A Study of Joseon Dynasty`s Royal Palanquins

This study aims to consider various types and artistic designs of royal palanquins used in the Joseon Dynasty. In the feudal society, royal palanquins stand for a kings sovereign power and his political authority. The Joseon Dynasty had the human-powered transporting system of Yeon & Yeo(a royal edict related to royal palanquins, 輦輿), which had been established during the reign of King Sejong. There were 6 types of royal palanquins: 3 types such as Daeyeon(a large palanquin, 大輦), Soyeon(a small palanquin, 小輦), and Soyeo(a small roofless sedan chair, 小輿) for a king, 2 types such as Daeyeon and Soyeon for a queen(the kings primary wife), and only one type of Yeon for a royal prince. Besides, You-ok-gyo(a roofed palanquin, 有屋轎) and Deong(the palanquin for the princess, 德應), which belong to lower-grade transporting vehicles than the Yeon, were used. After the seventeenth century, the palanquin drawn by a horse, gagyo(駕轎), was newly introduced. Also, owing to its mobility and convenience, it was used in the formal ceremonies like the royal procession, the military inspection, and a reception for a foreign envoy from the reign of King Yeongjo and King Jeongjo