Bier of Cheongpung Buwongun

This bier of Cheongpung Buwongun was bestowed by the state to carry the body back to his hometown when Cheongpung Buwongun, Kim U-myeong (1619-1675) - son of Kim Yuk, who implemented the Daedongbeop (Uniform Tax Law) in the late Joseon period - died. It was kept in a thatched hut built in a valley north of his tomb and was used communally by the village. The bier consists of a body for carrying the coffin, built on a basic frame centred on long carrying poles, with a bright cloth spread widely on top to shield it from sunlight. The body is finely carved with phoenix heads and dragons, and coloured bands and tassels hang down over black cloth, apparently meant to pray for the soul of the deceased and ease the grief of mourners. The yoyeo is a small palanquin used to carry the spirit tablet bearing the deceased's soul and name; a body shaped like a square room is set on long carrying poles and topped with a hemispherical roof marked with four roof ridges. The myeongjeongdae is a flag of red cloth identifying Cheongpung Buwongun's status; it stood to the right of the bier and, when the body was carried, went ahead of the coffin to mark the procession and act as a guide. The manjangdae is a flag inscribed with writings mourning the deceased, placed behind the myeongjeong. Made during the reign of King Sukjong of Joseon, this bier is the oldest surviving example of its kind, and its well-preserved form makes it valuable material for examining the structure of the 'daeyeo', the bier used in the royal court of the time.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Chuncheon, Gangwon

Designation

National Folklore Heritage · 국가민속문화유산