The Imperial Seal of Korea or Ihwamun () was one of the symbols of the
Korean Empire
The Korean Empire () was a Korean monarchical state proclaimed in October 1897 by Emperor Gojong of the Joseon dynasty. The empire stood until Japan's annexation of Korea in August 1910.
During the Korean Empire, Emperor Gojong oversaw the Gwa ...
. It was originally the emblem of the
royal family
A royal family is the immediate family of kings/queens, emirs/emiras, sultans/ sultanas, or raja/ rani and sometimes their extended family. The term imperial family appropriately describes the family of an emperor or empress, and the term ...
and was subsequently used for the
coat of arms
A coat of arms is a heraldry, heraldic communication design, visual design on an escutcheon (heraldry), escutcheon (i.e., shield), surcoat, or tabard (the latter two being outer garments). The coat of arms on an escutcheon forms the central ele ...
of the short-lived empire. The symbol features a
plum
A plum is a fruit of some species in ''Prunus'' subg. ''Prunus'.'' Dried plums are called prunes.
History
Plums may have been one of the first fruits domesticated by humans. Three of the most abundantly cultivated species are not found i ...
flower (, Ihwa). Plum blossoms commonly known as the Maehwa, signals the beginning of spring in Korea (When spring blooms in Korea, 2021). Plum blossom was taken to symbolize courage in the face of hardship, especially in something so physically delicate, and has been long admired by the Korean and Chinese literati (Sunglim Kim, 2018). As the Plum tree blossoms between two seasons, it is also seen as a symbol of spring - bringing warmth, transition and the promise of fruitfulness (Every plum tree has a story, 2022). Since ancient times, plum blossom has been filled with meaning and mystery. Plum blossoms bloom at the end of the winter, and because of this, they are called the herald of spring. They also symbolize perseverance because of how they can possibly bloom during the cold winter. Since they are considered the first flower of the year, they also represent purity and renewal. Plum flowers are supposed to have five petals. Its five petals are believed to carry 5 different blessings such as: wealth, health, virtue, peaceful and natural death (Plum Blossoms, Its symbolism and meanings, 2021).
The Imperial Seal of Korea first represented the Jeonju Yi clan. The Jeonju Yi clan symbol came into play as one of the symbol of the royals when the King Taejo, of the Jeonju clan of Yi, ascended the throne in a coup d'etat against King U of the Goryeo Dynasty. An accomplished military strategist and renowned commander Taejo had distinguished himself by repelling the marauding Wokou. Taejo took control of Goryeo until July 1392, formally renaming the Goryeo the "Kingdom of Great Joseon" by taking the throne (Joseon Dynasty, 2022). Jeonju Yi clan symbol became the imperial seal of Korea when the Japanese assassinated King Gojong’s anti-Japanese queen, Empress Myeongseong. Fearing for his life, Gojong fled to the Russian Legation, where he spent a whole year. In 1897, Gojong left the legation and took up residence at Deoksugung, where he declared the Daehan Empire (Korean Empire), with himself as Emperor Gwangmu (Seth, 2016). Gojong changed the Jeonju Yi clan symbol to the Imperial Seal of Korea. Today, the seal is used as a symbol by the families' association of the
Jeonju Yi clan
The Jeonju Yi clan () is a Korean clan with the surname Yi. Their Bon-gwan is in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province. The clan includes the former House of Yi which ruled the Joseon dynasty and the Korean Empire.
Their founder was Yi Han (). His des ...
, which was the royal family of
Joseon
Joseon (; ; Middle Korean: 됴ᇢ〯션〮 Dyǒw syéon or 됴ᇢ〯션〯 Dyǒw syěon), officially the Great Joseon (; ), was the last dynastic kingdom of Korea, lasting just over 500 years. It was founded by Yi Seong-gye in July 1392 and re ...
dynasty and the imperial family of the Korean Empire.
File:Ihwamun.jpg, Seokjojeon, Deoksugung
Deoksugung, also known as Gyeongun-gung, Deoksugung Palace, or Deoksu Palace, is a walled compound of palaces in Seoul that was inhabited by members of Korea's Royal Family during the Joseon monarchy until Korea under Japanese rule, the annexa ...
in Seoul
Seoul (; ; ), officially known as the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea.Before 1972, Seoul was the ''de jure'' capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) as stated iArticle 103 ...
.
File:1909 Ban jeon of the Korean Empire 01.jpg, ½ jeon. Coin of the Korean Empire (1909).
See also
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Emblem of South Korea
The National Emblem of the Republic of Korea (; Hanja: , ) consists of the ''taegeuk'' symbol present on the South Korean national flag surrounded by five stylized petals and a ribbon bearing the inscription of the official Korean name of the ...
*
Imperial Seal of Japan
The Imperial Seal of Japan or National Seal of Japan, also called the , or , is one of the national seals and a crest ('' mon'') used by the Emperor of Japan and members of the Imperial Family. It is a contrast to the Paulownia Seal used by the ...
*
Imperial Seal of Manchukuo
The Imperial Seal of the Emperor of Manchukuo () had a design of orchid ('' Cymbidium goeringii'') flower, with five sorghum branches in between the five orchid petals. It was entirely yellow.
The design was based on Cymbidium goeringii, the f ...
References
1. Sunglim Kim. (2018). Flowering Plums and Curio Cabinets : The Culture of Objects in Late Chosŏn Korean Art. University of Washington Press.
2. Seth, M. J. (2016). Routledge Handbook of Modern Korean History. Routledge/Taylor & Francis Group.
3. Every plum tree has a story... The Present Tree. (n.d.). Retrieved May 4, 2022, from https://thepresenttree.com/blogs/tree-meanings/plum-tree-meaning
6. When spring blooms in Korea. Talk Talk KOREA. (n.d.). Retrieved May 4, 2022, from https://www.korea.net/TalkTalkKorea/French/community/community/CMN0000006536#:~:text=Plum%20blossoms%2C%20commonly%20known%20as,a%20strong%20but%20sweet%20fragrance.
Korea
Korea ( ko, 한국, or , ) is a peninsular region in East Asia. Since 1945, it has been divided at or near the 38th parallel, with North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) comprising its northern half and South Korea (Republic o ...
National symbols of Korea
Korea
Korea ( ko, 한국, or , ) is a peninsular region in East Asia. Since 1945, it has been divided at or near the 38th parallel, with North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) comprising its northern half and South Korea (Republic o ...
Korean monarchy
Korean Empire
Korean heraldry
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