Seonbi Culture Gallery: Exploring the Culture of Ancient Scholars at the Museum

CURRENT

By Jung Dae-young Associate Curator, Jeonju National Museum

Exhibition area with seonbi-related items

From September 10, 2020 Jeonju National Museum

The Jeonju National Museum has undertaken a branding project to make the seonbi culture of the Joseon Dynasty symbolic of the museum. The word seonbi refers to the scholars of Joseon society and means “a person who is virtuous and learned.” In modern times, when materialism is rife and industrialization has weakened the spiritual side of life, the spirit and culture of scholars of the past is newly coming under the spotlight. As people aspire to achieve “small but certain happiness” these days, the seonbi spirit of “knowing one’s capabilities and being content” is drawing attention once again.

To enhance specialization in this area, the Jeonju National Museum has been carrying out various projects since 2018. As a result, a number of seonbi-themed exhibitions have been held, including Seowon: Honoring Virtue and Educating Scholars (summer 2020); Seonbi, Leading Jeonbuk Literati Art (autumn 2019); and Seonbi, Sharing the Hearts beyond Words (spring 2019). The museum also held lectures at the Seonbi Culture Academy and academic seminars, and concluded agreements with related organizations.

Armillary Sphere

Joseon Dynasty / Wood / W 36.5 cm H 45.0 cm

Portrait of Yi Jehyeon

Late Goryeo Dynasty / W 93.0 cm L 177.3 cm / Ink and color on silk / National Treasure No. 110

Calligraphy by An Jung-geun

Daehan Empire / Ink on paper / Treasure No. 569-7

As part of the museum’s specialization efforts, a gallery dedicated to showing the seonbi culture was scheduled to open in September 2020. The Seonbi Culture Gallery features a permanent exhibition on the Joseon seonbi culture to enhance public understanding of the scholars as intellects transcending time and place.

Located on the first floor of the main building, the Seonbi Culture Gallery includes an exhibition space where visitors can see seonbi-related artifacts and the realistic contents area where they can enjoy with the digital media technology. The exhibition features around 100 items, including Portrait of Yi Jehyeon 1287–1367 , which is National Treasure No. 110, and other seonbi-related paintings, as well as journals, written records, everyday items, and documentary materials. The focus will be placed on storytelling to introduce items from the museum’s collection in the most effective manner and make it easier for visitors to understand the culture and spirit of the seonbi.

The realistic media arts section features diverse contents based on digital technology in an effort to adapt to the flow of the times in the age of the fourth industrial revolution. Such contents made with diverse digital technologies give visitors the opportunity to have a more active experience of the museum. They cover subjects such as the tea culture of the seonbi, the constellations, the seonbi in nature, seowon (Confucian academies), and the scholars’ travels around the country. Making use of projection mapping and other state-art technologies, these contents are anticipated to appeal to visitors’ interests and sensibilities.

Through its new Seonbi Culture Gallery, the Jeonju National Museum hopes to enhance understanding of the Joseon scholars as leaders in society and to provide an opportunity for people to think about the spirit and culture of the seonbi, which is just as relevant today as in the past.

Realistic contents area featured the tea culture, constellations, and the seonbi in nature

Relics featuring the spirit of the seonbi