Videos: Korean art & society
Background information about Korean history and society.
Buddhism in Korea
Buddhist ideas strongly influenced Korean art and society. For instance, delicate, green-glazed vessels played a part in temple life, reflecting the quiet, contemplative atmosphere needed for religious observance. Also, many objects in the V&A's collections depict lotus flowers, suggesting spiritual growth towards enlightenment.
By the 6th century AD, Buddhism was the state religion
It was absorbed into the whole society
Some early Korean architecture reflected Buddhist writings
The layout of the buildings here at Bulguksa represents the Pure Land of Buddhism
Going through the gateway symbolises going to the Buddha with one heart
Going up the stairs casts away all the agonies of real life
This gateway leads to the Buddha Land
Two halls represent Buddha on earth, and in paradise
The Buddha on earth hall is larger
Showing the importance of creating a Buddhist country on earth
The Seokguram grotto was carved out of granite in AD774
The Buddha sculpture is surrounded by 15 carved depictions of disciples
The left hand of the Buddha gestures peace and meditation
The right hand faces downwards towards the earth, and signifies victory
The Buddha sits on a lotus pedestal
The lotus symbol represents spiritual growth towards enlightenment
It appears in many Korean decorative art forms.
Buddhist rock carving
15th century stoneware bottle
Porcelain jar with copper red decoration
Chest for cremated remains
Writing in Korea
Contemporary artists such as Shin Young-Ok draw on a literary tradition in their work that stretches back over the centuries. The Korean alphabet was designed and introduced in 1446 AD. Koreans revered writing and learning, and texts were hand written, or printed from woodblocks or pieces of type.
Koreans have always respected the written word
The first writing system used in Korea was borrowed from China
In 1446 the Korean alphabet now known as Hangul was developed
and began to be used alongside the Chinese writing system
Simple shapes represent the sounds of the Korean alphabet
so many more Koreans could learn to read and write
Many administrative, literary, and Buddhist texts have been preserved
and form the foundation of Korean government and education
Carved wooden blocks were used for printing
The Tripitaka Koreana is a compilation of Buddhist texts made in the 13th century
carved on 81,258 wooden blocks
Texts were carved in mirror writing. This is still practised today
The original blocks are 750 years old and still reproduce perfectly
As well as using wooden blocks, printers experimented with metal type
at least 70 years before the Gutenberg Bible was printed in Europe
Accurate mass production allowed the spread of ideas and encouraged literacy
This book of Buddhist sermons was printed in 1377 from the original metal type
Writing also reveals information about ordinary Korean people
This tablet is an epitaph to a junior official, Paek Chun-min who died in 1698 aged 64
Today, contemporary artists such as Shin Young-Ok refer to the Korean literary tradition in their own work
Power and ritual in Korea
The King and his court sat at the centre of government in early Korea. Many decorative objects, such as dress ornaments and ceramics painted in blue, red or brown pigments carry meanings relating to royal power and status. These include cranes in flight, shown on embroidered badges denoting the rank of officials, and scaly dragons that encircle the robust porcelain jars of the Choson period (1392-1910).
By AD520 the Silla kings ruled the south east of the Korean peninsula
Silla society was powerful and hierarchical. Its royalty was buried in these mounds
The City of Gyeongju was the capital of the Silla kingdom
It brought royal, religious and administrative affairs together in one place
Later kingdoms continued this tradition of centralised power
King Sejong developed the Korean alphabet in the 1440s
Important information had to be recorded in writing
Court historians had great authority and wrote their own versions of events
Many of these records still exist today and tell us about Korean history
The writings of Chinese philosopher Confucius influenced court and society
Officials set an example of good behaviour by their correct observance of certain ceremonies
These rituals showed that the rulers were diligent and moral
Just as the people they ruled were meant to be
These ceremonies are still observed at the Royal Ancestral Shrine in Seoul
The dragon is a symbol of royal power
and is used across many art forms
from ceremonial furniture
to ceramics decorated with a dragon...
...chasing a flaming pearl across the clouds
