Hakgojae Gallery is pleased to present a special exhibition Eui-geum-sang-gyeong 衣錦尙絅 from January 18 (Wed), 2023 to February 25 (Sat), 2023. The term “Eui-geum-sang-gyeong” comes from the final chapter of The Doctrine of the Mean, one of the Four Books of classical philosophy of East Asia, originated from the lyrics of a song called Feng (丰) included in the “Zheng Feng” section of The Classic of Poetry. “Feng” is translated into “a reliable and beloved one.” “Over my embroidered upper robe, I have put on a plain single garment. Over my embroidered lower robe, I have put on a plain single one. O Sir, O Sir, Have your carriage ready to take me home with you(衣錦褧衣, 裳錦褧裳. 叔兮伯兮, 駕予與行),” sings a woman. The woman is waiting for a man of humbleness who hides the splendor with a plain single garment even though he is in the extravagant outfits of embroidered upper and lower robes. Here, the embroidered upper and lower robes refer to the interiority of a man rather than his social status. The author of The Doctrine of the Mean defines this man as “a wise man” in contrast to “a small-minded man” or “a man of low moral qualities.” The author also describes this wise man in three words: clarity; simplicity; and mildness. The wise man is clear, simple, and mild.
