Hamheung, the Soil that Fostered Kingship

 

Hamheung(咸興), the central city in the northeast of Hamkyeong Province, is where Yi Seonggye, the founder of the Joseon dynasty, spent his youth and strengthened his political competence. Originally Yi’s predecessors were from Jeonju, South Jeolla Province, until his fourth ancestor moved to the northern region and joined the landed gentry.

The historical sites of the royal family in Hamkyeong Province primarily include eight royal mausoleums of Yi Seonggye's four-generation ancestors, who were posthumously crowned kings and queens after the foundation of Joseon. Others are Yi Seonggye’s residences in Hamheung and Yongheung, where he lived until the enthronement, later exalted as the Original Palace (本宮, bongung), and Junwonjeon in Yongheung, the hall enshrining Yi Seonggye’s portrait. After Joseon was founded, these sites have been refurbished and maintained to be appropriate to Hamheung’s prestige as the hometown of the royal family.

 

Portrait of Yi Seonggye

Joseon, 1872, 220x151cm, Treasure No.931

 

 

Benefaction Endowed Upon the Northern Peripheral Territories: the change in the prestige of the northern region suggested in Buksaeseoneundogwon 

 

The prestige of Hamheung subsisted but not more than as the native town of the Joseon’s royal family. With a barren environment, scant Confucian culture and a strong proclivity toward martial arts, the region was rather perceived as “an uncultivated place far from the capital.” Accordingly, the state neglected to develop the region and even rarely appointed talents from there for government officials.  

Such circumstances began to change as the regards for Hamkyeong Province grew steadily from the mid seventeenth century. By the eighteenth century, an extensive discussion on the northern-region policy was initiated in the course of preparing for the countermeasure to Qing China, as well as coping with the shift of domestic and foreign situation.

The transition of the current is well illuminated in Buksaeseoneundogwon, the painting that depicts the special state examination implemented in the district of Hamkyeong Province in 1664. The administration of this state examination indicates the increased concern for the northern regions as the monarch attempted to gain public sentiment by selecting the talents from Hamkyeong Province.   

   

State Examination at Gilju, Buksaeseoneundogwon

Joseon, 1664, 57.9x674.1cm, color on silk

 

 

Nam Guman, the Great Politician, and the Ten Landscapes of Hamheung

 

Nam Guman(南九萬, 1629-1811) is an important figure that has exercised considerable influence on the perception of Hamheung in late Joseon. He has contended extensive regional developments of the northern districts and instructed to compile landscapes of scenic spots and historic sites in Hamheung and other cities in Hamkyeong Province. Altogether twenty landscapes of Hamheung and Hamkyeong Province, ten of each, were made with commentary writings, and they have served as the “model landscapes” for the future generations of literati to understand Hamheung. The Ten Landscapes of Hamheung and the Ten Landscapes of Hamkyeong, produced at later dates by modeling on Nam’s works, both the paintings and the writings, further testify the influence of Nam Guman.

 

"Original Palace of Hamheung"

Album of Ten Scenic Spots of Hamheung and Bukqwan

Joseon, 18th century, 51.7x34cm

 

 

Glorification of the Dynasty: the kings’ restoration projects

 

In the eighteenth century, contrarily to the previous years, kings themselves supervised the restoration of royal historic sites and the construction of additional sites in Hamkyeong Province. The newly restored places include Taejo’s birth city, Heukseok-ri in Yeongheung, Dokseodang Residence in Hamheung where young Taejo received schooling and trained martial arts, and Jeokdo in Kyeongheung, the historic place relating to Taejo’s grandfather, Dojo. King Yeongjo (r. 1724-1776) has published Bukdoneungjeonji, a text describing the historic places of the royal family, and Bukdoneungjeondohyeong, a pictorial record of the sites.

 

 

"Original Palace of Hamheung", Bukdoneungjeondohyeong

Late Joseon, 55.3x34.4cm

 

 

Hamheung, from a Different View

 

As the royal ancestral sites in Hamkyeong Province have received wider attention due to the kings’ involvements in the restoration projects and the subsequent development of the region, a great number of literati officials visited Hamheung. They toured around the marked sites including the Original Palace of Hamheung and left various records. Their records indicate a gradual shift of the view on the royal sites of Hamheung, from a sacred place to the subject for objective opinions.

 

Original Palace of Hamheung

Joseon, 19th century, 131.5x71.5cm, color on Silk

 

 

While it has been natural for Hamheung to hold a prominence for the history and culture of Hamkyeong Province, it has further acquired a new significance as the native home of the royal family of the Joseon dynasty. Its reputation was continuously reminded in the course of history and Hamheung was remembered in various images captured from various angles. We rarely find a place like Hamheung the historical meaning of which undergoes clear periodic transitions.  The accounts on the history of Hamheung should surpass the boundary of area study, and for this reason Hamheung truly becomes a ‘historical space.’