Korean porcelain
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Korean ceramic history begins with the oldest earthenware from around 8000 BC. Throughout the history, the Korean peninsula has been home to lively, innovative, and sophisticated art making. Long period of stability have allowed for the establishment of spiritual traditions, and artisan technologies specific to the region. Korean ceramics in Neolithic period have a unique geometric patterns of sunshine, or it's decorated with twists. In Southern part of Korea, Mumun pottery were popular. Mumun togi used specific minerals to make colors of red and black. Korean pottery developed a distinct style of its own, with its own shapes, such as the moon jar or Buncheong sagi which is a new form between earthenware and porcelain, white clay inlay
celadon ''Celadon'' () is a term for pottery denoting both wares glazed in the jade green celadon color, also known as greenware or "green ware" (the term specialists now tend to use), and a type of transparent glaze, often with small cracks, that wa ...
of
Goryeo Goryeo (; ) was a Korean kingdom founded in 918, during a time of national division called the Later Three Kingdoms period, that unified and ruled the Korean Peninsula until 1392. Goryeo achieved what has been called a "true national unificat ...
, and later styles like minimalism that represents Korean Joseon philosophers' idea. Many talented Korean potters were captured and brought to Japan during the invasions of Korea, where they heavily contributed to advancing Japanese pottery. Arita ware, founded by
Yi Sam-pyeong Kanagae Sanbee () in historical sources, was a Japanese potter who is said to have moved from Korea. He is often considered the father of Arita ware porcelain, although the narrative is today questioned by historians.Komiya Kiyora 小宮木代 ...
opened a new era of porcelain in Japan. Another Japanese representative porcelain,
Satsuma ware is a type of Japanese pottery originally from Satsuma Province, southern Kyūshū. Today, it can be divided into two distinct categories: the original plain dark clay made in Satsuma from around 1600, and the elaborately decorated ivory-bodie ...
was also founded by Dang-gil Shim and Pyeong-ui Park. 14th generation of Su-kwan Shim have been using the same name to his grandfather and father to honor they are originally Korean, 14th Su-kwan Shim is honorable citizen of Namwon, Korea.


History


Jeulmun pottery period , Neolithic

The earliest known Korean pottery dates back to around 8000 BC,Chong Pil Choe, Martin T. Bale, "Current Perspectives on Settlement, Subsistence, and Cultivation in Prehistoric Korea"
(2002), ''Arctic Anthropology'', 39: 1-2, pp. 95-121.
and evidence of Mesolithic
Pit–Comb Ware culture The Comb Ceramic culture or Pit-Comb Ware culture, often abbreviated as CCC or PCW, was a northeast European culture characterised by its Pit–Comb Ware. It existed from around 4200 BCE to around 2000 BCE. The bearers of the Comb Ceramic cultu ...
(or
Yunggimun pottery Yunggimuntogi, yunggimun pottery or Deotmunitogi (덧무늬토기) is the oldest type of Korean pottery. The name literally means "raised-design pottery"; it has also been called "pre-slant earthenware". Dated to circa 5,000 Common Era, BCE, yungg ...
) is found throughout the peninsula, such as in Jeju Island. Jeulmun pottery, or "comb-pattern pottery", is found after 7000 BC, and is concentrated at sites in west-central regions of the Korean Peninsula, where a number of prehistoric settlements, such as Amsa-dong, existed. Jeulmun pottery bears basic design and form similarities to that of Eurasian lands. The earliest pottery of this design is found in Korea. File:Korea-Neolithic.age-Pot-02.jpg File:Red-line Painting Pottery2. Yeondae-do. Neolithic. Gimhae National Museum.jpg


Mumun pottery period , Bronze age

The Mumun age starts around 3000 BC and lasts to 400 BC. Mumun pottery are often found in dolmens with Korean harp, bipa shaped bronze dagger and bronze tools around. Potteries of this period have flat bottoms and smooth surface, it has got the name Minmuneui, Mumun pottery. Ancient Joseon and Buyeo used them for ritualistic purposes as well as practical usage. As rice cultivation widely spread, practical jars with handles on both sides were developed, which is called Misongri Togi.


