The ‘Seonwonjeon’ plaque, considered the most sacred at Gyeongbokgung Palace of the Joseon Dynasty, has returned to its place after 100 years. The Cultural Heritage Administration and Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation unveiled a plaque, believed to have been hung at Gyeongbokgung’s Seonwonjeon, at the National Palace Museum in Jongno-gu, Seoul, today (27th).
A plaque refers to a frame with paintings or calligraphy on paper, silk, or wooden boards. The unveiled plaque measures 312 cm in width and 140 cm in height, featuring the characters ‘Seonwonjeon’ (璿源殿) in gold on a black background.
Seonwonjeon was a space where portraits of past kings of the Joseon Dynasty were enshrined, and rituals such as incense offering or worship by the king were held. The Cultural Heritage Administration explained that considering records of construction and loss of Seonwonjeon at each palace, the plaque is presumed to have been from the Seonwonjeon at Gyeongbokgung rebuilt in 1868. They also noted that the pigments on the plaque mostly matched the records from the reconstruction of Gyeongbokgung.
The plaque was identified when the administration and foundation obtained information in 2023 about a relic being listed for auction in Japan. They requested the auction to be halted and worked to persuade the owner. It is reported that Riot Games supported the repatriation of the plaque.
[Photo credit: Yonhap News / Provided by Cultural Heritage Administration]