Family

Family was considered to be very important during the Joseon Dynasty and most families could trace their lineages back for many generations, and families were considered to be more of a whole and less the sum of its parts. Family not only played the role of supporting and nurturing children and the elderly, (most families were extended) a person’s family status very much determined their place in society. Cheomin and sangmin did not receive family names.

An example of an extended family from the Joseon Dynasty (Chung, 2012)

 Elders were to be treated with great respect often leading to extended families as homes for elders were very uncommon during the Joseon Dynasty. A special ceremony called hwangap was held for an elder who had reached the age of 60, which was basically a birthday party on a grand scale that the family of the elder often spent as much as they could afford (sometimes more) on. (Very few people lived to the age of 60 during the Joseon Dynasty) After this ceremony the elder would be allowed to wear special clothing that designated them as an elder, and someone to be treated with the utmost respect. this deep reverence and respect extended even after a person died and the graves of parents, grandparents, great grandparents, etc. were lovingly tended to by their dependents.  

Elders (modern re-enactment of an outdoor civil service examination) (Sloper, 2013)

The father or oldest male was considered to be the head of the household and made the main decisions for the family. They were the person whose income supported the rest of the family, and traditionally considered to be the stern parent.

Father (please disregard the camera equipment) (AsianWiki, 2014)

Mother (Confucianism considered the home the domain of most women) (HomestayKorea, 2013)

Children were greatly valued (especially first born males) and were expected to be respectful to their parents through following the principles of hyo (filial piety) which consisted not just of manners, but also supporting parents in their old age, and working to make themselves the best people they could be.

Children carrying water on their heads (Ah-young, 2008)