A Gathering of Officials from the Bureau of Market Weights and Measures by the Hangang River
Gathering of Officials of Bureau of Market Weights and Measures
  • Unidentified artist
  • Joseon Dynasty, mid-16th century
  • Ink and light color on silk
  • ssu 2235

This painting depicts a gathering of current and former officials of the Bureau of Market Weights and Measures (Pyeongsiseo), a Joseon government bureau responsible for overseeing city markets, weights and measures, and commodity prices. Set against the backdrop of a broad riverside landscape, the scene unfolds between two large rocks on the left side of the painting, where the gathering takes place inside a building. The meeting is believed to have been held at Jecheonjeong (濟川亭), a pavilion perched on a cliff along the Hangang River—one of the favored retreat sites among literati, located in present-day Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul. Several boats are shown floating on the river, and inside the building, four officials are seated before a table laden with drinks. The painting also features a variety of figures—people crossing the ferry landing and groups aboard boats— adding detail and a sense of liveliness to the scene.