May 1630, is the military uniform he wore during his lifetime. It is 116 cm long: three layers of cotton were twisted and quilted at 2 cm intervals, covered with a yellow border, and studded with rivets. The shoulders were made of iron, and traces of leather remain only on the chest. The Seogunsamyeonggi is a battle flag used in war, 138 cm in total length and 55.5 cm wide. The portrait is a hanging scroll showing the general's full figure, wearing a black official's cap (samo) and official robes, seated on a Chinese-style chair. The incense burner has handles on both sides, and its body is engraved with patterns of mountains and clouds. It stands on three curved legs, and atop its hemispherical lid is a horned-dragon ornament serving as a knob. The incense box is likewise round, with three curved legs and a knob at the centre of the lid, but it is much simpler in form than the incense burner and its surface bears no pattern.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Seosan, Chungnam

Designation

National Folklore Heritage · 국가민속문화유산