A Death in the Photo
Understanding the Korean Empire through Alma Karlin’s Black and White Photograph of the Funeral Procession in front of Daeanmun Gate
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35469/poligrafi.2019.198Keywords:
Alma Karlin, Joseon dynasty, Hotel du Palais, Empress Sunmyeong, Deoksugung Palace, Daehanmun Gate, funeral, funeral procession, Korean EmpireAbstract
In June 1923 Alma Karlin (1889-1950) first stepped onto the Korea peninsula at Busan. The peninsula was in turmoil, gradually occupied by Japan by means of ‘cultural rule'. From Busan, Karlin travelled through Seoul and Pyongyang before leaving to China. Like other tourists, she packed her suitcase with authentic souvenirs of Korea. There are thirty-nine photographs in total that Karlin brought from Korea to Slovenia. Five of them are funeral themed photos, and in one of the five one can discern the poignant story of a Joseonian woman’s death amid a troubled Korean Empire. The photo attracted global interest as it was exhibited not only in Korea, but Slovenia and the US.
In the present paper, I scrutinise the details of the photo and attempt to deepen the understanding of early twentieth century Korea as it is observed in the photo. The paper explores one photo with a focus on historical particularities in Korea including architecture, the history of the palace, the signboard on the gate, and the relations of the royal family. It confirms a new theory regarding the image, that it is a scene from the funeral procession for Empress Sunmyeong, who died tragically as a Crown Princess during the era of the one and final Korean Empire.
References
Academy of Korean Studies 한국학중앙연구원. “Taehanmun 대한문 [Daehanmun Gate].” Last modified December 9, 2017. http://dh.aks.ac.kr/sillokwiki/index.php/%EB%8C%80%ED%95%9C%EB%AC%B8(%E5%A4%A7%E6%BC%A2%E9%96%80).
An, Chongch’ŏl 안종철. “Williŏm kŭrip’isŭŭi ilbon’gwa han’guginshik 윌리엄 그리피스의 일본과 한국인식, 1876-1910, 1876-1910 [Civilization and Religion: William E. Griffis’ Perception of Japan and Korea, 1876-1910].”
Ilbonyŏn’gu 일본연구 15 (2011): 439-461.
Ch’oe, Pongchun 최봉준. “Han’gug kŭnhyŏndaesaga sumshwinŭn kot, tŏksugung(kyŏngun’gung) 한국 근현대사가 숨쉬는 곳, 덕수궁 ( 경운궁) [Deoksugunh Palace, where Korean Modern History Breathes]. ”Han’gukyŏksayŏn’guhoehoebo 한국역사연구회회보 41 (2000): 29-32.
Chang, Kyŏnghŭi 장경희. “Kojonghwangjeŭi kŭmgong hongnŭng yŏn’gu 고종황제의 금곡 홍릉 연구 [Study of Emperor Kojong’s Hongreung, Imperial Tomb at Keumgok].” Sach’ong 사총 64 (2007): 1-70.
Chang, Kyŏnghŭi 장경희. “Sunjongbi sunmyŏnghyohwanghuŭi saengaewa yurŭng yŏn’gu 純宗妃 純明孝皇后의 생애와 裕陵 연구 [A Life of Empress Sunmyeong, the First Wife of Emperor Sunjong, and the Construction of
Yugangweon and Yureung].” Han’guginmulsayŏn’gu 한국인물사연구 12 (2009): 183-227.
Chang, Pil-Gu, Jeon, Bong-Hee 장필구, 정봉희. “Kojong changnye kigan shinsŏnwŏnjŏnŭi chosŏnggwa tŏksugungch’angdŏkkung kungyŏgŭi pyŏnhwa 고종 장례 기간 신선원전의 조성과 덕수궁창덕궁 궁역의 변화 [Construction of Sin-Seonwonjeon Shrine and Transformation of Deoksoogung and Changdeokgung Palaces Area during King Kojong’s Funeral].” Journal of the Architectural Institute of Korea Planning and Design 대한건축학회 논문집 29 (2013): 197-208. https://doi.org/10.5659/JAIK_PD.2013.29.12.197.
