Musuri
Encyclopedia
Musuri is a Korea
n term referring to female slave
s in charge of odd chores in the court during the Goryeo
and Joseon Dynasty
of Korea
. Their main tasks were miscellaneous works such as drawing water from a well, making a fire in the fireplace
or cleaning.
, a book compiled about the "History of Goryeo", the Annals of King Taejong (Taejong sillok) mention the class. From this record the Joseon royal court followed the system of the former state; Goryeo, young boys designated as male slaves were called paji, in charge of cleaning in the court, while female slaves were called susai. The record indicates that the system of susai and paji existed since the Goryeo Dynasty.
The term musuri was originally used in the Mongol court, so it is assumed that the term came into use in the late Goryeo period. At first musuri travelled in and out of the court, but King Taejong
changed the system to prevent their spreading court affairs. Since December of 1411 in the lunar calendar
, the musuri stayed at court all the time.
They were from the public, mostly married women, and entered the palace through a nain
's recommendation. In a broad sense, musuri were part of the gungnyeo
(court ladies), but they could be allowed to go out of the court, which differentiates them from the gungnyeo with a rank, who entered the place in their early age and had "gwallye" (冠禮, coming-of-age ceremonies). Thus the musuri were maids to assist gungnyeo at court and belonged to the lowest class in society. In an exception to the class system it was said that King Yeongjo
(r. 1724–76) was born to King Sukjong
and a concubine named "Lady Choe", who had been a musuri at Queen Inhyeon
's (仁顯王后) quarters. King Yeongjo was very sensitive about his mother's class during his lifetime, avoiding any mention of her humble origin.
made with a blackish cotton with some red. They rolled up their hair into a cushion
shape and wore a wide belt made of the same fabric as their clothes, with a tag (pae, 牌) on it. The tag was equivalent to an identification card when they came to work from outside, or went on an errand between buildings in the palace. At that time, nain (assistant court ladies) and yangban
(noble women) wore a very short upper garment called a donggeungnae jeogori (동그래저고리), a variety of jeogori
, but the length of a musuri's jeogori was long, just like that of male slaves.
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
n term referring to female slave
Slavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
s in charge of odd chores in the court during the Goryeo
Goryeo
The Goryeo Dynasty or Koryŏ was a Korean dynasty established in 918 by Emperor Taejo. Korea gets its name from this kingdom which came to be pronounced Korea. It united the Later Three Kingdoms in 936 and ruled most of the Korean peninsula until it was removed by the Joseon dynasty in 1392...
and Joseon Dynasty
Joseon Dynasty
Joseon , was a Korean state founded by Taejo Yi Seong-gye that lasted for approximately five centuries. It was founded in the aftermath of the overthrow of the Goryeo at what is today the city of Kaesong. Early on, Korea was retitled and the capital was relocated to modern-day Seoul...
of Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
. Their main tasks were miscellaneous works such as drawing water from a well, making a fire in the fireplace
Fireplace
A fireplace is an architectural structure to contain a fire for heating and, especially historically, for cooking. A fire is contained in a firebox or firepit; a chimney or other flue allows gas and particulate exhaust to escape...
or cleaning.
Etymology
Every palace had wells, and drawing water and delivering it as needed were an important part of a tomusuri's duty. For this reason, musuri were also called susa (水賜, literally "giving water") or susai (水賜伊, a female in charge of giving water) and their residence was called a susagan (水賜間, a place for those drawing water). On the other hand, male slaves were called paji (巴只). Although the terms, susai and paji do not appear in GoryeosaGoryeosa
The Goryeosa or History of Goryeo is the principal surviving history of Korea's Goryeo Dynasty. It was composed nearly a century after the fall of Goryeo, during the reign of King Sejong...
, a book compiled about the "History of Goryeo", the Annals of King Taejong (Taejong sillok) mention the class. From this record the Joseon royal court followed the system of the former state; Goryeo, young boys designated as male slaves were called paji, in charge of cleaning in the court, while female slaves were called susai. The record indicates that the system of susai and paji existed since the Goryeo Dynasty.