Samhan period

Different gray colors and shapes of potteries baked at around 900 degree Celsius appears during Samhan period. These potteries were initially called Gimhae pottery named after the discovered site, Gimhae. Many of them were inside shell midden near river. File:Samhan pottery Korea ceramics 삼한 자기.jpg, Samhan period's potteries and togi objects File:Korea-Proto.3.Kingdoms.Bird-shaped pottery.jpg


Three kingdom period

File:Gaya Kaya potteries(togi) 가야 토기.jpg, unique potteries of Ara Gaya, Geumkwan Gaya, Shilla etc. Korea ceramics, Goopdari forms File:Long-necked jar with figurines (토우장식 장경호)01.jpg, Long-necked jar with figurines. Shilla of Three kingdom period, File:Duck-shaped pottery 오리형 토기.jpg, Samhan(proto-three kingdom period) to three kingdom period's Duck Togi. Korean people believed people go across a river, Hwangcheon when they pass away. Ducks can be guides, since birds were considered as messengers from the above. File:단지와 그릇받침 삼국, 신라 -壺, 器臺 三國, 新羅-Jar and tall stand with perforated base MET DP253577.jpg, Shilla and Gaya jars or cups have their unique tall stands. File:Silla Kingdom Pottery 02.jpg, Shilla and Gaya kingdom's ceramics had its unique long coasters for tea ceremonial purposes, named Goopdari-jan File:Silla Kingdom Pottery 03.jpg, Early Shilla kingdom period's ceramics for tea ceremony File:Silla Kingdom Pottery Horn-shaped Cup.jpg, Korea is the only country in East Asia that horn shaped cups are found File:Seobongchong Togi for celestial rituals or oracles 서봉총 토기 found near the tomb.jpg, huge size of potteries(togi) for celestial ritualistic purpose in Silla, found at Seobongchong tomb File:Earthenware_Funerary_Objects_in_the_Shape_of_a_Warrior_on_Horseback_도기_기마인물형_명기_03.jpg, Toyong, Earthenware of a person on horseback, Silla of Three kingdom period, File:Pressapochista6.jpg, Sheep-shaped Celadon from the 3rd to 4th century Baekje kingdom


Later Silla

Pottery of the
Later Silla Unified Silla, or Late Silla (, ), is the name often applied to the Korean kingdom of Silla, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, after 668 CE. In the 7th century, a Silla–Tang alliance conquered Baekje and the southern part of Goguryeo in the ...
period (668–935) or Silla period had a unique goopdari stand stool designs like Gaya kingdom. In comparison to Gaya, they had more objects put on potteries, three dimensional. We can see Silla tried different things you can't find in East Asia through their objects. There are antlers, horns, horse motifs in stonewares, and they have left interesting objects like Roman soldier, Arabian, anteater and elephants. Because those animals don't live in Korea, we can assume they travelled very far.
Celadon ''Celadon'' () is a term for pottery denoting both wares glazed in the jade green celadon color, also known as greenware or "green ware" (the term specialists now tend to use), and a type of transparent glaze, often with small cracks, that wa ...
subsequently became the main production. Temples increased the demand for celadon-glazed wares (''cheongja''), causing ''cheongja'' celadon to evolve very quickly, with more organic shapes and decorations, such as animal and bird motifs. But the celadon do not have any relationships with Buddhism itself, there are jade gokok in the old Stone Age, Korea and jade necklaces in the neolithic age. The jade was valued as a treasure like we can witness many jade gokoks are hanging in Shilla's golden crown. Those jade gokok were symbol of creativity of the universe. When making ''cheongja'' wares, a small amount of iron powder was added to the refined clay, which was then coated with a glaze and an additional small amount of iron powder, and then finally fired. This allowed the glaze to be more durable, with a shinier and glossier finish than white wares.


