How did people tell the time in the Joseon period? Shibiji
In the film Forbidden Dream, we can see famous scientist Jang Yeong-sil building a water clock. But to tell the time, you also needed to know the 12 (shibiji) animals of the Chinese zodiac!
The times of day were divided up into 12 two-hour blocks. And the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac (shibiji) described these blocks.
So as well as taking turns to represent a Lunar year, each animal represented a time of day too. They were very busy.
But obviously nobody tells the time in this way anymore. So in historical dramas, a Korean subtitle will pop up at the bottom of the TV screen to explain what time the characters are actually talking about!
The baddies never say,
‘Let’s meet at 11pm‘
they say,
‘Let’s meet at jashi (the hour of the rat).
Nobody says,
‘Come here at 5pm‘.
They say,
‘Come here at yushi‘ (the hour of the rooster).
The first of the 12 shibiji animals is the RAT and he represents 11pm. He’s followed by the ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig.
(BTW – About numbers – the Joseon Dynasty used Chinese characters to represent numbers. I’m not sure when Arabic numerals (1,2,3, etc) that are used today were introduced but it may have been in the late Joseon period at the end of the 19th century.)
KING SEJONG AND CLOCKS
King Sejong (r.1418-1450) was very keen to develop science and technology and he built a royal observatory. His team of scientists and astronomers was led by Jang Yeong Sil at The Bureau of Astronomy where they developed ways to tell the time of day as well as preparing calendars for the upcoming year.
Jang Yeong Sil designed The borugak jagyeongnu Water Clock of Borugak Pavilion (this is now one of the country’s national treasures).
The water clock worked somehow using water and containers and jars and pipes and balls and stuff (stop me if I’m getting too technical for you…) And each double-hour was announced by the sound of a bell or gong. By 1434 the clock became the standard for telling time in Joseon.
Sundials were also developed at the time and these were often placed out and about for public use. And the 12 animal figures were placed around the sundials so that the common people, who couldn’t read Chinese characters, could tell the time easily.
KOREAN DRAMAS ABOUT KING SEJONG
There are several dramas and films set during King Sejong’s successful reign. The film Forbidden Dream (2019) is about the relationship between the King and his famous scientist and astronomer.
For more see the Chart of Joseon Kings and Related Historical dramas
SHIBIJI THE 12 ANIMALS OF THE CHINESE ZODIAC
Anyway, here are the 12 times of day and the shibiji animals that represent the hours. They alternate between yin and yang energy and are also designated an element which I’ve noted in the chart.
Once we know this, we won’t need subtitles anymore!
11:00pm-1:00am = The time that the rat is most active.
1:00am- 3:00am = The ox eats grass to get ready to plow the fields in the morning.
3:00am- 5:00am = The time when the tiger is most powerful.
5:00am- 7:00am = The time to see the rabbit in the moon.
7:00am – 9:00am = The time that the dragon flies into the skies and prepares to make it rain.
9:00am- 11:00am = The snake is asleep and doesn’t harm people.
11:00am- 1:00pm = The horse runs around as the yang energy subsides and the yin energy takes over.
1pm- 3pm =If the sheep (or goat) eats the grass in the fields at this time of day the grass will grow again.
3:00 pm – 5:00pm = The time when the monkey cries.
5:00pm- 7:00pm = The time that the rooster returns home.
7:00pm- 9:00pm = It’s dark outside and the dog begins to protect its home.
9:00pm 11:00pm = The time when the pig enjoys sleeping.
