Korean Historical Seals: Traces Embracing a Millennium of Drama

How Did a Single Stroke of a Signature Change the Fate of a Nation?

• Discover the turbulent history of the national seal (Guksae, 國璽), a symbol of the state.
• Delve into the meaning of personal signatures (Sukyeol, 手決) reflecting the personalities of great figures like King Sejong and Admiral Yi Sun-sin.
• Examine decisive moments where seals shaped individual lives and the destiny of the nation.

In the vast currents of history, small and delicate sounds are often buried—like the sound of a jade seal dipped in ink stamping a document, or a brush tip gliding over paper engraving a person’s will. In Korean history, seals (Injang, 印章) and personal signatures (Sukyeol, 手決) were not mere tokens. They were sometimes the deciding factor of dynasties, the turning point of personal lives, and a cry proclaiming national pride. This article follows the grand drama contained within these small Korean historical seals.

1. The Mandate from the Jade Box: The History of the National Seal

The national seal was not just a simple stamp. It was a sacred object embodying the idea of ruling the country by the mandate of heaven, and the very legitimacy of the dynasty itself. Possessing the national seal meant receiving heaven’s will; losing it signified the end of the dynasty.

1.1 The Birth of Authority: From Chinese Jade to the Joseon Throne

The history of the national seal traces back to Gojoseon and was systematized during the Goryeo and Joseon periods. Notably, when Yi Seong-gye, founder of Joseon, received the Goryeo national seal, it symbolized the end of an old era and the beginning of a new heavenly mandate.

Royal seals were strictly categorized by purpose and rank. The highest-grade seal used for major state affairs was called Guksae (國璽) or Daebo (大寶); seals for royal family members were called Eobo (御寶). Together, these were known as Saebo (璽寶). Materials included jade or gold, and the handle shape, called ‘Innyu (印紐)’, symbolized status. Emperors used dragon-shaped handles, while kings of vassal states used turtle-shaped ones. After proclaiming the Korean Empire, Emperor Gojong replaced the turtle handle with a dragon handle, a powerful political act declaring equality with Qing China.

1.2 The Burned Kingdom: The Lost National Seal during the Imjin War

In 1592, during the Imjin War, the capital Hanyang was captured, resulting in the loss of all Joseon national seals. This was not merely the loss of administrative tools but a symbolic event where the physical proof of dynastic legitimacy was lost.

Ironically, while the symbol of power—the national seal—disappeared, the spirit of the nation was preserved by the people through the “Annals of the Joseon Dynasty”. After the war, Joseon endured the humiliation of requesting new national seals from Ming China to barely restore dynastic legitimacy.

1.3 The Last Cry: The Tragic Seals of the Korean Empire

In 1897, Gojong changed the state name to the Korean Empire and declared himself emperor, asserting independence. He discarded the turtle-handle seal of a vassal state and created a dragon-handle seal exclusive to emperors. Seals like ‘Daegunjubo (大君主寶)’ and ‘Hwangjejeebo (皇帝之寶)’ expressed a resolute will to break from the old order and stand as a sovereign nation.

However, this effort was short-lived. In 1905, the forced signing of the Eulsa Treaty turned the national seal into a symbol of humiliation. Gojong claimed the seal was stolen and used without consent, but history could not be reversed. The scattered seals returned decades later, bearing scars that encapsulate the glory and despair of modern Korean history.

2. The Signature of the Soul: Personal Traces, Sukyeol

If the national seal symbolized state hierarchy, the personal signature (Sukyeol) was a stage revealing individual soul and personality. Meaning “direct decision by hand,” Sukyeol went beyond a simple signature to embody a person’s entire being.

2.1 The King’s Humility: King Sejong’s Sukyeol

King Sejong, in a document addressed to his elder brother Prince Hyoryeong, wrote his name directly as “King’s younger brother Yi Do (國王 弟 祹)” instead of using the royal seal (Eobo, 御寶). In an era when the king’s name was sacred and rarely written, this was a radical act. It reveals Sejong’s warm humility, expressing respect and human affection toward his brother over royal authority.

2.2 The Hero’s Steadfast Heart: Admiral Yi Sun-sin’s Sukyeol

Admiral Yi Sun-sin left a unique signature on all documents. Scholars interpret this signature as a cursive rendering of the characters ‘Ilshim (一心)’, meaning “one heart.” Symbolizing unwavering loyalty to the nation, this signature reflects the philosophy that permeated his entire life. Practice marks in his “Nanjung Ilgi” (War Diary) reveal the human side of a perfect hero wrestling to express his convictions.

2.3 The Ambitious Orchid: Heungseon Daewongun’s Sukyeol

Heungseon Daewongun was also renowned as an artist, especially for his ink orchid paintings (Moknando, 墨蘭圖). Unlike the delicate and elegant orchid paintings, his signature and handwriting were rough and powerful. This was not the refined signature of a scholar but the trace of a turbulent figure with suppressed desires and a strong will to overturn the world. His art reveals a dual nature—private expression and hidden public ambition.

3. Seals on the Frontlines of Life

Beyond the palace, seals and signatures wielded great power even in the fierce survival struggles of ordinary people.

3.1 Forged Documents, Stolen Lives: Legal Dramas in Joseon

In Joseon, the decisive weapon in disputes over social status, such as “Nobi Jaengsong (奴婢爭訟)” (slave lawsuits), was documents stamped with seals. Tragedies where a forged seal condemned a family to lifelong slavery were common. For those whose fate depended on the authenticity of a small red mark, it was heavier than anything else in the world.

3.2 The Door Opened Under Guns and Swords: The Seal of the Treaty of Ganghwa

The seal stamped on the 1876 Treaty of Ganghwa changed Joseon’s fate. Signed under Japan’s military threat, the treaty was filled with unequal clauses seriously infringing on national sovereignty, such as extraterritoriality. The seal stamped under coercion pushed the nation onto a path of decline.

Comparison: Seal (印章) vs. Personal Signature (手決)

Both seals and personal signatures serve the purpose of ‘authentication,’ but their essence differs greatly. It is like the difference between a well-tailored uniform and casual everyday clothes.

Personally, I am more drawn to personal signatures that embody a person’s struggle and philosophy than to standardized seals. What about you?

Conclusion

We have explored the turbulent history surrounding Korean historical seals and personal signatures. A small mark sometimes functioned as a symbol of power, an expression of the soul, or a decisive instrument of fate.

• The national seal was the mirror reflecting dynastic legitimacy and the nation’s destiny. The tragedies of the Imjin War and the Korean Empire echo the suffering of the national seal.
• Personal signatures transcended standardized seals to embody an individual’s philosophy and humanity. They contain the humility of King Sejong and the loyalty of Admiral Yi Sun-sin.
• Seals played a decisive role in courts and diplomatic arenas, determining the fate of individuals and the nation. The weight of their authenticity remains unchanged.

Today, we stamp contracts and sign documents. Perhaps it is worth reflecting on the historical weight behind these seemingly casual acts. The national seals in museums and the signatures of great figures ask us what responsibility and meaning we should embed in our own names and marks.