Goryeo

The
Goryeo Goryeo (; ) was a Korean kingdom founded in 918, during a time of national division called the Later Three Kingdoms period, that unified and ruled the Korean Peninsula until 1392. Goryeo achieved what has been called a "true national unificat ...
dynasty (918–1392) achieved the unification of the
Later Three Kingdoms The Later Three Kingdoms period (889-935 AD) of ancient Korea saw a partial revival of the old three kingdoms which had dominated the peninsula from the 1st century BC to the 7th century AD. After the Unified Silla kingdom had ruled Korea alone ...
under
Wang Geon Taejo of Goryeo (31 January 877 – 4 July 943), also known as Taejo Wang Geon (; ), was the founder of the Goryeo dynasty, which ruled Korea from the 10th to the 14th century. Taejo ruled from 918 to 943, achieving unification of the Later Thre ...
. The works of this period are generally considered to be the finest works of ceramics in Korean history. Korean celadon reached its pinnacle with the invention of the ''sanggam'' inlay technique in the early 12th century. Key-fret, foliate designs, geometric or scrolling flowerhead bands, elliptical panels, stylized fish,
insect Insects (from Latin ') are pancrustacean hexapod invertebrates of the class Insecta. They are the largest group within the arthropod phylum. Insects have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body ( head, thorax and abdomen), three ...
s, birds and the use of incised designs began at this time. Glazes were usually various shades of celadon, with browned glazes to almost black glazes being used for stoneware and storage. Celadon glazes could be rendered almost transparent to show black and white inlays. ''Jinsa'' "underglaze red", a technique using
copper oxide Copper oxide is a compound from the two elements copper and oxygen. Copper oxide may refer to: * Copper(I) oxide (cuprous oxide, Cu2O) * Copper(II) oxide Copper(II) oxide or cupric oxide is an inorganic compound with the formula CuO. A black so ...
pigment to create copper-red designs, was developed in Korea during the 12th century, and later inspired the "underglaze red" ceramics of the
Yuan dynasty The Yuan dynasty (), officially the Great Yuan (; xng, , , literally "Great Yuan State"), was a Mongol-led imperial dynasty of China and a successor state to the Mongol Empire after its division. It was established by Kublai, the fift ...
. While the forms generally seen are broad-shouldered jars, larger low jars or shallow smaller jars, highly decorated celadon cosmetic boxes, and small slip-inlaid cups, the Buddhist potteries also produced melon-shaped vases, chrysanthemum cups often of spectacularly architectural design on stands with lotus motifs and lotus flower heads. In-curving rimmed alms bowls have also been discovered similar to
Korean metalware Korean may refer to: People and culture * Koreans, ethnic group originating in the Korean Peninsula * Korean cuisine * Korean culture * Korean language ** Korean alphabet, known as Hangul or Chosŏn'gŭl **Korean dialects and the Jeju languag ...
. Wine cups often had a tall foot which rested on dish-shaped stands. ''Baekja'' wares came from highly refined white clay, glazed with
feldspar Feldspars are a group of rock-forming aluminium tectosilicate minerals, also containing other cations such as sodium, calcium, potassium, or barium. The most common members of the feldspar group are the ''plagioclase'' (sodium-calcium) felds ...
, and fired in regulated and clean large
kiln A kiln is a thermally insulated chamber, a type of oven, that produces temperatures sufficient to complete some process, such as hardening, drying, or chemical changes. Kilns have been used for millennia to turn objects made from clay int ...
s. Despite the refining process, white glazes invariably vary as a result of the properties of the clay itself; firing methods were not uniform, temperatures varied and glazes on pieces vary from pure white, in an almost snowy thickness, through milky white that shows the clay beneath deliberately in washed glaze, to light blue and light yellow patinas. After having succeeded the tradition of Goryeo ''baekja'', soft white porcelain was produced in
Joseon Dynasty Joseon (; ; Middle Korean: 됴ᇢ〯션〮 Dyǒw syéon or 됴ᇢ〯션〯 Dyǒw syěon), officially the Great Joseon (; ), was the last dynastic kingdom of Korea, lasting just over 500 years. It was founded by Yi Seong-gye in July 1392 and r ...
, that carried on, but from the mid-Joseon on hard white porcelain became the mainstream porcelain. The ''baekja'' wares reached their zenith immediately before the Joseon Dynasty came to power. Fine pieces have recently been found in the area around Wolchil Peak near
Mount Kumgang Mount Kumgang () or the Kumgang Mountains is a mountain massif, with a peak, in Kangwon-do, North Korea. It is located on the east coast of the country, in Mount Kumgang Tourist Region, formerly part of Kangwŏn Province, and is part of the ...
. The transitional wares of white became expressions of the Joseon Dynasty celebrations of victory in many pieces decorated with Korean calligraphy. Traditionally white wares were used by both the scholarly Confucian class, the nobility and royalty on more formal occasions.


