The Establishment and Evolution of the Civil Official Hyungbae System in the Joseon Dynasty

This study examines the development of the Joseon Dynasty’s civil official Hyungbae system from the perspective of its adoption and adaptation of the Chinese Hyungbae system. Hyungbae were used in both China and Joseon, but the methods for distinguishing ranks differed. The Chinese Hyungbae system determined the primary motif for each rank based on Hyungbae’s grade. The Joseon-style system only distinguished Hyungbae ranks as Dangsaeng or Dangha, using the same main motif but differentiating ranks by the number of animals depicted. In the second year of King Danjong’s reign(1454), Joseon introduced the Chinese-style Hyungbae system, limited to the principles of Yideung Chegang and the System for Dangsanggwan. Subsequently, the Hyungbae system was adapted to suit Joseon’s circumstances, ultimately culminating in the completion of the Joseon-style Hyungbae system. In the 15th century, only officials of the third rank or higher used Hyungbae, employing patterns adhering to the principles of Yideung Chegang. By the 16th century, all civil and military officials of the 9th rank and above used Hyungbae, combining Chinese rank patterns below the 3rd grade with the goose and wild duck patterns established in Joseon. In the 17th century, while the Chinese-style Hyungbae system was maintained in principle, cracks began to appear in the principles of Yideung Chegang. Hyungbae for Dangsanggwan were unified into the crane, which was Hyungbae for the first and second ranks in China. From the late 17th to the early 18th century, the Hyungbae system was unified: Dangsanggwan used the crane, while Danghagwan used the silver pheasant. This established the Joseon-style Hyungbae system, which classified Hyungbae’s grades solely as Dangsang or Dangha. From around 1730, both Dangsanggwan and Danghagwan used double-crane Hyungbae. By around 1764, the system was standardized: Danghagwan wore double-crane Hyungbae, while Danghagwan wore single-crane Hyungbae. This represented Joseon’s unique and independent Hyungbae system, marking the kingdom’s final and definitive Hyungbae system.