04


Carriage to Heaven
-the Aesthetic of Flower Sangyeo and Kkokdu

Viewing Information

Period

Feb. 2015 - present

Location

Gallery 4

Exhibits

⟨Sangyeo⟩, ⟨Kkokdu⟩, ⟨Yeongyeo⟩, etc.

Carriage to Heaven - the Aesthetic of Flower Sangyeo and Kkokdu invites viewers to encounter traditional Korean funeral rites, where the spirit gently fades into the traces of memory. The exhibition seeks to explore solace-reflecting on the mindset of the deceased, whose attire at life's final moment holds profound significance, and the mourners who carve the path for their journey. For our ancestors, death was not an end but entrustment of life to the next world, a passage to the afterlife. The mourners, guiding this final transition, and the effigies, adorned with graceful and intricate expressions, served as companions, ensuring that the road to eternity was not taken alone.

List of Works

Sangyeo(funeral bier)

The elaborate decorations on the funeral bier, which carries the deceased, serve as a significant cultural asset, offering insights into the customs of the time and the ancestors' perceptions of death. Various ornaments are used on the bier to express the bereaved family's sorrow for what the deceased could not enjoy in this life and to wish for happiness in the afterlife or the next reincarnation.
While the shape and size vary depending on the family's status and social class, and the style differs by region, they are commonly crafted in the most elaborate form of the time, reflecting the children's heartfelt desire to escort their parent's final journey to a beautiful home.
Typically, the deceased is placed on the lower level, and various types of wooden dolls expressing sentiments towards the deceased are attached, while dragon horses and phoenix palanquins are placed on the upper level. A parasol is attached to the front of the bier, acting as a guardian deity protecting from evil spirits.

Roof ridge and Dragon-face Roof ends

Yongsu panels and Yongma-ru were used to decorate the upper part of the bier. Our ancestors regarded the bier, which carries the deceased to their final resting place, as a temporary home. They referred to the roof frame of the bier as Yongma-ru, and the panels supporting both ends of the Yongma-ru as Yongsu panels. 'Yong' is an imaginary animal, a hybrid of various creatures, and an image used since ancient times to represent a sacred and inviolable being. It is depicted with a large, protruding, and fiercely glaring eye, a sharp beak, and a generally menacing expression with thick lips.
The Yongsu panels that remain today are important cultural assets that show how our ancestors artistically perceived and dealt with their worldview on death.

Kkokdoo(Animals Figurines)

Animal-shaped finials, adorned with auspicious symbols, feature a variety of motifs drawn from folk and religious culture, including tigers, Bonghwang(phoenix), dragons, and more.
These designs, such as folk magpie-tiger motifs, reflect the unique aesthetic of late Joseon Dynasty art, showcasing an academic appeal. Often appearing alongside people, certain finials were decorated with scenes of filial piety or animal allegories.
In folk beliefs, tigers symbolize the role of warding off evil spirits and protecting from misfortune. They are emphasized as guardian deities, chasing away evil and safeguarding well-being.
The Bonghwang(phoenix), along with dragons, is frequently used as patterns symbolizing the king and queen. Regardless of social status, the pheonix was used to wish the King and Queen safe travels. Roosters are recognized as both real and sacred beings. Symbolizing good fortune, dignity, and wealth, they showcase a formative beauty with their typically white bodies, red crests, long necks, and decorative shapes.

Kkokdoo(Human Figurines)

It is believed that the figurines were used to alleviate the sorrows of the deceased. Initially used for burial purposes, their use expanded to adorn biers, and their types diversified.
The Kkokdoo, human-shaped figurines, decorating the biers primarily take the form of child servants, mourners, entertainers, and pallbearers.
Child servants offer comfort to the deceased, while mourners express their sincerity through lamentations and dances, and entertainers attempt to dispel the deceased's loneliness or boredom on their journey. These figurines reflect the desire to send the deceased to a better place, rather than simply perceiving death as sorrowful.

Lunch Carrier

The Lunch carrier is one of the items used in royal banquets. Historical records indicate that ancestors also expressed their hospitality by treating guests to a warm meal during royal events. This tray was used to serve a variety of foods individually.

Yeongyeo

The term 'Sangyeo' refers to a bier equipped with wheels for transporting the deceased, specifically designating the palanquin used to carry the spirit tablet associated with the deceased's spirit as 'Yeongyeo'.
'Yeongyeo' is crafted in the form of a small palanquin to enshrine items related to the deceased's spirit, such as spirit tablets, sacred mirrors, and epitaphs. In eulogies, it is sometimes referred to as 'Yoye' when carried by two people, and at the entrance to the tomb, it may be referred to as 'Yeongcha'.
In traditional Korean thought, upon death, the 'Hon' (soul) and 'Baek' (spirit) separate, with the 'Hon' returning to the heavens and the 'Baek' returning to the earth. During the funeral procession, the 'Yeongyeo' precedes the 'Sangyeo', symbolizing that the spiritual aspect, separated from the physical at death, leads the way for the deceased.
Influenced by Buddhism and Taoism, various symbolic ornaments such as lotus flowers are used, and it may be adorned with diverse colors depending on the social status of the deceased.

Gallery 1

Traditional Craft

Gallery 2

Contemporary Art

Gallery 3

Chinjesulchan

Gallery 4

Traditional Funeral Rites

Gallery 5

Planned Exhibition

Outdoor

Sculpture Park

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