Joseon

During the Joseon dynasty, (1392–1897) ceramic wares were considered to represent the highest quality of achievement from royal, city, and provincial kilns, the last of which were export-driven wares. Joseon enjoyed a long period of growth in royal and provincial kilns, and much work of the highest quality still preserved. Wares evolved along Chinese lines in terms of colour, shape, and technique. Celadon, white porcelain, and storage pottery were similar, but with certain variations in glazes, incision designs, florality, and weight. The Ming influence in blue and white wares using
cobalt Cobalt is a chemical element with the symbol Co and atomic number 27. As with nickel, cobalt is found in the Earth's crust only in a chemically combined form, save for small deposits found in alloys of natural meteoric iron. The free element, p ...
-blue glazes existed, but without the
pthalo blue Copper phthalocyanine (CuPc), also called phthalocyanine blue, phthalo blue and many other names, is a bright, crystalline, synthetic blue pigment from the group of phthalocyanine dyes. Its brilliant blue is frequently used in paints and dyes. ...
range, and the three-dimensional
glassine Glassine is a smooth and glossy paper that is air, water, and grease resistant. It is usually available in densities between . It is translucent unless dyes are added to color it or make it opaque. It is manufactured by supercalendering: after ...
colour depth of
Ming Dynasty The Ming dynasty (), officially the Great Ming, was an imperial dynasty of China, ruling from 1368 to 1644 following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan dynasty. The Ming dynasty was the last orthodox dynasty of China ruled by the Han peo ...
Chinese works. Simplified designs emerged early on. Buddhist designs still prevailed in celadon wares: lotus flowers, and willow trees. The form most often seen was that of pear-shaped bottles. Notable were thinner glazes, and colourless glazes for ''
buncheong ''Buncheong'', or ''punch'ong'', ware is a traditional form of Korean stoneware, with a blue-green tone. Pieces are coated with white slip (ceramics), and decorative designs are added using a variety of techniques. This style originated in the 15 ...
'' or stoneware. During the Joseon period, Koreans applied the ''sanggam'' tradition to create ''buncheong'' ceramics. In contrast to the refined elegance of Goryeo celadon, ''
buncheong ''Buncheong'', or ''punch'ong'', ware is a traditional form of Korean stoneware, with a blue-green tone. Pieces are coated with white slip (ceramics), and decorative designs are added using a variety of techniques. This style originated in the 15 ...
'' is painted
stoneware Stoneware is a rather broad term for pottery or other ceramics fired at a relatively high temperature. A modern technical definition is a vitreous or semi-vitreous ceramic made primarily from stoneware clay or non-refractory fire clay. Whether vi ...
designed to be natural, unassuming, and practical. However, the ''buncheong'' tradition was gradually replaced by
Joseon white porcelain Joseon white porcelain or Joseon baekja refers to the white porcelains produced during the Joseon dynasty (1392-1910). History White porcelains were preferred and praised over other porcelains during the time to represent Korean Confucian ethics ...
, its aristocratic counterpart, and disappeared in Korea by the end of the 16th century. ''Buncheong'' became known and prized in Japan as Mishima. Joseon white porcelain representing Joseon ceramics was produced throughout the entire period of the Joseon dynasty. The plain and austere white porcelain suitably reflects the taste of Neo-Confucian scholars. Qing colouring, brighter and almost
Scythian The Scythians or Scyths, and sometimes also referred to as the Classical Scythians and the Pontic Scythians, were an ancient Eastern * : "In modern scholarship the name 'Sakas' is reserved for the ancient tribes of northern and eastern Centra ...
in enamel imitation, was rejected by Korean potters, in favour of simpler, less decorated wares in keeping with a new dynasty that built itself on Confucian doctrine. Generally, the ceramics of this dynasty is divided into early, middle, and late periods, changing every two centuries, approximately; thus 1300 to 1500 is the early period, 1500 to 1700 the middle, and 1700 to 1900–1910 the late period. The wares began to assume more traditional Korean glazes and more specific designs to meet regional needs. This is to be expected, as the Scythian art influences were of the former dynasty. The rise of white porcelain occurred as a result of Confucian influence and ideals, resulting in purer, less pretentious forms lacking artifice and complexity. In 1592 during the Japanese invasion of Korea, entire villages of Korean potters were forcibly relocated to Japan, damaging the pottery industry as craftsmen had to relearn techniques because the masters were gone.


