The Ikseonggwan was a crown and official hat worn across East Asia, seen in Goryeo, Joseon, Ming China, and Vietnam. In China, it disappeared after the fall of the Ming Dynasty, while in Korea it endured far longer. Many believe it ended with the Korean Empire, yet King Gojong was still photographed wearing it with his yellow dragon robe, even as he alternated between Western attire and military uniforms. It lingered into the Japanese colonial period but was finally abolished after World War II when the royal ranks and titles themselves disappeared under the new constitution. The crown’s origins lay in the bokdu, a headgear of the Northern Wei and Northern-Southern Dynasties. In the Tang era, it developed into a black cloth cap tied around the forehead, its long strips fashioned into wing-like shapes. These wings became symbolic, with the front said to represent a doorway and the back emptiness. Over time, the forward strands shrank into decorative knots, while the rear wings grew more pronounced. Tang Taizong is recorded as having instituted this form of headgear, though whether it matched the soaring-wing style seen later in Ming and Joseon is uncertain. The cap was abolished under Emperor Xuanzong in 729, but the style persisted in different forms across dynasties. During the Song Dynasty, variations of the cap remained in use by emperors and officials, some flatter and more practical, others with exaggerated horns. Goryeo, under strong Chinese influence, adopted similar styles, although its own black hat, the osago, is not well documented in appearance. When the Ming was founded in 1370, it formalized the osajeolgwan as imperial attire. This system influenced Korea after the fall of Goryeo. By 1405, during Taejong’s reign, Joseon formally adopted the Ikseonggwan as its monarch’s headgear, pairing it with the gonryongpo robe. The name itself reflected its resemblance to a cicada’s wings, a creature that carried symbolic meaning in Chinese culture. In Joseon, the crown was initially reserved strictly for the king. Princes and lesser royals did not wear it until later ceremonies developed to mark their rank. The Annals of the Joseon Dynasty record that in 1444, the Ming court sent an Ikseonggwan and robes to Korea, a rare gesture noted even by King Sejong. Still, debate lingered over how closely Joseon should imitate Ming attire, with some officials pushing to retain local dress traditions. Over time, however, the Ikseonggwan became fixed as a symbol of royal authority in Korea, distinct from the hats worn by officials and servants. The design of the Ikseonggwan featured two upward-facing cicada-like wings at the back, higher than the front, giving it a soaring appearance. It was usually black, though later in Joseon brighter colors like red and purple appeared. Compared to the ornate crowns of Silla, it was restrained, reflecting Confucian ideals of modest authority. Yet it could be splendid in its own right—especially in Ming China, where simple early versions gave way to elaborately decorated black silk crowns with embroidered dragons and pearls. The Joseon kings, while often wearing the black form, were known to adopt these variations too. By the late 19th century, however, with modernization and simplification, the Ikseonggwan declined in daily use, surviving only in formal ceremonies until it faded with the monarchy itself.