Weakening of Privileges in Aristocrats' Status and its Factors from the Standpoint of Their Attire in the Latter Half of the Feudal Joson Dynasty

Weakening of the aristocrats' privileges in their attire can be found in the fact that not only some people of the intermediary class and official clerks but also some of the ruled class wore the ordinary clothes of the aristocratic class.

It became not uncommon that some people of the ruled class and even servants were wearing gentlemen's robes, light outercoat, silk clothes, and the like, resulting in that the classical privilege of the ruling class was gradually weakened. Weakening of classical privilege of the ruling class can also be found in the use of their headgears and shoes at that time.

In the latter half of the feudal Joson dynasty, not only some people of the ruled class but also even servants were wearing leather shoes of the bureaucrats of the aristocrats. Also at that time rich people of the ruled class or even servants wore the personal ornaments of the nobles.

Feudal officials were not content with the weakening of their classical privilege, including the use of the personal ornaments, and appealed to the king on several occasions. They even suggested that they should inflict severe punishments to those wearing inappropriate personal ornaments.