The term musuri was originally used in the Mongol court, so it is assumed that the term came into use in the late Goryeo period. At first musuri travelled in and out of the court, but King Taejong
Taejong of Joseon
King Taejong was the third king of the Joseon Dynasty in Korea and the father of King Sejong the Great.-Founding of Joseon:...
changed the system to prevent their spreading court affairs. Since December of 1411 in the lunar calendar
Lunar calendar
A lunar calendar is a calendar that is based on cycles of the lunar phase. A common purely lunar calendar is the Islamic calendar or Hijri calendar. A feature of the Islamic calendar is that a year is always 12 months, so the months are not linked with the seasons and drift each solar year by 11 to...
, the musuri stayed at court all the time.
Roles and class
As well as drawing water musuri were assigned all rough work, according to each office's character.They were from the public, mostly married women, and entered the palace through a nain
Gungnyeo
Gungnyeo is a Korean term referring to women waiting on the king and other royalty in traditional Korean society. It is short for "gungjung yeogwan", which translates as "a lady officer of the royal court". Gungnyeo includes sanggung and nain , both of which hold rank as officers...
's recommendation. In a broad sense, musuri were part of the gungnyeo
Gungnyeo
Gungnyeo is a Korean term referring to women waiting on the king and other royalty in traditional Korean society. It is short for "gungjung yeogwan", which translates as "a lady officer of the royal court". Gungnyeo includes sanggung and nain , both of which hold rank as officers...
(court ladies), but they could be allowed to go out of the court, which differentiates them from the gungnyeo with a rank, who entered the place in their early age and had "gwallye" (冠禮, coming-of-age ceremonies). Thus the musuri were maids to assist gungnyeo at court and belonged to the lowest class in society. In an exception to the class system it was said that King Yeongjo
Yeongjo of Joseon
Yeongjo was the twenty-first king of the Korean Joseon Dynasty. He was the second son of Sukjong by Lady Suk-bin of the Choi clan , succeeded his older brother Gyeongjong.-Reign:...
(r. 1724–76) was born to King Sukjong
Sukjong of Joseon
Sukjong was the 19th king of the Joseon Dynasty of Korea from 1674 to 1720.- Biography :King Sukjong was born on 15 August 1661 to King Hyeonjong and Queen Myeongseong at Changdeok Palace. His given name was Yi Sun...
and a concubine named "Lady Choe", who had been a musuri at Queen Inhyeon
Queen Inhyeon
Queen Inhyeon was the second Queen consort of King Sukjong of Joseon and one of the best known Queens of the Joseon Dynasty...
's (仁顯王后) quarters. King Yeongjo was very sensitive about his mother's class during his lifetime, avoiding any mention of her humble origin.
Attire
Musuri wore a somber ensembleHanbok
Hanbok or Chosŏn-ot is the traditional Korean dress. It is often characterized by vibrant colors and simple lines without pockets. Although the term literally means "Korean clothing", hanbok today often refers specifically to hanbok of Joseon Dynasty and is worn as semi-formal or formal wear...
made with a blackish cotton with some red. They rolled up their hair into a cushion
Cushion
A cushion is a soft bag of some ornamental material, stuffed with wool, hair, feathers, polyester staple fiber, non-woven material, or even paper torn into fragments. It may be used for sitting or kneeling upon, or to soften the hardness or angularity of a chair or couch...
shape and wore a wide belt made of the same fabric as their clothes, with a tag (pae, 牌) on it. The tag was equivalent to an identification card when they came to work from outside, or went on an errand between buildings in the palace. At that time, nain (assistant court ladies) and yangban
Yangban
The yangban were part of the traditional ruling class or nobles of dynastic Korea during the Joseon Dynasty. The yangban were either landed or unlanded aristocracy who comprised the Korean Confucian idea of a "scholarly official." In reality, they were basically administrators and bureaucrats who...
(noble women) wore a very short upper garment called a donggeungnae jeogori (동그래저고리), a variety of jeogori
Jeogori
The jeogori is a basic upper garment of hanbok, Korean traditional garment, which has been worn by both men and women. It covers the arms and upper part of the wearer's body.-Etymology:...
, but the length of a musuri's jeogori was long, just like that of male slaves.