Adults: National Seal and Royal Seal

The first comprehensive report on the meaning and reality of the National Seal (國璽) and Royal Seal (御寶), symbols representing the sanctity of royal power and the authority of the royal family! In the 2000s, several royal seals that had been illegally taken abroad were repatriated. These included the National Seals and Royal Seals of the Joseon Dynasty and the Korean Empire, as well as private seals owned by the royal family. With these numerous repatriation cases, the definition of what exactly a "National Seal" is, what a "Royal Seal" is, and whether the "Jade Seal" (玉璽) we commonly refer to is distinct from them remained unclear. Many people vaguely regarded them as merely "seals used by the king," and this perception was reflected in various media as well. Although the academic community has proposed classification methods for Korean seals several times, such methods tended to obscure perspectives without establishing clear criteria for distinguishing between the National Seal and the Royal Seal. This book serves as a comprehensive and systematic introduction to our national seals and royal seals. It details the distinct nature and usage of these items, which have previously been viewed only vaguely, while also deeply exploring the significance they held for royal authority and the royal family. In this book, the author views the national seal as the King's administrative stamp used on official state documents, and the royal seal as a ceremonial seal engraved with the titles of royal family members. As seals that represent the sanctity of royal power and the authority of the royal family through the very act of stamping, the national seal and royal seal symbolically imbued a sense of order based on social status through their respective methods of production. This symbolism is fully embedded in each element, including material, size, handle shape, and calligraphy.

Korean title: 국새와 어보

Korean author: 성인근

Korean publisher: 현암사

ISBN-13: 9788932319100