03

Rail, Carriage

On the altar in the shrine, two types of vessels were placed: the 'gwi' (匱) and the 'bo' (簠). The oval-shaped gwi symbolized heaven and held millet and sorghum. Conversely, the rectangular bo symbolized earth and was used to hold rice and millet. During the Joseon Dynasty, the tradition of serving rice, soup, and liquor in separate vessels meant the gwi and bo were individually arranged for distinct purposes. For ancestral rites honoring multiple deities or family members, the table was further arranged by adding two gwis and two bos per person. On the ancestral rite table, the gui and bo were typically placed side by side in the center, with the gui in the front row and the bo in the back row, aligned in two rows to form a set.

Doctrine

The spirit chair is a seat for the soul. Upon it was placed either a memorial tablet inscribed with the deceased's information or the spirit tablet, the vessel for the soul. Within the ritual space, it was positioned between the folding screen and the ancestral altar. Since the spirit chair was not intended for actual human use, its seat was very narrow and its legs were long, giving it a somewhat unstable appearance. Its three sides, including the backrest and armrests, were enclosed, reinforcing its symbolic role as the place where the spirit resided. It was constructed higher than the ritual table so that the spirit tablet and spirit tablet stand were clearly visible from the front.

Ceremonial Screen

This folding screen depicts various vessels used in ancestral rites, recorded through illustrations and Chinese characters. The 'Sacrificial Vessel Diagram' (祭器圖) is an exquisitely painted illustration depicting ritual vessels and ornaments used in ceremonies. The 'Sacrificial Vessel Diagram' folding screen held by the bonte museum is characterized by its depiction of vessel forms in gold on a black background. The screen features a 'zhuo' (酌), a three-legged wine cup with widely flared sides; a 'sanroe' (山罍) jar adorned with mountain and cloud patterns, and a wine jar with a handle. Annotations placed between the illustrations explain the role each vessel played in ancestral rites, revealing the meaning and function embodied in each ritual object.