The Martial Arts Department ( Korean : 무예청 ; Hanja : 武藝廳 ) was a division of the Military Training Command, who served as guards for King Seonjo during the Imjin War. It was an organization composed of skilled martial artists who were responsible for guarding the five grand palaces and providing close protection to the king. The officers belonging to the office were specially referred to as Martial Arts Special Guards ( 무예별감 ) or simply Martial Guards ( 무감 ; 武監 ). It was also known as the military officials ( 무관 ; 武官 ; mugwan ).
29-637: The establishment process of the Martial Arts Department is detailed in King Sunjo of Joseon 's work called Pure Study Records ( 순제고 ). After the end of the Japanese invasion of Korea , a specialized organization called the Martial Arts Office was established to provide exclusive protection to the king. The Martial Arts Office selected exceptional individuals with outstanding martial arts skills from
58-736: A polo-like game , bringing the total number of systems to 24. These are the eighteen "skills" (技 skill, ability, method) which are classified into three categories (thrust, slice, and strike) and reflect strong influence from Chinese martial arts . The first six skills already present in the Muyejebo can also be found in the Muyesinbo : The remaining twelve skills are original to the Muyesinbo : . The term Sip Pal Gi in modern Korean martial arts has come to identify three separate but related activities. In modern Korean martial arts, Sip Pal Gi has come to be used generically, much like " kung fu " in
87-470: A celestial hat (천익), a straw hat (초립), and a tiger beard (호수) without question when seated in the palace or on duty. On occasions other than guarding the gates, they shall wear a hood (두건) and a celestial hat (천익)." Furthermore, the military manuscript called "Man-gi Yoram" from 1808 provides a more detailed description of the attire of the Martial Arts Special Guards. "There are 46 members in
116-449: A three-sided cudgel used for striking offenders, while standing guard at the palace gates, and one-third of the members carried bows (삼릉장). The four superior heads (상두) carried a halberd (탁달, 脫鐸) and stood at the left, right, and rear gates without having swords. They were identifiable by their distinctive attire, which included red iron helmets, yellow chest plates, and swords known as yodo. The Martial Arts Special Guards were proficient in
145-529: Is said that the title of Martial Arts Special Guards was bestowed upon the ten training officers who accompanied King Seonjo during the Imjin War and returned with him to Hanyang, acknowledging their efforts. Then it was given to the 30 soldiers from the Military Training Division who guarded King Seonjo, and this title continued with the establishment of the Martial Arts Department in 1630. They guarded
174-578: The Imjin War (1592–1598), which revealed severe shortcomings in the Korean national army causing King Seonjo (1567–1608) to order reforms based on the successful training model of the Chinese General Qi Jiguang (1527–1587). During the reign of King Yeongjo (1724–1776) the Muyejebo was revised, and supplemented with 12 additional fighting methods by Prince Sado , published in 1759. Prince Sado
203-756: The Muyesinbo , with the native sword (bongukgeom, 본국검) and crescent moon blade (woldo, 월도) which were considered the most important techniques. During the royal procession (대조회), when the royal guards (갑사) were in charge of protection, those who carried the straight sword (능장) would switch to staff (석전) or red rattan staff (주등장). When performing royal processions outside the capital, the chief of training (행수별감) from both sides would wear military uniforms and carry swords. In 1883, after Joseon opened their doors, they were equipped with modern rifles and hwando (swords). Sunjo of Joseon Sunjo ( Korean : 순조 ; Hanja : 純祖 ; 29 July 1790 – 13 December 1834), personal name Yi Gong ( 이공 ; 李玜 ),
232-471: The "18 Martial Arts Acres" (십팔기터). The Martial Arts Special Guards military personnel trained at Bipajeong (currently Dongguk University ) in spring, summer, and autumn, and at Hadogam (currently Dongdaemun History & Culture Park ) during winter. They ensured the continuity of their lineage by enlisting their own sons in the Dae-nyeon-gun from an early age, allowing them to learn the Muyesinbo . Learning
261-717: The 18 Martial Categories of the Yi Dynasty"). This mirrors the Chinese concept of the " Eighteen Arms of Wushu " (十八般兵器) to identify the Korean collection of weapons depicted in the Mu Ye Sin Bo (note that 十八般兵器 is pronounced Sip Pal Ban Byeong Gi in Korean, 십팔반병기, where the words Ban Byeong are left out to render Prince Sado's term, and these omitted words roughly translate as "martial methods" making them essentially superfluous when taken in context). The earlier manual of 1610, Muyejebo ( Martial Arts Illustrations ) had as its background
