자격루 복원과정과 의의

Reproduction of Jagyeongnu, Joseon Water Clock

Accurate timekeeping was a very important office of the monarchy. Whosoever oversees the regulation of clocks also controls the routines of society, and essentially regulates the lives of the people. Also, the statesmen were considered as mediators between heaven and earth, observing celestial phenomena and administering production and distribution of sundials, water clocks and calendars for the people. Korea s first automatic clock, Jagyeongnu, which literally means self striking clock, was produced under the orders of King Sejong. It was created by Jang Yeong-sil, a renowned scientist and scholar, and housed in Borugak, a special building on the grounds of Gyeongbok Palace. It officially became the national time standard in 1434, the 16th year of King Sejong s reign. Afterwards, King Jungjong ordered to upgrade the water clock and install it in the special house for the water clock in Changgyeong Palace in 1536. In 1608, King Gwanghaegun restored it to its original shape that was badly damaged during the Japanese Invasion(1592) and set it as the national standard. It had been the standard clock until 1835. The reproduction features the original automatic alarm function and the original shape of Jagyeongnu. Another water clock, designated as National Treasure No. 229, had two jars installed horizontally, which is a big fallacy committed by Japanese Scholars who moved the clock from Gyeongbok Palace to Changgyeong palace. But the reproduction of this time corrected arrangement of the water-sending jars into three water sending jars on the three stages in a row.