Talma Traveling to Japan
Kim Myŏng-guk’s 17th century Talma Paintings in the Context of Secularization of Zen
Hanyang
Hanyang, today's Seoul, the capital of South Korea, was the departure point of tongsinsa.
This is the photo of the Kyŏngbok Palace (景福宮) complex grounds in the Jongno district, Seoul. Given the Kyŏngbok Palace was the foremost palace where national affairs were conducted, the tongsinsa emissaries might have received the national document (國書) from the King here before they departed for Edo, Japan.
The historical records note that 400 to 500 emissaries joined the diplomatic trip.
Chungju
Chosŏn tongsinsa passed through Chungju, a city in North Chungchŏng province.
This image shows Kim Se-ryŏm's (1593–1646) grave in Chungju. Kim was from Chungju and he was one of the tongsinsa emissaries who joined the trip in the same year in Kim Myŏng-guk in 1636. Kim Se-ryŏm's 1636 tongsinsa travelogue became informative providing information about the diplomatic trip. The travelog also writes some accounts related to Kim Myŏng-guk and how he would not paint without drinking much alcohol.
Andong
Chosŏn tongsinsa passed through Andong, the capital of North Kyŏngsang province.
This painting is Andongbugŭnhoedo depicting the 18th-century Andong scenery.
*This image is from http://www.adinews.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=60534 .
Kyŏngju
Chosŏn tongsinsa passed through Kyŏngju, the capital city of the ancient kingdom of Silla (57 BC - 935 AD).
Pusan
Tongnae, Pusan, is a historical place where diplomatic affairs were conducted between Korea and Japan in the late Chosŏn period. Tongnae was the only area where Japanese government officials could visit the Korean peninsula. Since the Imjin War (1592–1598), Chosŏn prohibited Japanese people from coming to visit Korea other than Tongnae.
The above painting is the scene of Pusan, in part of Yi Sŏng-nin (1718–1779)'s Sarosŭnggudo (槎路勝區圖), the depiction of the tongsinsa’s journey from Pusan to Edo in 30 different beautiful scenes. Yi joined tongsinsa journey in 1748, which was a bit later than Kim Myŏng-guk's trips; however, the painting shows what kind of painting tongsinsa painters worked on during their trip to Japan.
*Image source from the website of the National Museum of Korea. https://www.museum.go.kr/site/main/relic/search/view?relicId=1169
Tsushima Island, Japan
This anonymous painting (朝鮮船入津之圖) shows the Chosŏn tongsinsa entering the Tsushima Island's port. This painting is housed by the Keiō Gijuku University Library.
*Image from Kim Kyŏng-suk's lbon ŭro kan Chosŏn ŭi sŏnbidŭl : Chosŏn T'ongsinsa ŭi ilsang saenghwal kwa munhwa kyoryu (일본으로 간 조선의 선비들: 조선통신사의 일상생활과 문화교류), Seoul: Isun, 2012, 42.
Akamagaseki, Japan
Yi Sŏng-nin's Sarosŭnggudo depicts Akamagaseki, today's Shimonoseki (下関市), during the tongsinsa trips.
The emissary's first destination was Akama Shrine (赤間神宮) upon arrival at Akamagaseki. It is known that the Korean emissaries visited Akamagaseki 16 times out of their 17 total visits to Japan. Here, the local Japanese came out to see the tongsinsa members and prepared 100 ships to welcome them.
*Information is from https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20160108136800805.
Osaka
Upon tongsinsa emissaries arrived at Shirinashigawa, they had to take Kŭmnusŏn (金縷船), a ship prepared by Japan to Osaka.
This 1711 painting, Chosŏnt'ongsinsa kuksŏsŏndosŏndo (國書先道船圖), shows the high Korean officials onboard Kŭmn ship. According to the historical record, 14 and 11 ships were prepared by Japan in 1711 and 1719, respectively.
*Image from Kim Kyŏng-suk's lbon ŭro kan Chosŏn ŭi sŏnbidŭl : Chosŏn T'ongsinsa ŭi ilsang saenghwal kwa munhwa kyoryu (일본으로 간 조선의 선비들: 조선통신사의 일상생활과 문화교류), Seoul: Isun, 2012, 70.
Kyoto
In Yi Sŏng-nin's Sarosŭnggudo, there is the scene of Honchoji (本長寺)'s garden in Kyoto. Yi includes the highly manicured garden in part of his tongsinsa journey painting album in 1763. This also gives a glimpse of where Korean court painters would visit during their trip.
Nagoya
This image depicts the poem recital event (時文唱和) of Korean literati scholars and Japanese scholars at Shoko-in (性高院), Osaka, on March 29, 1764. As an important artistic exchange, the event Samsech'anghwa (三世唱和) has been recorded as a celebrated, historical moment in the history of tongsinsa trip.
*Image from Kim Kyŏng-suk's lbon ŭro kan Chosŏn ŭi sŏnbidŭl : Chosŏn T'ongsinsa ŭi ilsang saenghwal kwa munhwa kyoryu (일본으로 간 조선의 선비들: 조선통신사의 일상생활과 문화교류), Seoul: Isun, 2012, 172.
Shizuoka
This is a scene from Yi Sŏng-nin's Sarosŭnggudo depicting Oigawa, Shizuoka. This scene specifically illustrates the emissaries crossing the river on their palanquins while the local Japanese carrying them to the land.
Kim Myŏng-guk must have entered Shizuoka with this method as well and they must have taken extra care not to damage the painting tools.
*Image source from the website of the National Museum of Korea. https://www.museum.go.kr/site/main/relic/search/view?relicId=1169
Edo
Edo, today's Tokyo was the final destination for tongsinsa emissaries. They gave the national document (國書) upon their arrival, then they headed back to Hanyang.
Here, Kim Myŏng-guk created his famous talma paintings and other Daoist figure paintings for the local Japanese.
Kim Myŏng-guk, Bodhidharma, mid-seventeenth century, Chosŏn dynasty (1392-1910), Ink on paper, 83.0 cm x 58.2 cm, National Museum of Korea. Source: National Museum of Korea, Seoul.
Kim Myŏng-guk, Bodhidharma Crossing Yangtze River on a Reed, mid-seventeenth century, Chosŏn dynasty (1392-1910), ink on paper, 97.6 x 48.2 cm, National Museum of Korea. Source: National Museum of Korea, Seoul.