290-633: The Chief Martial Arts Office (Muyecheong Daeryeong Mugam (무예청 대령 무감 (武藝廳待令武監) consisted of 46 members, while the Deputy chief martial arts office (Muyecheong Gadaeryeong Mugam (무예청 가대령 무감 (武藝廳假待令武監) had 40 members serving as guards (Siwi (시위, 侍衛). The remaining 87 members of the Gate Martial Arts Office (Munmu Muyecheong Mugam (문무무예청 무감 (門武藝廳武監) stood guard at various palace gates. The Men and women martial arts office (남여무예청) had 19 personnel,
319-740: The Daeryeong Muyecheong (Commanders of the Large Martial Arts), and 40 members in the Gadaeryeong Muyecheong (Commanders of the Great Martial Arts), all wearing red military uniforms. They carry swords only during guard duty. There are 87 members in the Mun Muyecheong (Civil Martial Arts Commanders), wearing red celestial hats (홍천익) and yellow straw hats (황초립), with tiger beards (호수) attached." The Chief Martial Arts Office and
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#1732855874171348-626: The Deputy Chief Martial Arts Office wore red military uniforms and carried swords while serving as guards. The remaining 87 members of the Gate Martial Arts Office (문무예청 ( Munmu Muyecheong Mugam (門武藝廳武監)) wore red-colored Hongcheolik and yellow Hwangchorip hats (黃草笠), with tiger beards attached to their caps, and the red cheollik (철릭, a type of traditional Korean garment). The Men and women martial arts office, Old and new martial arts office, and Firearm martial arts office wore black-colored military uniforms. During guard duties, they wore
377-684: The Muyesinbo was considered impossible without starting martial arts training at a young age. (Currently, the Muyesinbo are designated as a separate category known as "Traditional Military Training" (전통군영무예) and have been designated as the 51st Seoul Intangible Cultural Property. The textbook, " Muyedobotongji ," was inscribed on the UNESCO Memory of the World Register by North Korea in 2017.) Martial Arts Department soldiers wore green iron helmets and purple hoods, but their attire changed to red following
406-667: The Old and New martial arts office (구후무예청) had four personnel, and the Firearm martial arts office (화병무예청) had two personnel. During the Joseon era, the area of Namsan 's Bokrok (present-day Yejang-dong and Jangchung-dong) was entirely military camps. The current Hanok Village was the headquarters of the Eoyeongcheong (어영청), and Jangchungdan Park was the headquarters of the Geumwiyeong (금위영), known as
435-596: The cavalry, infantry, and their affiliated personnel. They were constantly engaged in learning martial skills. At times, they were also dispatched as martial arts instructors to the Military Training Agency, Capital Garrison ( 금위영 ; 禁衛營 ), Royal Guards Command ( 어영청 ; 御營廳 ), and the Command of the Northern Approaches ( 총융청 ; 摠戎廳 ). The composition of the Martial Arts Department consisted of
464-492: The fundamental principles of government deteriorated. The state examination became disordered and corruption in the government personnel administration prevailed. This resulted in disorder in society and various riots broke out among the people, including the revolt by Hong Gyeong-nae in 1811–1812. The Ogajaktongbeop (五家作統法), a census registration system to group five houses as one unit, was carried out in this period, and oppression against Catholicism began in earnest. In 1811
493-525: The last diplomatic envoys were sent by Korea to Japan. Based on records of that trip, a reconstruction of the diplomatic vessel has been made for the National Maritime Museum of Korea. King Sunjo died after reigning for 35 years in 1834 at the age of 44. He was first buried next to Jangneung , Paju , the tomb of King Injo and Queen Inryeol but later moved to Illeung, Seoul as the Feng Shui at
522-592: The military training center ( 훈련도감 ) and served as the king's bodyguards. In 1894, the Martial Arts Department disbanded after the Gabo Reforms and the Eulmi Incident as part of the military reforms leading to the establishment of the Imperial Korean Armed Forces . In 1630 (the 8th year of King Injo 's reign), the Martial Arts Department was established with a staff of 30 people and was placed under
551-490: The old site was deemed to be unfavourable. Consort(s) and their respective issue Muyesinbo The Muyesinbo ( Korean : 무예신보 ; lit. New Compendium of Martial Arts ; alternatively Muyeshinbo ) is a Korean martial arts manual published in 1759. The book is a revision of the older Muyejebo , made during the reign of King Youngjo (1724–1776). It adds twelve disciplines or "skills" of both armed and unarmed fighting by Prince Sado to