Cho, Jung-min 조정민. “Ilchech’imnyakki sajin’gŭrimyŏpsŏro pon pusan kwan’gwangŭi p’yosanggwa rok’ŏllit'i chibaewa hyangyuŭi pada” 일제침략기 사진그림엽서로 본 부산 관광의 표상과 로컬리티 지배와 향유의 바다 [The Presentation and Locality of Busan Tourism as Viewed from Picture Postcards in the Japanese Colonial Era]. Japanese Cultural Studies 일본문화연구 67 (2018): 35-58.
Cho, P'ungyŏn 조풍연. Sajinŭro ponŭn chosŏnshidae 사진으로 보는 조선시대 [Joseon Dynasty in Photos]. Seoul: Sŏmundang, 1986.
Choishiaet'ŭllyusŭ 조이시애틀뉴스, “Taehanmun chinaganŭn kojong changnyeshik’aengnyŏl ch’onggŏmch’akyong ilbon’gun” 대한문 지나가는 고종 장례식행렬 총검착용 일본군 [The Funeral Procession through Daehanmun Gate and Fully Armed Japanese Force. Internet News Shinmoongo, 신문고 뉴스, August 16, 2014.
Chŏn, Pongkwan 전봉관. Kyŏngsŏng chasal k’ŭllŏp 경성 자살 클럽 [Gyeongseong Suicide Club]. Paju: Sallim, 2008.
Chŏng, Sŏnghwa 정성화. “W. kŭrip’isŭ, ŭnjaŭi nara han’gung t’k’ŭrip’isŭŭi han’gukkwanŭl chungshimŭro” W. 그리피스, 은자의 나라 한국 －그리피스의 한국관을 중심으로 [Corea : The Hermit Nation, Griffis’ Perspective on Korea]. Haeoehan’guk’akp’yŏngnon 해외한국학평론 1 (2000): 11-42.
Gogungmuseum 고궁박물관. “Sajinŭro pon kukchang-kojong hwangje 사진으로 본 국장-고종 황제” [Permanent Exhibition 'Korean Empire' of the National Palace Museum of Korea]. Last modified March 19, 2017. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BiFfT50Wm_s
Han, Yŏngu 한영우. Myŏngsŏnghwanghuwa taehanjeguk 명성황후와 대한제국 [Empress Myeongseong and Korean Empire]. Paju: Hyohyŏngch’ulp’an, 2001.
Holmes, Burton. 1901nyŏn sŏurŭl kŏtta 1901년 서울을 걷다 [The Burton Holmes Lectures: Seoul, Capital Of Korea. Japan]. Translated by Lee, Jinseok 이진석. Seoul: P’urŭn’gil, 2012.
Hwang, Posŏn 황보선. “Myŏngsŏnghwanghu un’gu sajin ch’ŏn konggae” 명성황후 운구 사진 첫 공개 [The Image of Empress Myeongseong’s Coffin Unveiled to the Public for the First time]. YTN, December 9, 2014.
I, Sang-hae 이상해. Kunggwŏl, yugyo kŏnch'uk 궁궐, 유교 건축 [Palaces, Confucian Architecture]. Seoul: Sol, 2004.
I, T'aechin 이태진. “Kŭndae han’gukŭn kwayŏn ŭndun’gugiŏttŏn’ga?" 근대 한국은 과연 은둔국이었던가? [Was the Pre-modern Korea really the Reclusive Country?]. Han’guksaron 한국사론 42 (1999): 717-749.
I, Uk 이욱. "Kojongŭi kukchang" 고종의 국장 [Gojong’s State Funeral]. In 2019nyŏndo changsŏgagak’ademi wangshilmunhwagangjwa 2019년도 장서각아카데미 왕실문화강좌 [Jangseoggak Academy: Royal Culture Course in 2019], 149-171. Seongnam: Academy of Korean Studies, 2019.
JoySeattle, “Ilcheŭi han’gugin ch’ongsal changmyŏn’gwa kojonghwangje changnyeshing ŏgahaengnyŏl” 일제의 한국인 총살 장면과 고종황제 장례식 어가행렬 [Shooting Koreans by Japanese Army and Gojong’s funeral]. JoySeattle, 조이시애틀뉴스, August 15, 2014.
