Gangjin Celadon

ABOVE A HUGE LANTERN AT THE GANGJIN FESTIVAL IMITATES AN ANCIENT CELADON EWER AS DOES THE REPRODUCTION PIECE RIGHT. WESTERN MINDS OF LIMITED EXPERIENCE HAVE OFTEN QUESTIONED REPRODUCTION WORK BUT THERE IS NO DENYING THE GREAT SKILL NECESSARY TO ACHIEVE THESE TRULY OUTSTANDING WORKS.

ANCIENT CHINESE SCHOLARS RECOGNIZED THE SKILLS OF THE CERAMIC ARTIST FROM GANGJIN, KOREA. ALTHOUGH CELADON WAS INTRODUCED TO KOREA FROM CHINA, WHEN THE CHINESE LISTED “THE BEST THINGS UNDER HEAVEN” IN THE 1300’S EVERYTHING THEY LISTED WAS CHINESE WITH ONE REMARKABLE EXCEPTION -- THE CELADON FROM KOREA. MANY SCHOLARS AGREE THAT TODAY AFTER YEARS OF WORK AND RESEARCH, GANGJIN, KOREA IS ONCE AGAIN PRODUCING THE BEST CELADON IN THE WORLD. IT IS THE EASTERN MIND OF TRADITION THAT CONTINUES THE STRENGTH THAT LIES AT THE HEART OF GANGJIN CELADON.

Visit Gangjin.

Our tours will visit Gangjin and witness first hand the skills and dedication necessary to produce “the finest celadon under heaven”. In an exclusive arrangement with Gangjin, Korea, Gangjin will subsidize some of our tours to Korea. This could reduce the land cost of those tours as much as 30% depending on the tour selected. Since all Morning Earth Tours are already discounted, this offer from Gangjin can make our tours more than 40% less than other tours to Korea. In addition those other tours don’t match our remarkable content. Imagine, a tour that takes you into the studios of selected Human Cultural Treasures and other outstanding artists -- many by invitation and special arrangement -- and at a reduced price. Our tours often visit the magnificent Lotus Lantern Festival in Seoul, the Royal Ancestral Ritual in the Jongmyo Shrine, the World Biennale Korea, the Mungyeong Chassabal (tea bowl) Festival, onggi studios, and visit the studios of several Human Cultural Treasures and other outstanding artists as well as Gangjin.

In addition you will stay at good hotels. We do not skimp on quality. There is much more on these remarkable tours. Visit our Morning Earth Tours web site at MorningEarthKorea.com or contact us at MorningEarth@ME.Com.

This ancient incense burner created during the 12th or 13th century is a remarkable example of Gangjin’s superior skills at creating chungja ware. Many forming processes were used in its creation. It is no wonder that China called this work “. . . first under heaven”.

What are other ancient Gangjin works like? Below are a grouping of wine ewers and tea vessels. Notice that each of the forms are taken from nature. Although the spouts were formed in a similar manner using Korea’s ancient stick forming methods they are often modified to suit the potter. The handles are not pulled as we do in the West but are also often stick formed. However, the twisted handle made with two coils seen in the top photo on the right below was also often used. That vessel’s lid is missing. The bottom left wine ewer is sitting in a warming bowl. Some Korean wines of that period were heated much like Japanese saki. However, during much of the Goryeo Dynasty (912-1392), tea was the drink of choice. It is difficult to determine which ewer is for tea and which is for wine. Today Korea is experiencing a remarkable revival in the preparation and use of tea.
Each vessel is decorated. The two right hand vessels below (B and C) are simply decorated enhancing the gourd “feel” of the work. The top left piece (A) is decorated in relief by gently carving the background away using a “gubsuay kal” or left-bent knife. The bottom left piece (D) is decorated with carved inlay or the “sanggam” or “sang hwa mun” process. The tool used for this is a “cho gak kal” or carving knife. Thick white slip is inlaid into the carved patterns in leather hard clay. When the white ship dries, the excess is scrapped away revealing the carved lines. A gubsuay kal is used to remove the excess slip. Then the design intended to be black, is carved and inlayed in the same manner. There are at least eight different decorating processes used in the production of chungja or celadon. Someday you may find them on one of our web pages or blogs. Ask about one of our workshops on Korean ceramic processes where these decorating processes and forming processes are taught.
The body of these vessels were formed on a wheel using a Korean method referred to as “. . . ‘throwing’ with the eye of the clay”.
Korean potters use specific wheel forming strategies. The progression of these ‘thrown’ from the mound forms range from small cups to enormous vases and bowls. Each process is based on a natural approach to clay and the progress in wheel forming skill is very natural. As skill is gained, forms increase in size.
Some years ago, we decided to teach these natural ‘throwing’ methods to our college students. When we taught these strategies at the university, our students learned more quickly. Most often the new students were centering within minutes and throwing small things the first session. Many of those students went on to teach art at high schools. When the Korean strategies were taught to high school students, they learned to ‘throw’ quickly as well. We have heard several stories about the high school students going on to universities and using these methods in their college classes. In some cases ‘our’ freshmen students were throwing with more control than their senior counterparts. In many cases the university professors were amazed by their throwing skills.
Morning Earth continues to schedule workshops on Korean hand-forming, decorating and throwing strategies. Contact MorningEarth@Me.Com for more information on our workshops.

Below is another ewer, the latest addition to the Gangjin Museum. The lid is missing but it is a remarkable piece and worth examining more closely.

We have addressed decorating with the exception that the above vessel also exhibits stamped inlay. Of more interest are its handle and spout. Both are stick formed. The handle has an added loop to tie the lid to the handle it is unfortunate that the lid was lost anyway. The spout is additionally carved using a wide cho gak kal.

Our company Dragon Claw Tools has a tool called the Dragon Rib. It is at once a rib, paddle, handle maker and can be used to help form spouts and pouring lips.

For more information see:

Dragon ClawTM Tools

The above image is of inlaid greenware on Gangjin’ natural black clay. The black clay turns tan in firing. The red inlay turns black. Then the fired “chungja” glaze completes the process.

Near the gates to the Gangjin Complex stands a lonely figure, homage to the unknown potters who centuries ago created the, “. . . first under heaven” celadon. After years of research Gangjin, Korea can arguably make that claim once again. The purity of color, pristine form and celadon glaze are unmatched.

Kim Yu-sung a young ceramic star from Gangjin demonstrates her skills at the New York opening of the Gangjin Millennium Face Exhibit 2008. The exhibit toured the United States stopping in Washington, D. C., New York, Atlanta, Chicago, St. Louis and Los Angeles.

Home of “the finest celadon under heaven”.

Click Bar to Go Directly to Available Celadon Ware