20th century

A revival of celadon pottery began in the early 20th century, including the work of Living National Treasure, Yu Geun-Hyeong, whose work was documented in the 1979 short film, Koryo Celadon. More practical potteries were loved during this period, while big companies like Hankook porcelain, Haengnam porcelain occurred. Buncheong casual wares also revived and became widely popular since it match with modern-day eco minimal trend.


Types

Goryeo Celadon Goryeo was a golden era for porcelains. Goryeo celadon, Buncheong and even Baekje white porcelain appeared during this dynasty. Even though, celadon first made during Baekje kingdom period 3rd to 4th century, in Goryeo it's applied to various forms and designs. File:Buan Celadon Museum 13-04867.JPG, Goryeo celadon with sangam, 11~12th century File:Celadon Bowl with Inlaid Flower and Insect Design.jpg, Goryeo celadon plate inlaid flowers and bees File:Seoul-National.Museum.of.Korea-07.jpg, Goryeo Celadon exhibited at National Museum of Korea. This is water kettle for calligraphy from the 12th century AD. File:Cup and stand from Korea, late 12th century, stoneware with celadon glaze, HAA.JPG, tea cup for a ceremony, celadon, 12th century of Goryeo sangam inlay technique File:Dinastia goryeo, caraffa a forma di uccello con cavaliere coronato che tiene un bacile, ceramica celadon, XII secolo.jpg, Gorea kingdom period's celadon togi, ducks are helpers of souls to get across the river to the celestial land after death. File:Dinastia goryeo, bottiglia con decoro a canne di bambù, ceramica celadon, xiii secolo.jpg, giving perspective to Goryeo celadon from the 13th century AD. File:Kundika céladon Londres.JPG, Goryeo celadon File:1290 wine ewer (Koryo dynasty).jpg, Wine ewer, celadon with iron painting cheolhwa technique, Goryeo Dynasty, c. 1250 AD File:Celadon Covered Boxes with Inlaid Chrysanthemum Design.jpg, Koryeo's incense keeping box called Hyanghap File:Celadon Incense Burner with Girin Decoration.jpg, Goryeo celadon incense burner with Girin mystical animal File:Korea-Goryeo celadon-06.jpg, got a motif from Korean water melon called chamowe, tea pot File:Wine ewer in the form of a melon, Korea, Goryeo period, 1100s-1200s AD, stoneware, black inlay under celadon glaze - Freer Gallery of Art - DSC04844.jpg, Tea pot, Goryeo Dynasty, c. 1150-1200 AD File:Celadon Ewer with Openwork Lotus and Child Design.jpg, tea pot with tugak technique
Buncheong ''Buncheong'', or ''punch'ong'', ware is a traditional form of Korean stoneware, with a blue-green tone. Pieces are coated with white slip (ceramics), and decorative designs are added using a variety of techniques. This style originated in the 15 ...
Beauty of
Buncheong ''Buncheong'', or ''punch'ong'', ware is a traditional form of Korean stoneware, with a blue-green tone. Pieces are coated with white slip (ceramics), and decorative designs are added using a variety of techniques. This style originated in the 15 ...
is naturalism. It was invented in the opposition to the perfection of celadon. Artisans reached new states by releasing the mind of making artworks, therefore we can feel it went to steps further to a higher level of consciousness. Buncheong was first made during 13 century of Goryeo dynasty although it became widely popular in Joseon dynasty period, 15C. The major consumers of celadon were nobles but buncheong was loved by common people. File:Buncheong ware bowl, Honolulu Museum of Art 5433.1.JPG, Joseon period's common people enjoyed using Buncheong. Being at a natural state lead to another beauty. late 15th-early 16th century 분청사기 인화 국화 거북등 무늬 -내섬-명 대접 조선-粉靑沙器印花菊花龜甲文‘內贍’銘大楪 朝鮮-Bowl with inscription and chrysanthemums and tortoiseshell decoration MET DP253534.jpg, buncheong bowl with tortoiseshell and chrysanthemums decorations 분청사기 인화박지 모란 국화 무늬 대접 조선-粉靑沙器印花剝地牡丹菊花文大楪 朝鮮-Bowl decorated with peony leaves and chrysanthemum MET DT5387.jpg, buncheong bowl inwha combined with bakji technique, pheony leaves and chrysanthemum File:Buncheong Lidded Bowl with Inlaid Peony Design.jpg, tea cup buncheong eumgak inlaid peony File:Tea bowl, Korea, Joseon dynasty, 16th century AD, Buncheong ware, stoneware with ivory-colored glaze, restoration lacquer - Ethnological Museum, Berlin - DSC02068.JPG, tea bowl of buncheong 16c Baekja, white porcelain The characteristic of Korean white porcelain is simplicity, warmth and elegance coming from it. The warmth comes from the color and the shape, Korean Baekja, white porcelain typically has ivory colors with some other shades. Joseon dynasty was