Kim, Soo-Tae 김수태. “Williŏm kŭrip’isŭŭi han’gug kŭndaesa inshik” 윌리엄 그리피스의 한국 근대사 인식 [William Griffis’s Awareness of Korean Modern History]. Chindanhakpo 진단학보 110 (2010): 125-156.
Kim, Sunam 김수남. Chosŏn yŏnghwasa nonjŏm 조선 영화사 논점 [The Issue of Joseon Film History]. Seoul: Wŏrin, 2008.
Kim, Tonguk 김동욱. Han’gug kŏnch’ugŭi yŏksa 한국 건축의 역사 [History of Korean Architecture]. Seoul: Kimundang, 1997.
Korea Cultural Heritage Administration 문화재청. “100nyŏnjŏn kojonghwangjeŭi kukchang t'ŭkpyŏlchŏn” 100년전 고종황제의 국장 특별전 [The Special Exhibition for Gojong’s State Funeral 100 years ago]. Last modified March 25, 2019. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPvr9XFoV20 (accessed August 10, 2019)
Korean Creative Contents Agency. “P’allehot’el(p’ŭrangsŭhot’el) 팔레호텔(프랑스호텔)” [Hotel du Palais(French Hotel)]. http://www.culturecontent.com/content/contentView.do?search_div=CP_THE&search_div_id=CP_THE001&cp_code=cp0710&index_id=cp07100211&content_id=cp071002110001&search_left_menu=3
Korean History Society 한국역사연구회. “Hanmanŭn taehanmun” 한많은 대한문 [A Long Story of Daehanmun Gate]. Last modified December 14, 2007. http://www.koreanhistory.org/%ec%84%9c%ec%9a%b8%ec%9d%b4%ec%95%bc%ea%b8%b0-%ed%95%9c%eb%a7%8e%ec%9d%80-%eb%8c%80%ed%95%9c%eb%ac%b8/
Lee, Hyun-jin 이현진. “Kojongbi myŏngsŏngwanghu/hwanghu changnyejŏlch’aŭi chŏngch’esŏng” 고종비 명성왕후/황후 장례절차의 정체성 [Nature of the Funeral Proceedings for King Gojongs Wife Empress Myeongseong]. Han’guk Munhwa : Korean Culture 한국문화 85 (2019) : 239-276.
Lee, Minwon 이민원. “Ilbonŭi ch’imnyakkwa taehanjegugŭi kyŏngun’gung” 일본의 침략과 대한제국의 경운궁 [A Study on Deuksugung Palace during the Korean Empire] Han’guktongnibundongsayŏn’gu 한국독립운동사연구 22 (2004): 1-23.
Lee, Yoon-sang 이윤상. “Hwangjeŭi kunggwŏl kyŏngun’gung” 황제의 궁궐 경운궁 [Gyeongungung, the Palace of Emperor]. The Journal of Seoul Studies 서울학연구 40 (2010): 1-24.
Mok, Soo-Hyun 목수현. “Taehanjegukkiŭi kukka sangjing chejŏnggwa kyŏngun’gung” 대한제국기의 국가 상징 제정과 경운궁 [Gyeongungung Palace and National Symbols of the Daehan Empire]. The Journal of Seoul studies 서울학연구 40 (2010): 159-185.
Mückler, Hermann. “Von Celje nach Ozeanien: Alma Karlins Aufenthalt in der Südsee.” In Österreicher in der Südsee. Forscher, Reisende, Auswanderer. edited by Hermann Mückler, 271-282, Wien: LIT-Verlag, 2012.
P’ok’ŏsŭnyusŭ 포커스뉴스, “Taeanmun nasŏnŭn kojong ŏga haengnyŏl sajin konggae” 대안문 나서는 고종 어가 행렬 사진 공개 [Photo on Gojong’s Royal Procession that did pass through Daeanmun]. Seoul Shinmun 서울신문, August 1, 2016.
Pak, Chayŏng 박자영. “Taehanjegugŭi yŏksarŭl p’umŭn kyŏngun’gung” 대한제국의 역사를 품은 경운궁 [Gyeongwoongung Palace with the History of the Korean Empire]. Ch’ŏt 첫 5 (2008): 52-59.
