Fall feast of celadon in Korea

Porcelain is referred to as "china" in English-speaking countries. As royal families in Europe grew enchanted with porcelain sent from China as diplomatic gifts, the name china stuck. As for wooden lacquerware from Japan, Western countries coined the term "Japan." Had European people been aware of Goryeo porcelain from Korea, porcelain could have been called "Korea." Goryeo ceramics deserve such a name because of their elegant beauty, a celadon green color similar to an autumn sky, and a unique inlay. Made exclusively for domestic use, however, Korean porcelain was little known outside the country.

Taiping Laoren, an author from China`s ancient Song Dynasty, said in his book "Xiuzhouggin" that Goryeo celadon was the “best under heaven.” The Goryeo Kingdom of Korea started to make celadon by mimicking Song porcelain but eventually became the best. The Song artist So Kung traveled to Goryeo in the year 1123 and wrote in his book that "the blue color of celadon is called jade by Koreans." Jade refers to the color of a kingfisher and is now used to describe the color of Goryeo celadon.

Korea is featuring exhibitions of high-quality Goryeo and Joseon celadon this fall. The National Museum of Korea`s "The Best under Heaven, the Celadons of Korea" is the first Goryeo celadon exhibition since 1989, when a similar event was held to commemorate the 1988 Seoul Summer Olympics. This year`s event has on display 350 intact celadon wares, including the museum`s own collection, that of Kansong Arts Museum in Seoul, those of private collectors, and two important Goryeo celadon pieces owned by from Japan from the Museum of Oriental Ceramics in Osaka and the Museum Yamato Bunkakan. One of the highlights is the Celadon Nine Dragon-shaped Kundika, which is designated National Treasure No. 270.

Horim Art Center, one of Korea`s three private museums along with Kansong and Samsung Museum of Art Leeum, is hosting the expo "Horim, Walking the Woods of Cultural Assets." Horim is pen name of Yoon Jang-seop, chairman of the board of Sungbo Cultural Foundation. Also chairman of Sungbo Chem, he has devoted his personal fortune to buying cultural assets in following the footsteps of Jeon Hyeong-pil, whose pen name is Kansong, and contributing to keeping Korean cultural assets in the country. Buncheong Flattened Bottle with Lotus and Fish Designs, a 15-century masterpiece and National Treasure No. 179, and Blue and White Porcelain Jar with Plum and Bamboo Designs (National Treasure No. 222) are among the finest Joseon Dynasty celadon exhibited there. This autumn is feast for Korean porcelain lovers.

Editorial Writer Chung Sung-hee (shchung@donga.com)