Seonbi Seonbi or sŏnbi were scholars during the Goryeo and Joseon periods of Korea who served the public without a government position, choosing to pass up positions of wealth and power to lead lives of study and integrity. Those who chose to serve the ...
philosophers or scholars' country, we can see how society affects trend of porcelains by time. File:Joseon white porcelain bowl.jpg, White porcelain bowl, Joseon dynasty, 15th century AD File:백자 달항아리(309호)1.jpg, Baekja Dal hangari, Moon jar of Joseon File:백자 병 조선-白磁甁 朝鮮-Bottle MET DP253556.jpg, It has got all characteristics of Joseon porcelain File:White Porcelain Lidded Bowl.jpg, White Porcelain Lidded Bowl, early 16th century AD File:백자 병형 주전자.jpg, White Porcelain Bottle-shaped Ewer, late 15th century AD File:백자 철화 매화 대나무 무늬 항아리.jpg, Cheolhwa porcelain, vase with bamboos meaning integrity, Joseon dynasty, 16th century AD File:Korea, Joseon dynasty - Wine Flask with Plum and Bamboo Design - 1999.44 - Cleveland Museum of Art.tif, Maehwa flower and bamboo derive from the motif of Maenangookjook, which compares four plants to Confucian scholars, 1600s File:Joseon white porcelain jar with underglaze iron grape design.jpg, Joseon porcelain pot to draw pattern of grapes and monkey with Iron oxide, Joseon dynasty, early 18th century AD File:백자 청화매조죽문 유개항아리.jpg, Blue & white porcelain jar, Joseon dynasty, 15th century AD File:Joseon white porcelain jar.jpg, Korean porcelain jar produced during the Joseon dynasty, 18th century AD, Korea File:청화백자진사채복숭아연적.jpg, A blue and white porcelain peach-shaped water dropper from the Joseon Dynasty in the 18th century File:White Porcelain Bottle with Plum and Bird Design in Relief.jpg, White Porcelain Bottle with Plum and Bird Design in Relief File:Blue-and-white Porcelain Bottle with Underglaze Iron and Copper Grass and Insects Design.jpg, Blue-and-white Porcelain Bottle with Underglaze Iron and Copper Grass and bees Design File:Joseon white porcelain plate, Korea.jpg, Joseon white porcelain plate File:BottleJoseon2-BMA.jpg, red colored Joseon white porcelain Onggi ''Onggi'' (
Korean Korean may refer to: People and culture * Koreans, ethnic group originating in the Korean Peninsula * Korean cuisine * Korean culture * Korean language **Korean alphabet, known as Hangul or Chosŏn'gŭl **Korean dialects and the Jeju language ** ...
: 옹기, 甕器) is
Korea Korea ( ko, 한국, or , ) is a peninsular region in East Asia. Since 1945, it has been divided at or near the 38th parallel, with North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) comprising its northern half and South Korea (Republic o ...
n earthenware extensively used as pots and storage containers in
Korea Korea ( ko, 한국, or , ) is a peninsular region in East Asia. Since 1945, it has been divided at or near the 38th parallel, with North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) comprising its northern half and South Korea (Republic o ...
. It became a typical Korean garden material. It includes both unglazed earthenware, fired near 600 to 700 °C, and
pottery Pottery is the process and the products of forming vessels and other objects with clay and other ceramic materials, which are fired at high temperatures to give them a hard and durable form. Major types include earthenware, stoneware and ...
with a dark brown glaze fired at over 1100 °C. The origin of onggi dates to around 4000 to 5000 BC. The two types of earthenware include: patternless, ''mumun'', and a red and black variety. File:Korean.Folk.Village-Minsokchon-25.jpg, Onggi, usually kimchi, sauces or soybean paste are stored File:Korea-Dae Jang Geum Theme Park-10.jpg, used in Hanbang, Korean traditional herbal medicine pots to boil herbs File:Korean Onggi pottery ceramics use in garden.jpg, today Onggi is often used for decorating gardens


