Resources

Jar, approx. 1600. Korea. Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). Porcelain with transparent glaze. The Avery Brundage Collection, B60P110+.

This image shows mountains and harvested rice in the autumn near the village of Andong in South Korea. Andong has been preserved as a traditional village, and exhibits both upper- and lower-class houses from the Joseon dynasty (1392–1910). The Korean peninsula is filled with mountains. Mountains form natural barriers and also create distinctive regions within Korea. Rice is a staple crop in Korea. Land formed the basis of wealth for most of Korean history. Rice was harvested not only for food, but also to pay for taxes.

Illustrations of Buddhist texts and ritual formulas (Rashmivimla-vishuddhiprabhasa-dharani-sutra) (Mugujeonggwang Daedarani), 2001, by Dong-uArtist: Myeongcheon. Korea. Handscroll; sutra, gold on paper. Gift of Dong-u seunim, 2002.12.2.

Students will: 1.) Identify the format and elements of a sutra. 2.) Examine why sutras (the teachings of the Buddha) are important historical and religious documents. 3.) Analyze why the writing of sutras is considered an important religious act. 4.) Construct and illustrate an accordion book manuscript based on the sutra format used during the Goryeo dynasty (Korea).

The Asian Art Museum presented Korea Foundation Korean Culture Day on Sunday, Nov. 17, 2013 for the fifth consecutive year. This feast of Korean culture featured food, music and other performances as well as hands-on art activities for all ages. The festival was presented in conjunction with the museum’s special exhibition, In Grand Style: Celebrations in Korean Art during the Joseon Dynasty.

Guardian king of the west (Gwangmok cheonwang), 2002-2003, by Jae-u (Korean, born 1966). Ink and mineral colors on cotton. Gift of Jae-u, 2004.10.

Contemporary Korean ceramic artists Sung Min, Kwon Shin, Kim jin Kyoung, and Park Nae Heon discuss their works.

Ewer with lid, approx. 1050-1125. Goryeo dynasty (918-1392). Stoneware with blue-green (celadon) glaze. The Avery Brundage Collection, B60P123+.

John Duncan, Director for Korean Studies, UCLA, gives a talk on Joseon dynasty (1392-1910) Korea at the Asian Art Museum.

The religious fervor and opulence of the Goryeo dynasty (918-1392) can be seen in the intricately hand-copied sutras (the teachings of the Buddha) that date to this period. Korean monk-scribes were commissioned by royals, aristocrats, and individual high-ranking monks to write the sacred words of the Buddha by applying pigments of ground gold and silver to deep indigo–dyed mulberry paper. They began by pictorially narrating the sermons of the Buddha with key episodes within the sutra chapter on the frontispiece (first four sutra panels). The rest of the sutra comprised flowing calligraphy translating the Buddha’s teachings.