Korean Clothing and the Emperor of Japan in the 1682 Korean Embassy to Japan

Abstract:During the Edo period in Japan, the Emperor held authority in Kyoto, but the Shogun held power in Edo. This paper considers how the government of Chosŏn Korea responded to this situation by examining the roles of clothing in the 1682 Communication Embassy to Japan. Close examination of both literary and visual sources reveals that before entering the emperor’s capital of Kyoto, the Envoy and other Korean officials of high-ranking posts changed into formal clothing for entering the capital. Wearing formal clothing as a sign of respect, they displayed courtesy to the Emperor, and thus expressed propriety as foreign envoys. The formal clothing of the Envoy and the Vice Envoy were prepared by the Bureau of Wardrobe, which also demonstrates that the Korean government expressed goodwill through clothing and that the King of Chosŏn and his officials took propriety seriously.