Two hundred years ago Yu Man-ju lived just 34 short years in Hanyang today's Seoul. Other than repeatedly failing the civil service examination his life was not extraordinary. If not for his 24-volume diary that skips not a single day from 1775 to 1787 he probably would not have been remembered by anybody. Surprisingly his diary titled Heumyeong which means ‘admiring the flower-like beautiful human spirit’ reveals a very specific and detailed account of life in Hanyang.
This exhibition explores the year of 1784. The year was uneventful other than the installation of Crown Prince Munhyo. Yu Man-ju turned 30. On the New Year’s Day he performed ancestral rites at the family shrine. He tread on the bridge under the first full moon. In March he headed to Jeongneung for flower viewing then to Haeju and Pyeongyang in March a leap month. In July he met his doctor trying to cure his chronic eye disease. In August he bought a house and moved in. In September he took the civil service examination but failed. In November he learned about Western astronomical equipments at Hong Dae-yong’s house. In December he watched the Qing Delegation visiting Hanyang. As we read each page of the 384 diary entries from that year we are transported back in time finding ourselves walking down the streets of 1784 Hanyang in Yu Man-ju’s shoes complete with his emotions and worries.
For some time the Seoul Museum of History has presented diverse aspects of Seoul as they occur in specific places. However in this exhibition we would look into the everyday life and inner thoughts of Hanyang Confucian scholar Yu Man-ju with a microscopic perspective. We hope that it provides an opportunity to better understand 18th century Hanyang.