Contemporary Rank Badge
Rather than re-create a hyungbae, the artist has framed the bird, added floral roundels in each corner, and included a peony and peaches, symbols of blessing and immortality, respectively. The peacock has an unusual pink patch on its head, described by Chung as a deliberate feminizing feature. As Joseon civil officials were exclusively men, the use of hyungbae and peacock to celebrate a preeminent woman scholar expands the scope of these devices beyond the patriarchal order.
Artwork Details
- 정영양 현대흉배
- 鄭英陽 現代 胸背
- Title: Contemporary Rank Badge
- Artist: Young Yang Chung (Korean, born 1936)
- Date: 20th century
- Culture: Korea
- Medium: Silk and metallic thread on silk
- Dimensions: 9 1/4 x 9 1/4in. (23.5 x 23.5cm)
Mounted: 14 5/8 x 14 5/8 in. (37.1 x 37.1 cm) - Classification: Textiles-Embroidered
- Credit Line: Gift of Young Y. Chung, Ph.D., in memory of Jean Mailey, 1996
- Object Number: 1996.126.1
- Curatorial Department: Asian Art
More Artwork
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please contact us using the form below. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.
Content Notice
The Metropolitan Museum of Art presents over 5,000 years of art from around the world, and our online collection reflects ongoing work conducted over the course of our more than 150-year history. You may encounter objects or images that may be inappropriate for some viewers or information that may be outdated.