On Guard in Hanyang: Struggles of a Samgunyeong Solider and His Family
Exhibition: Dec. 4, 2020 – Mar. 21, 2021
Venue: Special Exhibition Hall A, Seoul Museum of History
Contact: Exhibition Division
This exhibition looks at Samgunyeong through a family whose members served as military officers for generations. Samgunyeong is a central military base formed while retrofitting a city wall system in the late Joseon dynasty, and consists of Hunryeondogam, Eoyeongcheong, and Geumwiyeong. Soliders in Samgunyeong were stationed in Hanyang and played a key role in guarding the king, protecting palaces, defending the city wall, and maintaining public security.
In addition to military activities, they were mobilized for work on maintaining the city, such as dredging or banning logging, and they took on additional jobs due to little pay. Activities by soldiers in Samgunyeong played a big role in helping the capital Hanyang to function as a city.
This exhibition looks at Samgunyeong through Lee Ji-geon, who was a yangban in Yeongsan, Gyeongsang-do (today’s Yeongsan-myeon, Changnyeong-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do), and his family. The family register documents and commands they left behind show not just their duties but also small stories like passing the national exam or house ownership. We will look at the military duties and life of soldiers in Samgunyeong. We hope this exhibition helps you to look at Hanyang in the late Joseon dynasty and the life of soldiers who played their part.