Chungja-Creladon

The Development of Chungja in Korea:

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(1) Jon Carter Covell, Alan Carter Covell. (1986). The World of Korean Ceramics. Seoul, Korea: Si-sa-yong-o-sa, Inc.

* Note: The Korean government changed the Anglicization of many Korean words including the name of the dynasty “Koryo” which is now the “Goryeo” dynasty.

Beyond my own thoughts, formed over nearly fifty years of research into Korean ceramics, I am borrowing some of what I say about celadon from four primarily sources. 1. Korean Ceramics: Reflections of Korean Character written by our friend Chung Yang-Mo, retired Director of the National Museums of Korea. Mary and I edited this unique poster portfolio. 2. The World of Korean Ceramics written by another friend Jon Carter Covell and her son Alan. Jon is greatly missed. We want to thank Alan Covell for his permission to use material from their book. 3. Gangjin Celadon, a booklet distributed by Gangjin, Korea during their Millennium Years exhibits. We have been asked by Gangjin to help them publicize their ware internationally and develop tours to Korea that bring people to Gangjin*. This website is part of that effort. 4. Arts of Korea also written by professor Chung Yang-mo and produced by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. We presented two workshops on Korean ceramic processes for MMOA during the time of the exhibit that accompanied the publication of this book.

orea’s history can be dramatically traced through its ceramics. Such is the case in particular with chungja or “celadon”, the “Jade-like Jewels of Koryo”*. (1)

The reduction kiln in Korea was mastered long before United Silla (668-935 CE) produced high-fired ash glazed stoneware and reached temperatures as high as 2200F. The new dynasty Goryeo (935-1392 CE) was ready for a change. It came from Yuel and Sung China in the form of the “latest imperial wares” a porcelaneous ware covered with glazes that varied from olive to pale blue-green.

I will use the term “chungja” interchangeably with “celadon” throughout this web site. “Chungja” is the Korean term and “celadon” is used in the West. The Western term is “a result of the Chinoiserie of France. During the seventeenth century a popular actor portraying a shepherd role wore a grey-green costume, which the French termed “celadon.” The color became so popular in cultural circles that when wares began to arrive from China with this hue, the name of celadon was applied.”(1)

When Korean potters saw this new ware they were intrigued and set out to master it. But the mastering of chungja came slowly.

On the other hand, Korea had long been masters of the reduction process producing beautiful polished black ware and other controlled reduction ware as early as the Bronze Age.(fig. 2) This black ware piece is also an early indication of the sensitivity to form that is seemingly innate to many Korean ceramic artists. This author believes that it was the Korean artist’s ability to master reduction the early and continuing sensitivity to form and their

The earliest and perhaps only remaining dated Korean attempt at celadon is dated 993 CE. (fig. 1) This was made for a shrine dedicated to the founder of the Goryeo dynasty, Wang Kon. It now belongs to the Ewha Women’s University museum. You will note that the yellowish color of this piece suggests that the necessity for precise control of reduction to obtain the jade-like color of chungja was not yet fully understood. (1)

(fig. 1)

(fig. 2)

Throughout Korea’s history it can be said that people in general used onggi (fig. 3) for everyday use. Onggi was commonly used by all levels of society from village to temple to palace for everyday ware and the storage and preservation of many foods. Onggi has an unbroken line in Korea’s ceramic history and has served Koreans well. However, many scholars believe chungja to be the pinnacle of Korea’s ceramic mastery.

The aristocracy of the Goryeo dynasty loved jade. Jade was considered an auspicious stone. It was even believed that attempts at poisoning would be thwarted by placing food on jade. Chungja, with the color and look of jade, was very popular among the aristocracy of Goryeo.(1)

(fig. 3)

unwillingness to accept the milky opaque Chinese celadon glaze that ultimately led Korea to become superior in the production of chungja. Further, we believe these three abilities also have much to do with Korea’s mastery of ceramics in general.

*Visit our website MorningEarthKorea.com to learn more about our work promoting Korea. There, at MorningEarthTours.com and other web sites you will find tours to Korea and other Asian countries. We visit Gangjin often on these tours and they treat our tour guests very well. We specialize on tours that visit artists. Many of whom are Human Cultural Treasures in their various fields.

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