580-448: The original six which were descbribed in the Muyejebo . No copies of the Muyesinbo have survived, but its contents can easily be determined by tracing back and comparing the Muyejebo with the later Muyedobotongji . Prince Sado also originated the term Sib Pal Gi (십팔기, 十八技, “Eighteen [Fighting] Methods” or possibly "Eighteen [Warrior's] Tools” if using 十八器), shortened from Bonjo Muye Sib Pal Ban (본조무예십팔반, 本條武藝十八般, "A Treatise on
609-632: The palace gates and the king's residence, surrounding the king's carriage during royal processions. When guarding the palaces, one person stood at each of the left and right gates, and two people stood at the rear gate. The Martial Arts Special Guards were selected from the Special Core Army ( 별기군 ) of the Military Training Command ( 훈련도감 ; Hullyeoldogam ). The Martial Arts Special Guards consisted of skilled individuals with strong physical abilities and proficiency in techniques among
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#1732855874171638-484: The same uniforms as the gate martial arts office which were multicolored. After the prohibition on wearing civilian clothing in 1883, all Martial Arts Special Guards were required to wear standard traditional military uniforms. The Gate martial arts office stood guard at various palace gates, wielding spears and swords. According to the Man-gi Yoram, 58 members wielded muskets (조총), 29 members wielded Samreungjang (三稜杖),
667-472: The simplification of clothing on April 4, 1778. The 문무예청 (gate martial arts office) wore red-colored clothing with yellow straw hats (황초립) and tiger beards attached to their caps. An excerpt from the first article of the Joseon Dynasty Annals for the second year of King Jeongjo, April 4 describes the uniform requirements for the Martial Arts Special Guards. "The Martial Arts Special Guards shall wear
696-564: The supervision of the Military Training Command ( 훈련도감 ; 訓鍊都監 ). Personnel were selected from the equestrian training ( 훈국마 ), infantry ( 보군 ), and specialized troops ( 별기군 ). In 1781 (5th year of King Jeongjo 's reign), the 102 members of Martial Arts Department were divided into two units to guard the royal palaces: left ( 좌 ) and right ( 우 ), with each section consisting of 1 leader ( 총 ) and five subordinates ( 영 ). Each subordinate had ten people, so one subordinate had nine people, and one leader commanded five subordinate. When there
725-497: Was a leader of the Andong Kim clan. Since he ascended the throne at a young age, Queen Dowager Jeongsun , the second queen of King Yeongjo , ruled as queen regent, which allowed her to wield power over state affairs. Queen Jeongsun's influence was to such extent that during Sunjo's reign, the status of Lady Hyegyŏng , the mother of Jeongjo and the grandmother of Sunjo, became a point of contention. During Jeonjo's reign, Lady Hyegyŏng
754-620: Was the 23rd monarch of the Joseon dynasty of Korea . He was the second son of King Jeongjo by his concubine, Royal Noble Consort Su of the Bannam Park clan. He was born with the title of His Royal Highness Prince Yi Gong on 29 July 1790 (18 June 1790 in lunar calendar). Upon the death of his father, King Jeongjo , Yi Gong ascended to the throne at age 10 on 4 July 1800, lunar calendar. In 1802, aged 13, King Sunjo married Lady Kim , known posthumously as Queen Sunwon, daughter of Kim Jo-sun , who
783-571: Was the heir-apparent of king Yeongjo, but he suffered from a mental illness which triggered violent outbreaks. After the prince took to randomly killing and raping people in the palace, he was executed by suffocation in 1762, aged 27. Both the Muyejebo and Muyesinbo formed the basis for the later Muyedobotongji ("Comprehensive Illustrated Manual of Martial Arts") of 1795, which added 4 already depicted disciplines only as executed on horseback (namely: flag spear , twin sabres , moon-knife , and flail ) in addition to horsemanship itself as well as
812-460: Was training, a chief of training ( 행수별감 ) was appointed by the head ( 통장 ) to lead the training. By 1802 (2nd year of King Sunjo 's reign), the department had a total of 198 personnel selected from the Hun'gukma ( 訓局馬 ), Bogun ( 步軍 ), and Byeolgigun ( 別技軍 ) units. The military personnel of the Martial Arts Department were called the Martial Arts Special Guards ( 무예별감; 무감 ; Muyebyeolgam ). It
841-485: Was treated with respect and as the mother of King Jeongjo despite the fact that Lady Hyegyŏng was married to Crown Prince Sado who had been forced to commit suicide during the reign of Yeongjo, which had greatly affected Hyegyeong's status due to the controversy surrounding Sado's suicide. Following Sunjo's ascension, her status was lowered and despite Sunjo's efforts to reverse this later in his reign, they were unsuccessful. Despite King Sunjo's efforts to reform politics,
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