지난전시 게시판읽기(Belts from Joseon Dynasty) | 이화여자대학교 박물관

Belts from Joseon Dynasty: 전시장소Chang Budeok Memorial Gallery; 전시기간2021. 09. 15 - 2022. 06. 30

Dae帶 refers to belts or straps worn around the waist. A simple form of waistbands, long pieces of cloth or leather and tied around the waist, was originally used for a practical purpose of keeping clothes in place. Then, belts developed into various forms as a symbolic purpose was added in step with the class stratification of society.

Based on the material and production method, dae can be categorized into pobaekdae made of fabric, jodae, braided belts woven with silk threads, and gwadae, belts decorated with ornaments on leather or fabric, and further subdivided according to their shape, usage, and materials. Belts in the Joseon Dynasty were largely worn by men, the most widely known being belts decorated with ornaments worn over official attires, also called gakdae meaning official’s belts which had many names depending on their materials. Braided belts (jodae) such as broad waist cords (gwangdahoe) and narrow waist cords (sejodae) were worn over plain clothes, and waist belts (yodae) or military sashes (jeondae) over military uniforms. As the ties of jeogori evolved into goreum, belts used by women were narrowed down to ceremonial belts (daedae) worn over ceremonial robes such as wonsam and hwalot and bands used for keeping skirt hems off the ground.

The exhibition features various dae worn over official attires of the Joseon period, including official’s belts which indicated social status using different materials for ornaments by rank, ceremonial belts worn over courtiers’ robes for ceremonies and royal ancestral rites, and waist belts and military sashes used for military uniforms. Visitors can also see braided belts worn over plain clothes to complete the outfit, ceremonial belts wrapped around women’s ceremonial attires, and sash belts for children embroidered with auspicious patterns wishing for the child’s health and longevity.