Throughout ancient Asia many different types of art played significant roles in culture, especially
ceramics. During the Ming Dynasty beautiful ceramics, especially porcelain were made. These
porcelain wares were extremely valuable as items for trade, these wares made their way into
Turkey and Iran.1 During the fifteenth and sixteenth century Korea had many different styles of
ceramics. Though Korean Joseon ceramics were directly inspired from Chinese Ming ceramics,
the techniques and final products are completely different. This essay will compare Chinese
Ming ceramics and Korean Joseon Ceramics.
Chinese Ming ceramics were one of many types of pottery in Asia but were highly coveted
because of its pure white color, smoothness, and translucence.2 The potters were able to
achieve these feats by its mixture of clay and other minerals, and the temperature that it was
fired at.3 The vessels were regularly decorated with dragons as they were common in Chinese
folklore, often associated with the powers of nature and the elements.4 The dragons were
painted using a technique called underglaze. The blue pigment was painted directly on to the
unfired vessel, and a layer of clear glaze was applied over it. After the vessel came out its deep
blue color was fixed on the white backdrop.5 Ming ceramics were used as decanters for wine in
imperial households.6
Korean Joseon ceramics were directly inspired by Chinese Ming ceramics but did not exactly
copy their style. Joseon ceramics utilized an iron-brown color underglaze rather than the cobalt
blue that the Ming used. The use of the iron-brown color was seen as very sophisticated and
care free.7 The pictures painted on Joseon ceramics followed their own path instead of referring
to culture, tradition, or folklore.8 Joseon ceramics often were decorated with things in nature,
such as the branch from a grapevine.9 These vessels also had “bulging shoulders, slender
bases, and short, vertical necks.” which was unique to Korean pottery.10 were primarily used as
tableware for special occasions and for ceremonial or burial vessels.11
Though these two types of ceramic are similar in shape and are decorated using the same
underglaze technique, their uses are completely different, along with why they are decorated the
way they are. Ming ceramics were decorated with dragons from folklore as they represented
elements from nature such as wind, thunder, and lightning. These vessels were also used by
imperial households as decanters to improve the quality of wine.12 On the other hand Joseon
1
Marilyn Stokstad and Michael Watt Cothren, Art History (Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson, 2018), 812.
Mark Cartwright, “Ming Porcelain,” World History Encyclopedia (World History Encyclopedia, March 15,
2022), https://www.worldhistory.org/Ming_Porcelain/.
3
Mark Cartwright, “Ming Porcelain,” World History Encyclopedia (World History Encyclopedia, March 15,
2022), https://www.worldhistory.org/Ming_Porcelain/.
4
Marilyn Stokstad and Michael Watt Cothren, Art History (Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson, 2018).
5
Marilyn Stokstad and Michael Watt Cothren, Art History (Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson, 2018).
6
Marilyn Stokstad and Michael Watt Cothren, Art History (Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson, 2018).
7
Metmuseum.org, accessed March 17, 2022, https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/chpo/hd_chpo.htm.
8
Marilyn Stokstad and Michael Watt Cothren, Art History (Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson, 2018).
9
Marilyn Stokstad and Michael Watt Cothren, Art History (Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson, 2018).
10
Marilyn Stokstad and Michael Watt Cothren, Art History (Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson, 2018).
11
Metmuseum.org, accessed March 17, 2022, https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/chpo/hd_chpo.htm.
12
Marilyn Stokstad and Michael Watt Cothren, Art History (Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson, 2018).
2
ceramics followed their own path rather than taking influence from tradition or culture.13 As
opposed to being used for wine Joseon ceramics were used as tableware for special occasions
and in ceremony and burial, for example the placenta jar.14
In conclusion, the comparison between Chinese Ming ceramics decorated with dragons
influenced by tradition and Korean Joseon Ceramics decorated with botanical motifs that
followed their own path and were influenced by anything.These two vessels showed how every
culture has a different use for these vessels. Some were used merely as pitchers for certain
liquids, and others were used as ceremonial goods that would even be buried.
13
14
Marilyn Stokstad and Michael Watt Cothren, Art History (Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson, 2018).
Metmuseum.org, accessed March 17, 2022, https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/chpo/hd_chpo.htm.