Park Sanghyun 박상현, “Hyŏnp’ani chŏnhanŭn tŏksugung yŏksa... ‘taehanmuno’ŭn’taeanmun’oiŏtta” 현판이 전하는 덕수궁 역사... ‘대한문’은 ‘대안문’이었다 [Deoksugung Palace's History conveyed by the Signboards]. Yonhapnews 연합뉴스, April 24, 2017.
Park, Carey 박계리. "Myŏngsŏnghwanghu parinbanch'adowa parin haengnyŏl" <명성황후 발인반차도>와 발인 행렬 [The Funeral Procession of Empress Myeongseong - through the illustrated records]. The Misulsahakbo: Reviews on the Art History 미술사학보 (2016): 7-26.
Shin, Myung-Hoo 신명호. “Munjasaryowa shigakcharyoŭi hyŏpcho kimjŏngdong, kojonghwangjega saranghan chŏngdonggwa tŏksugung” 문자사료와 시각자료의 협조 김정동, 고종황제가 사랑한 정동과 덕수궁 [The Cooperation between Written Materials and Visual Materials; Kim Jungdong, Emperor Go-Jong's Love: Jung dong and Duk-su Palace]. History & the Boundaries 역사와경계 55 (2005): 323-331.
Sŏ, Chungsŏk 서중석. Chibaejaŭi kukka, minjungŭi narar han'gung kŭnhyŏndaesa 100nyŏnŭi chaejomyŏng 지배자의 국가, 민중의 나라: 한국 근현대사 100년의 재조명 [State of the Ruler, People's Country: Re-examination of 100-year Korean Modern History]. Paju: Tolbegae, 2010.
Songp'ungsuwŏl 송풍수월. “Taehanjegung hwangshil-sunjonghwangje 2 대한제국 황실-순종황제 2” [Imperial Empire of Korea-Emperor Sunjong 2]. Last modified January 19, 2010. https://m.blog.naver.com/PostView.nhn?blogId=ohyh45&logNo=20098235277&proxyReferer=h
The Korea Daily, “Hŭigwi yen han’gug sajindŭl 100nyŏnmane ch’ŏn konggae” 희귀 옛 한국 사진들 100년만에 첫 공개 [Rare Old Korean Photos First Released in 100 Years]. The Korea Daily 중앙일보, August 15, 2014.
Yang, Sang-hyun 양상현, Park, So-yeon 박소연, and Yu, Young-mee 유영미. “Kŭrip’isŭ k’ŏlleksyŏne sojangdoeŏ innŭn han’gug kŭndae sajinjaryoŭi haksulchŏng kach’ie taehan koch’al” 그리피스 컬렉션에 소장되어 있는 한국 근대 사진자료의 학술적 가치에 대한 고찰 [The Significance of Korean Photos in the William Elliot Griffis Collection at Rutgers University]. Journal of Korean Modern and Contemporary History 한국근현대사연구 71 (2014): 7-50.
Yu, Myeong-eun 유명은. “Sunmyŏnghyohwanghu hyosŏng kip’ŭn kojongŭi myŏnŭri” 순명효황후 효성 깊은 고종의 며느리 [Empress Sunmyeong, A Filial Daughter-in-law of Gojong]. Sejong Newspaper 세종신문, November 18, 2010.
Yun, Haetong 윤해동, and Hwang, Pyŏngchu 황병주. Shingminji konggongsŏng, shilch’ewa ŭnyuŭi kŏri 식민지 공공성, 실체와 은유의 거리 [Colonial Publicity: The Distance between Reality and Metaphor]. Seoul: Ch’aekkwahamkke, 2010.
Yun, Tongsŏp 윤동섭. “100nyŏnjŏn, kojong hwangjeŭi kukchang ŏttŏk’e chinhaengdwaessŭlkka” 100년전, 고종 황제의 국장 어떻게 진행됐을까 [100 years ago, What Happened to Gojong's State Funeral]. Gukjenews 국제뉴스, March 1, 2019.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Open Access Policy and Copyright
This journal provides immediate open access to its content on the principle that making research freely available to the public supports a greater global exchange of knowledge. Users are allowed to read, download, copy, distribute, print, search, or link to the full texts of the articles, or use them for any other lawful purpose, without asking prior permission from the publisher or the author.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution license (CC BY) that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work’s authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors grant the publisher commercial rights to produce hardcopy volumes of the journal for sale to libraries and individuals.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal’s published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
