Korean Ceramics

The Beauty of Natural Forms

Author: Robert Koehler Series: Korea Essentials

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Description

The most well-known Korean ceramics are the celadon of the Goryeo Dynasty (918–1392) and the white porcelain of the ensuing Joseon Dynasty (1392–1910). The celadons of Goryeo, their grace and colour tinged with feminine beauty, symbolise an artistocratic Buddhist culture, while the white porcelains from the Joseon are thought to typify a bureaucratic and scholarly Confucian society and are essentially masculine in tone, vigorous and orderly. Korea’s traditional ceramic wares serve as a barometer for understanding Korean culture in that they most accurately reflect Korean aesthetics and the Korean worldview.

About the Author

Robert Koehler, born and raised on Long Island, New York, has lived in Korea since 1997. He was the editor-in-chief of SEOUL, Seoul Selection's monthly lifestyle and travel magazine, from 2006 to 2018. He spends his days exploring new neighborhoods, sitting in cafés, and shooting photographs.

More on this Book

In human history, ceramics are the oldest "tools of civilization" and are among the tools closest to us in our daily lives. Ceramics represent the emotions and literary trends of a particular age and Korea's traditional ceramic wares serve as a barometer for understanding Korean culture in that they most accurately reflect Korean aesthetics and the Korean worldview. This book seeks to explore the ideas and richness of international ceramic culture as well as the trends and ways in which newly developing ceramic innovations are unfolding. From the celadon of the Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392) to the white porcelain of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), this book examines how Korea's ceramics tradition began, how it developed, and what makes it so special.