Funeral in Seoul. On the inclusion of a white horse, here is a quote from Horace N. Allen: 'The procession proper was long enough to cover the whole five or six miles of the route to the grave. There were great 'flower horses' of papier-mache to be burned at the tomb. Together with similar grotesque figures for frightening off or propitiating evil spirits.' Source: First encounters : Korea 1880-1910, 1982. P. 26.
Paddock, Gordon (1865-1932) was appointed Secretary of the American Legation in Seoul in 1901, as well as Vice and Deputy Consul General; he became Consul General in 1902. When the Legation closed in November 1905, his duties as Secretary ceased, and the following year he was appointed Vice Consul General. In 1909 he went to Manchuria as Vice and Deputy Consul, first in Harbin and then in Mukden (now Shenyang). In 1910 he began diplomatic service in Persia, as Consul in Tabriz, and then in Tehran. Paddock received commendations for his efforts to protect foreign nationals in Tabriz from a succession of invading troops during WWI and its aftermath. He was assigned to Belgrade in 1922, and to Copenhagen as First Secretary of the American Legation. His final post was as First Secretary of the American Embassy in Paris in 1930, from which he retired later that year.
Photograph of Min Yong-hwan's state funeral (Dec. 16-18 1905). On this funeral procession, see the web site under 'Letters from Troubled Seoul', under the date Dec. 17, 1905.
Photograph of Min Yong-Hwan's state funeral (Dec. 16-18 1905). On this funeral procession, see the web site under 'Letters from Troubled Seoul', under the date Dec. 17, 1905. Shown here are military personnel participating in the event.
Photograph of Min Yong-hwan's state funeral (Dec. 16-18 1905). On this funeral procession, see the web site under 'Letters from Troubled Seoul', under the date Dec. 17, 1905. The grotesque figure on the cart pulled by the runners is a symbol for frightening off or propitiating evil spirits.
Both a young man and a boy in identical outfits. They wear echogorie (short jacket) and epajie (trousers). Their epajie are tied with etaenime (ribbon) at the lower ends of the trousers. Both of them have echumonie (wallets), for the safekeeping of cash under their waists. Their shoes are echipsine that are made of straws. Their outfit suggests that they are not from very rich families, but probably belong to the working class.
A merchant with his hemp shoes called 'chipsin' and probably two friends visiting a merchant on a cold day. At left a woman is shown with vegetables (probably radishes) in her baskets.
Presumably the tombkeeper and his young daughter, posing for the picture at the Yi Dynasty king's tomb site. 'Kings of Yi Dynasty were guarded in death by stone warriors and animals--a custom that was presumably introduced into Korea during the Silla period from China.' Source: Kim, Chewon. Seoul, 1969, p. 129.
Three Japanese soldiers guarding a place that is presumably a very important tomb with a modern style monument. The exact location is unknown.
Street scene, depicting a newly constructed road of rough gravel. To the left are what appear to be warehouses, probably in use by the Japanese soldiers which can be seen in the background to the left.
Namdaemun (Great South Gate in Seoul) is shown here with the tramtrails, which was instituted as a public transportion system in May 1899. Namdaemun, one of the 4 main gates of the old city wall, was completed in 1398 and underwent major restoration in 1447 and again in 1997. It is designated as National Treasure #1, one of the most recognizable landmarks in Korea. Positioned near the current center of downtown Seoul, amidst traffic and skyskrapers, it receives a large amount of pollution, the main reason behind its most recent renovation. Source: www.lifeinkorea.com/Travel2/3 (viewed May 9, 2003)
The South Gate of 'Kyongbokkung' (Kyongbok Palace) is seen prior to the annexation, when it was moved to make way for the new capitol. Source: Adams, Edward B. Palaces of Seoul : Yi Dynasty palaces in Korea's capital city, 1972. P. 172.
Taedong Riverin Pyongyang, a place we know Willard Strait visited. By inference, this might be the so-called Peony Point (Moran Bong). See the photograph of a likewise structure in 'First Encounters - Korea 1880-1910', p.61.
Bullock or pony-drawn carts, loaded with firewood or grass for household fires, filing through the streets. Wood fagots were used as fuel for cooking and heating 'ondol', the traditional Korean underfloor heating system, which was contructed of brick or stone floors, covered with strong waxed paper.
'Despite the declaration of neutrality by the Choson Government (Yi dynasty), Japanese troops began landing on Inchon city and marched into the capital, Seoul. They are shown here transporting ammunition through the Independence Gate.' This picture was published in the source below, and may not have been taken by Straight himself. Source: Source: Sajin uiro ponun tongnip undong (Independence Movement Through Pictures), 1996, v. 1, p. 51.
There are no known U.S. copyright restrictions on this image. The digital file is owned by the Cornell University Library which is making it freely available with the request that, when possible, the Library be credited as its source.
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