Storyline

From weapon to decoration

During the Joseon dynasty (1392-1910) on the Korean peninsula, jangdo were small knives often worn on the body. These multifaceted daggers tell many stories, both beautiful and dark. What were the jangdo’s usages and how did they influence people’s lives over the centuries?

Credits

A story by Anke Verstraete, Carlijn Wesseling. As part of Material Culture, Museums and Heritage in the Koreas at Leiden University, Faculty of Humanities. Supervised by Elmer Veldkamp.