Office of Martial Arts Guards
The Office of Martial Arts Guards was a division of the Military Training Command, who served as guards for King Seonjo during the Imjin War. It was an organization composed of skilled martial artists who were responsible for guarding the five grand palaces and providing close protection to the king. The officers belonging to the office were specially referred to as Martial Arts Special Guards or simply Martial Guards. It was also known as the military officials.
Summary
The establishment process of the Office of Martial Arts Guards is detailed in King Sunjo of Joseon's work called Pure Study Records. After the end of the Japanese invasion of Korea, a specialized organization called the Martial Arts Office was established to provide exclusive protection to the king. The Office of Martial Arts Guards selected exceptional individuals with outstanding martial arts skills from the military training center and served as the king's bodyguards. In 1894, the Martial Arts Department disbanded after the Gabo Reforms and the Eulmi Incident as part of the military reforms leading to the establishment of the Imperial Korean Armed Forces.Organization
In 1630, the Martial Arts Department was established with a staff of 30 people and was placed under the supervision of the Military Training Command. Personnel were selected from the equestrian training, infantry, and specialized troops.In 1781, the 102 members of Martial Arts Department were divided into two units to guard the royal palaces: left and right, with each section consisting of 1 leader and five subordinates. Each subordinate had ten people, so one subordinate had nine people, and one leader commanded five subordinate. When there was training, a chief of training was appointed by the head to lead the training.
By 1802, the department had a total of 198 personnel selected from the Hun'gukma, Bogun, and Byeolgigun units.
Martial Arts Special Guards
The military personnel of the Martial Arts Department were called the Martial Arts Special Guards. It is said that the title of Martial Arts Special Guards was bestowed upon the ten training officers who accompanied King Seonjo during the Imjin War and returned with him to Hanyang, acknowledging their efforts. Then it was given to the 30 soldiers from the Military Training Division who guarded King Seonjo, and this title continued with the establishment of the Martial Arts Department in 1630. They guarded the palace gates and the king's residence, surrounding the king's carriage during royal processions. When guarding the palaces, one person stood at each of the left and right gates, and two people stood at the rear gate.The Martial Arts Special Guards were selected from the Special Core Army of the Military Training Command. The Martial Arts Special Guards consisted of skilled individuals with strong physical abilities and proficiency in techniques among the cavalry, infantry, and their affiliated personnel. They were constantly engaged in learning martial skills. At times, they were also dispatched as martial arts instructors to the Military Training Agency, Capital Garrison, Royal Guards Command, and the Command of the Northern Approaches.
Offices
The composition of the Martial Arts Department consisted of the Chief Martial Arts Office consisted of 46 members, while the Deputy chief martial arts office had 40 members serving as guards. The remaining 87 members of the Gate Martial Arts Office stood guard at various palace gates. The Men and women martial arts office had 19 personnel, the Old and New martial arts office had four personnel, and the Firearm martial arts office had two personnel.Training
During the Joseon era, the area of Namsan's Bokrok was entirely military camps. The current Hanok Village was the headquarters of the Eoyeongcheong, and Jangchungdan Park was the headquarters of the Geumwiyeong, known as the "18 Martial Arts Acres". The Martial Arts Special Guards military personnel trained at Bipajeong in spring, summer, and autumn, and at Hadogam during winter. They ensured the continuity of their lineage by enlisting their own sons in the Dae-nyeon-gun from an early age, allowing them to learn the Muyesinbo. Learning the Muyesinbo was considered impossible without starting martial arts training at a young age.Uniforms
Martial Arts Department soldiers wore green iron helmets and purple hoods, but their attire changed to red following the simplification of clothing on April 4, 1778. The 문무예청 wore red-colored clothing with yellow straw hats and tiger beards attached to their caps.An excerpt from the first article of the Joseon Dynasty Annals for the second year of King Jeongjo, April 4 describes the uniform requirements for the Martial Arts Special Guards.
Furthermore, the military manuscript called "Man-gi Yoram" from 1808 provides a more detailed description of the attire of the Martial Arts Special Guards.
The Chief Martial Arts Office and the Deputy Chief Martial Arts Office wore red military uniforms and carried swords while serving as guards. The remaining 87 members of the Gate Martial Arts Office, with tiger beards attached to their caps, and the red cheollik.
The Men and women martial arts office, Old and new martial arts office, and Firearm martial arts office wore black-colored military uniforms. During guard duties, they wore the same uniforms as the gate martial arts office which were multicolored.
After the prohibition on wearing civilian clothing in 1883, all Martial Arts Special Guards were required to wear standard traditional military uniforms.
Equipment
The Gate martial arts office stood guard at various palace gates, wielding spears and swords. According to the Man-gi Yoram, 58 members wielded muskets, 29 members wielded Samreungjang, a three-sided cudgel used for striking offenders, while standing guard at the palace gates, and one-third of the members carried bows. The four superior heads carried a halberd and stood at the left, right, and rear gates without having swords. They were identifiable by their distinctive attire, which included red iron helmets, yellow chest plates, and swords known as yodo.The Martial Arts Special Guards were proficient in the Muyesinbo, with the native sword and crescent moon blade which were considered the most important techniques. During the royal procession, when the royal guards were in charge of protection, those who carried the straight sword would switch to staff or red rattan staff. When performing royal processions outside the capital, the chief of training from both sides would wear military uniforms and carry swords.
In 1883, after Joseon opened their doors, they were equipped with modern rifles and hwando.