지난전시 게시판읽기(Chimseon) | 이화여자대학교 박물관

Chimseon: 전시장소B1, The Chang Budeok Memorial Gallery; 전시기간20020914. . - 20230630. .

Chimseon refers to the sewing of fabric in Korean, collectively standing for needle and thread. The presence of Neolithic needles carved from bones and spindle whorls allow the estimation of when chimseon first started in the Korean. Initially serving a practical purpose of making clothes and fishing nets, chimseon has evolved alongside civilization to serve diverse functions such as making household items and ornaments as well as clothing.

The Joseon dynasty revered propriety, valuing Confucianism as its ruling ideology. As clothing was regarded as a crucial means to observe propriety, the sewing of fabric was valued as an important virtue for women to uphold. The people of Joseon made their daughters play with spools and taught them to weave and sew fabric upon turning ten years old. The upper class often hired a sewing lady, entrusting clothes that are difficult to make, such as official robes, to skilled seamstresses. The royal household clothing was prepared in the Department of Royal Attire, comprised of master seamsters or chimseonjang, and court ladies belonging to the sewing and embroidery quarters.

Sewing methods were selected in line with the type of fabric and purpose of the clothes. Unlined clothes were sewn with clean seams without fraying, while lined clothes were sewn with large margins on the seam to allow washing and re-tailoring. Cotton-wool-padded clothes were sewn with topstitches along the bottom hem lines to fix the cotton wool, whereas leather or fur clothes were lined with stitched leather pieces and decorated with high-quality fur trimming along the edges. Ceremonial clothes were decorated with mitering a flat trim consisting of colored fabric creating a color contrast along the edges. This exhibition showcases the diverse sewing methods and decorative techniques used in the clothing and household items of the late Joseon dynasty. The exhibition will serve as an opportunity to appreciate the aesthetics of Korean ancestors who pursued grace without extravagance through small, modest ornaments and exquisite needlework.