Exports

It began export in Goryeo dynasty period(AD.918~1392) and Korea got their English name after the trade of Goryeo porcelains to the world. It was first introduced as Corée, it changed to Corea among English speakers. China also imported lots of Goryeo celadons. Exported Goryeo celadons are found in some countries in Europe, China, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia. During Joseon dynasty, it started 'closing door policy' after winning attacks from France and the United States. Most exports during this period went to Japan, and most were from provincial coastal kilns, especially in the
Busan Busan (), officially known as is South Korea's most populous city after Seoul, with a population of over 3.4 million inhabitants. Formerly romanized as Pusan, it is the economic, cultural and educational center of southeastern South Korea, ...
area. Export occurred in two ways: either through trading or through invasion and theft of pottery and the abduction''Financial Times''
Korea’s artistic treasures – and their links to China and Japan
b
David Pilling
APRIL 11, 2014
to Japan of families of potters who made the wares. The voluntary immigration of potters was improbable since Joseon pottery was administrated by the Ministry of Knowledge Economy (工曹) ( :ko:공조 (행정기관)). As a national resource, pottery technician trade with foreign countries was prohibited.


Kilns

Central to Korean success were the chambered climbing kilns, based on the Chinese
dragon kiln A dragon kiln () or "climbing kiln", is a traditional Chinese form of kiln, used for Chinese ceramics, especially in southern China. It is long and thin, and relies on having a fairly steep slope, typically between 10° and 16°, up which the kil ...
, that were used throughout the Joseon dynasty and exported abroad, especially to Japan by Korean kiln-makers where they were renamed as ''
noborigama The ''anagama'' kiln (Japanese Kanji: 穴窯/ Hiragana: あながま) is an ancient type of pottery kiln brought to Japan from China via Korea in the 5th century. It is a version of the climbing dragon kiln of south China, whose further deve ...
'' in the Karatsu area from the 17th century on. Modern kilns are either electric or gas-fired.


Centers for studying Korean ceramics

*Department of Ceramics at the College of Art and Design,
Ewha Womans University Ewha Womans University () is a private women's university in Seoul founded in 1886 by Mary F. Scranton under Emperor Gojong. It was the first university founded in South Korea. Currently, Ewha is one of the world's largest female educational inst ...
in
Seoul Seoul (; ; ), officially known as the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea.Before 1972, Seoul was the ''de jure'' capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) as stated iArticle 103 of ...
*Department of Ceramics at the College of Art and Design,
Kongju National University Kongju National University (KNU) is a university located in Chungcheongnam-do, South Korea with three campuses in Gongju, Cheonan and Yesan. Kongju National University is one of the leading national research universities of South Korea, espec ...
