The Return of a Stolen Book

Article and photos by Doug Stuber

The return of 266 Chosun Dynasty Ritual Books (Oegyeyanggak Uigwe) from France is cause for celebration, as the books record the various activities of the Emperors and royal courts, from coronations and funerals, to the details of the work to build a new palace through words and beautiful artwork (banchado). Unusually, the books also recorded the painters’ names of the times.
Bae Jae Hoon, the curator who put together this show at the newly refurbished National Museum in northern Gwangju, mentioned that the French Army stole 267 large ritual books from Kanga-do, an area very close to the current Incheon airport location. “The first book was returned in 1993, as a show of good faith and a publicity stunt when the French sold bullet train technology to South Korea,” he continued. “Banchado distinguish Korean ritual books from the original Chinese versions. Although Chinese books have documentary pictures, the Korean books have some drawings that are completely separate from the official reports.”

In addition to the books themselves, a large animated re-enactment of the pictured ritual of an entering monarch greets museum-goers on the second floor. In addition, displays of how the colored inks were made from smashed rocks, a panel of various artworks, examples of Celadon pottery and crowns round out the exhibit.

The exhibit has already begun and continues until June 24th.

The museum is located north of the Biennale Park and Folk Museum, near the Cultural Center that houses the Gwangju Symphony. Bus routes are 29, 48, 63, 84, 85 and 95.