Easy and Essential knowledge of Korean art, Celadons and Porcelains of Korea

무제,구본창, http://www.bckoo.com/sub_work11.html

The moment I recognised pottery as a work of aesthetic value was while watching the white porcelain series of photographer Koo. Among the pink background, the monochrome white porcelain reveals itself through the soft colours of the photograph. It is not completely white or symmetrically rounded, but can feel a humanity and humbleness.

China is China in english and representation of China itself. One of China's most beautiful treasures is in the National Palace Museum, in Taipei, and one that attracts the greatest number of viewers is the Celadon flower pot (靑瓷水仙盆) made in the Yu Song of the Northern Song.

靑瓷水仙盆 , https://www.npm.gov.tw/ko/article.aspx?sno=04001033

The irregularly shaped of patterns and the background colour of blue shows not only beauty in colours but also beauty of form and itself. Glazed ceramics seem like to slip when they are touched, and look as smooth as mirrors.

 They are small, but the curves are proportionally perfect. The clean appearance of the celadon flowerpot can be said to be beautiful to anyone. The same is true of the other ones produced in Yuyao as well as the celadon flower pots. Those with graceful shapes and colour make people to believe they are carved into jade if they do not say they are ceramics.

But Korea's ceramics are not bad compared to China. In an ancient Chinese book, <宣和奉使高麗圖經>, written by ambassador from Song in China, there is an evaluation about  Goryeo celadon. 

"This is the most sophisticated and the most sophisticated among various things." It is an evaluation of the celadon of Goryeo, not China's pottery, as its top above all.

However, it doesn’t mean that Goryeo celadons have more complicated patterns or vivid colours than Chinese ceramics. Rather, they have a simpler form and colour compared to that of China. The porcelain of Goryeo is beautifully decorated with transparent glaze, various forms and irregular patterns based on beautiful colour of blue.

    

(left)Celadon Prunus Vase with Incised Lotus and Scroll Design

(right) Buncheong Flat Bottle with Incised Peony Design

Celadon bowls with inlaid patterns and celadons with incised patterns, such as Celadon Prunus Vase with Incised Lotus and Scroll Design are not very splendid but they are soft and gorgeous. Inlaid technique has gradually developed and various patterns have begun to fill the celadon, but unlike Tang Dynasty’s Tang Sanci, usage of three different colours,  they use black and white to fill the patterns and keep their harmonious with the colour of it self.

 When the public interests of the celadon comes to an end, the celadon has a completely different appearance from the before. People put a greyish blue powder over the celadons to make them white. Overall form is similar, but it is much more rough and used in everyday. In addition, a thickly paint on celadon lead to be able to put more abstract, and bold patterns. Now the celadon era is over and the white porcelain’s era is coming.

White Porcelain Jar

Among them, the white porcelain jar, as known as a moon jar, that was popular during the first half of the 17th century to the early 18th century, represent the white porcelain of the Joseon Dynasty. It is larger than others made before and also has a warm red colour. Thanks to this colour and soft rounded shape of the form, the moon jar is sweet and full of comfort. Of course, not only moon jars have such characteristics. This is true for other white porcelains decorated with blue and white ware, coloured with cobalts, and underglaze iron porcelains, as well as white porcelain jars. 

(left)White Porcelain Jar with Grape and Monkey Design and Inscription

(right)White Porcelain Jar with Landscape Design in Underglaze Cobalt Blue

 The beauty and blurred lines and relaxed space in the white background make you warm and comfortable through the porcelains. At first glance, blue porcelains, which seem to be filled all over the white porcelains, actually make a perfect harmony of the background and the pattern, and create a beautiful pattern through the control of contrast and strength. Although the dragon is depicted, it is not an intense figure so that it isn’t giving a heavy aura. Also the appearance of the ancestors in the nature makes people feel relaxed. The white porcelain of Joseon stands out more curvaceous than the celadon but the clear reversal of the curve comes beautifully with it’s simple colour.

 Korean ceramics represented by white porcelains and celadons can not be judged only by the paintings or the various colours used on them. They were not made by the demand of appreciation, but they are used directly in the real life, so they are giving the comfort to people who use them as well as the beauty at the same time.

 You will be able to fully appreciate graceful and elegant from the simplicity and comfort from everyday life. 

Photographs from http://www.museum.go.kr/
Korean ver. http://blog.naver.com/potatina/220989076306