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Toilets in the Joseon Dynasty: The Privy Stories That Divided Social Status

phoue

6 min read --

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

FeatureRoyal FamilyYangban (Nobility)Commoners
Main FormPortable chamber pot (Maehwatul)Separate building with roofPit latrine / waste storage (Jaetgan)
Waste TreatmentSubject to medical analysisConsidered filthy wasteEssential agricultural fertilizer
Cultural MeaningTool of governanceSymbol of Confucian purityEconomic 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 portable chamber pot Maehwatul symbolizing the king’s authority and health.
The portable chamber pot Maehwatul symbolizing the king’s authority and health.

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.

The advanced public toilet ruins at Gyeongbokgung applying principles of modern septic tanks.
The advanced public toilet ruins at Gyeongbokgung applying principles of modern septic tanks.

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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.

Tongsi, embodying Jeju’s wisdom of coexistence between humans, animals, and nature.
Tongsi, embodying Jeju’s wisdom of coexistence between humans, animals, and nature.

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.

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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
#Joseon Dynasty Toilets#Maehwatul#Privy#Tongsi#Korean History#Traditional Culture

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