Detail

`For the past 5 years, the Ministry of Information and Communication has been issuing a series of stamps which provides the world a glimpse of Korea`s rich cultural heritage, folk customs, and unique scenic beauty. The sixth collection of four stamps features the traditional pounch, one of the most representative items of all Korean ornaments. Serving both practical and aesthetic purposes, there are many types of pouches, and they are classified according to shape, decoration, and purpose. The Kwijumoni or jumchi is angular in shape, and the durujumoni or yopnang is round. Some pouches are covered with gold leaf (kumbakjumoni), and some embroidered (sujumoni). Traditional pouches also have specific names depending on their purpose : hyangnang (incense pounch), yaknang (medicine pouch), pilnang (brunch pounch), sujeojip yaknang (medicine pounch), pilnang (brunch pounch), sujeojip (spoon pounch), angyongjip (eye glass pounch), ssamji (tobacco pounch), and dojangjumoni (personal seal pounch). The Obangnang. or five-direction pounch. signified the four directions(north, south, east, and west), and the center. Symbolizing each of these five elements according to Chinese cosmogony, both sides of the pounch are divided into five parts, each of which is embroidered in one of five colors (blue, red, white, black, or orange). The pounch also has a pair of tassels which are light-green, purplish-red, pink, and yellow. On the first ``Swine Day`` of the New Year, children of Ministers of State were given this pounch with fried soybean wrapped in red paper inside to prevent any undue misfortune from befalling them during the year. The most commonly used was the Yopnang. The opening of the pounch is pleated, and a string is threaded along each side. The one featured here is a Ponghwangnang, or Chinese phoenix pounch, which was worn only by the queen of Korea as part of her court attire. This black silk satin pouch has exquisite and colorful gold thread embroidery of the Chinese phoenix. THe opening of pouches used by commoners had triangular pleats, but the Pong hwangnang had hexagonal pleats, which were a symbol of the dignity and power of the royal family. The Kwijumoni, or angular pouch, is designed in the same way for both men and women. Those parts of the pounch which wear out the most quickly (the corners and lower part of the center) are covered with extra pieces of fabric which are saddle stitched along the edges. The Shipjangsaengnang(a pounch showing images of ten entities which were thought to be everlasting) featured on this stamp is a restoration of the sukwijumoni (embroidered angular pounch) made for Princess Pokon, the second daughter of King Sunjo of Choson Dynasty. It was given to her on her wedding day to wish her good luck in life. The Chinjunang, or pearl pounch, was worn by queens and princesses of Korea as an accessory to their court attire along with their three-tiered pendant trinkets. It is a most exquisite piece with its lavishly inlaid shining mung bean-sized pearls and gold threads embroidered onto the fine red cloth. Inside the pouch is finely chopped and powdered incense, which pays a glimpse into the opulent life style of the ladies of old Korea. The pearl pouch featured in this stamp was given to Yunbi, wife of Emperor Sunjong, by her father-in-law, Emperor Kojong of the ``Great Han Empire``, on her wedding day.`