The Most Private Space Where Status, Culture, Technology, and Superstition Intersect
- The forms and meanings of toilets differing by social status in the Joseon Dynasty
- Ancestors’ wisdom in utilizing human waste as a resource
- Cutting-edge technology and social concepts embedded in toilets of the time
Majestic royal processions and lavish palace banquets—these are the images we often recall when thinking of the Joseon Dynasty. But behind this grand stage of history, what did the toilets of the Joseon era look like? This unavoidable human space was a microcosm of society, reflecting the social hierarchy, economic realities, scientific technology, and even psychological anxieties of the time.
From the king’s ornate portable chamber pot to the farmer’s vital waste storage, the journey through Joseon privies is the most intimate passage into the heart of Joseon society.
Table 1: Comparison of Toilet Culture by Social Status in the Joseon Dynasty
Feature | Royal Family | Yangban (Nobility) | Commoners |
---|---|---|---|
Main Form | Portable chamber pot (Maehwatul) | Separate building with roof | Pit latrine / waste storage (Jaetgan) |
Waste Treatment | Subject to medical analysis | Considered filthy waste | Essential agricultural fertilizer |
Cultural Meaning | Tool of governance | Symbol of Confucian purity | Economic asset, ’treasure storage' |
The King’s Toilet as a Mirror of State Affairs: The Royal Maehwatul
For the king, relieving himself was not a private matter but a national signal. The king’s toilet ritual began with bringing in the ‘Maehwatul (梅花틀)’, a portable chamber pot.
The Maehwatul was a wooden frame shaped like the letter ‘ㄷ’, wrapped in red silk, with a copper or porcelain bowl inserted like a drawer underneath. Solid waste was called ‘Maehwa (plum blossom)’, urine was called ‘Bi (rain)’, both regarded as sacred. Finely chopped fodder called ‘Maechu’ was spread inside to reduce noise and odor.
The climax of this ritual came after the king relieved himself. The king’s ‘Maehwa’ was taken to the Royal Medical Office, where royal physicians examined its color, shape, smell, and even taste to diagnose the king’s health. This demonstrated that the king’s body was considered public property and a symbol of governance.
Advanced Palace Technology: Public Toilets at Gyeongbokgung Palace
In 2021, a large communal toilet site was excavated near the East Palace of Gyeongbokgung. Measuring 10.4 meters long and 1.8 meters deep, this facility was perfectly waterproofed with stone and clay, designed to accommodate up to 150 people per day.
Advertisement
What’s even more remarkable is the scientific purification system comparable to modern septic tanks. The outlet was designed about 80 cm higher than the inlet, allowing water to pool and promote microbial fermentation. Solid waste settled, and only purified wastewater flowed out. This is the same basic principle as today’s anaerobic digesters, proving the palace was a pinnacle of public health technology designed to prevent disease and odors.
The Privy Symbolizing Yangban Dignity
In yangban households, the ‘privy’ was located far behind the house. As the proverb says, “The farther the in-laws and the privy, the better,” reflecting the Neo-Confucian worldview. They strictly separated the ‘civilized’ pure living space from the ‘unclean’ waste space to preserve the ideological purity of the home.
Due to this inconvenience, portable chamber pots called ‘yogang’ were essential indoors. For the yangban class, separated from agricultural production, human waste was considered merely filthy ‘waste,’ not an economic resource.
The Farmer’s Treasure Vault: The Jaetgan
For commoners, the privy was the center of ‘circulation.’ The toilet, called ‘Jaetgan,’ was a core facility of farmhouses and the only source of fertilizer before chemical fertilizers existed. The proverb “You can give a bowl of rice, but not a basket of manure” clearly shows its value.
There was even a custom called ‘dung debt.’ If you used a neighbor’s toilet, you had to invite them the next day to use yours or repay with vegetables. For commoners, the toilet was not a waste disposal site but a ’treasure vault’ itself.
Jeju’s Wisdom: The Symbiotic ‘Tongsi’ of Humans and Pigs
On the barren volcanic island of Jeju, there was a unique toilet called ‘Tongsi.’ It combined a human toilet and pigsty, where pigs called ‘dung pigs’ immediately ate the human waste below.
The pigs’ waste became premium fertilizer called ‘dotgeoreum,’ enriching the poor soil. Tongsi was the heart of a perfect symbiotic ecosystem connecting humans, animals, and land.
The Privy Spirit and Social Order
Toilets, often dark and isolated, naturally evoked anxiety. Joseon people named this fear ‘Cheoksin (厠神),’ the ‘privy spirit.’ Depicted as a young woman who died with resentment, it was believed that opening the door without coughing would anger her and cause illness.
This belief functioned as a social mechanism enforcing knock culture to protect privacy. More deeply, the idea of a resentful woman dwelling in an ‘unclean’ space reflected the gender anxieties of the patriarchal society at the time.
Advertisement
Conclusion
What can we learn from the toilets of the Joseon Dynasty? The most fascinating insight from reviewing these materials is that the most private spaces transparently reflect the public face of their era.
- The King’s Maehwatul: A symbol of governance monitoring state affairs through the king’s health.
- Commoners’ Jaetgan and Jeju’s Tongsi: Wisdom of a circular economy using human waste as a key agricultural resource rather than mere waste.
- Palace Public Toilets: Application of scientific principles comparable to modern technology, highlighting the importance of social infrastructure for public hygiene.
By examining the humblest spaces, we encounter the deepest and most intimate landscapes of a bygone era. Next time you visit Gyeongbokgung or a folk village, why not imagine the hidden location of the ‘privy’ beyond the splendid pavilions?
References
- Was the Maehwatul used by Joseon kings actually a plum blossom vase? Newseum
- Privies and Toilets Brunch
- Origins and Terms of Public Toilets Seoul Metropolitan Government
- Maehwatul, the King’s Portable Toilet | Joseon Dynasty Story Animation YouTube
- Maehwatul Namu Wiki
- “Your Majesty, you must relieve yourself in front of the court ladies” OhmyNews
- Discovery of Palace Toilets in Joseon Dynasty / YTN YouTube
- Why Were Spoons and Bowls Found in Joseon Public Toilets? JoongAng Ilbo
- Gyeongbokgung Privy with Septic Tank… Joseon Royal Palace Toilet Site Found After 150 Years Hankyoreh
- Korean Toilet Culture Restroom Culture Citizens’ Coalition
- Privy! The Names and Stories Behind Them Yeongnam Culture News
- The Use of Human Waste in Korea, China, and Japan Summoned by ‘Waste Balloon’ News Free Zone
- Tongsi Digital Seogwipo Cultural Encyclopedia
- Tongsi Korean Folk Encyclopedia
- [Again! Jeju Culture] (33) “Is the Dung Pig Dirty?…There Was a Reason!” Yonhap News
- Privy Korean Folk Encyclopedia
- Jeongnang Gaksi Namu Wiki