in
Gongju Gongju ([]; Gongju-si) is a city in South Chungcheong province, South Korea. History Gongju was formerly named Ungjin and was the capital of Baekje from AD 475 to 538. In this period, Baekje was under threat from Goguryeo. Goguryeo had overrun ...
*Korea Ceramic Foundation (KOCEF)


See also

*
Korean art Korean arts include traditions in calligraphy, music, painting and pottery, often marked by the use of natural forms, surface decoration and bold colors or sounds. The earliest examples of Korean art consist of Stone Age works dating from 3000 ...
* List of Korean ceramic artists and sculptors *
Ceramic art Ceramic art is art made from ceramic materials, including clay. It may take forms including artistic pottery, including tableware, tiles, figurines and other sculpture. As one of the plastic arts, ceramic art is one of the visual arts. ...
*
Dragon jars (Korean) A dragon jar, also known as cloud-dragon jar, is a type of ceremonial porcelain vessel that became popular among the ruling classes of Korea during the Joseon Dynasty (1392–1910). They are decorated with large dragons against a background of sty ...
* Yunggimun *
Celadon ''Celadon'' () is a term for pottery denoting both wares glazed in the jade green celadon color, also known as greenware or "green ware" (the term specialists now tend to use), and a type of transparent glaze, often with small cracks, that wa ...
*
A Single Shard ''A Single Shard'' is a novel by Linda Sue Park, set in 12th-century Korea. It won the 2002 Newbery Medal, awarded for excellence in children's literature. It also received an honorable mention from the Asian/Pacific American Awards for Literatu ...
, a novel by Linda Sue Park in which the main focus is Korean pottery.


Notes


References

* *Goro Akaboshi, ''Five Centuries of Korean Ceramics'', Weatherhill, 1975. * * *


External links


The Asian Art Museum, An excellent Korean ceramics collection






from the
Freer Gallery The Freer Gallery of Art is an art museum of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. focusing on Asian art. The Freer and the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery together form the National Museum of Asian Art in the United States. The Freer and S ...

Koryo dynasty


Details of an exhibition at the
Smithsonian Institution The Smithsonian Institution ( ), or simply the Smithsonian, is a group of museums and education and research centers, the largest such complex in the world, created by the U.S. government "for the increase and diffusion of knowledge". Founded ...

Comprehensive Archaeological Bibliography of Korean Pottery


2009-10-31)

2009-10-31) with softer watery-blue glaze and naturalistic brush-strokes

International Arts Ceramic Artists exhibition
Mountain Dreams: Contemporary Ceramics by Yoon Kwang-cho
— Philadelphia Museum of Art exhibition
''Reviving the Korean Ceramics Tradition'' at the American Museum of Ceramic Art
{{Authority control * Korean art Porcelain