Success and Opulence: You own Everything

Often placed at the center of a ch’aekkado are objects that have little to do with a scholar’s virtue. We discussed how modesty and humility were held in high regard, but the objects you see here before you are screaming success and opulence – I own everything!

Lain out in a red bowl are two “Buddha-hand citrons”. The imported fruit is called such because of its finger-like shape, holding or grasping something – that “something” being money. The citrons’ Chinese name foshou 佛手 (which means “Buddha-hand”) is also a phonetic pun. The first syllable fo sounds similar to fu 福, meaning “fortune, blessing”, and the second syllable shou sounds like the word for longevity 壽, also pronounced shou. It should be no surprise, therefore, that the citrons are a well-known symbol of wealth and longevity. Sunglim Kim, “Chaekgeori: Multi-Dimensional Messages in Late Joseon Korea,” Archives of Asian Art 64, no. 1 (2014): 14. Sooa McCormick, “Taste of Distinction: Paintings of Scholars’ Accoutrements,” in Chaekgeori: The Power and Pleasure of Possessions in Korean Painted Screens, eds. Byungmo Chung & Sunglim Kim (Seoul: Dahal Media, 2018): 55-6.

Next to the citrons is a green vase with a branch of coral and two peacock feathers in it. The name of the peacock, which is mun’gŭm 文禽 in Korean, has the syllable mun 文 in it, meaning “refined, cultured, civilized”. Because of this association, the peacock was used in the chest and back insignia on the uniforms of high-ranking government officials (figs. 1 and 2). Coral, a precious and rare material, was used by Chinese officials of the first rank to make buttons and other adornments for their official attire. Hence, both coral and peacock feathers symbolize an aspiration to reach the highest ranks of officialdom. Kim 2014, 14. Kil-hong Min, “Chosŏn Era Ch’aekkado - Capturing a Love of Books,” The Curator’s Picks, The National Museum of Korea, accessed 12 January, 2023, url.

Both the bronze vessel (an incense burner) and the Western-style clock are a display of a refined taste in rare items and antiques, as well as affluence and an open mind toward Western art and science. The clock was not actually used and was only put up for show. Kim 2014, 10. Kil-hong Min, accessed 12 January 2023.