Jo Jul 13, 2022
Koryo ceramics are representative of ceramics art of the Middle Ages, holding a prominent position in the world medieval history of ceramics.
Koryo ceramics are priceless cultural wealth that demonstrates the extraordinary artistic talents and the high level of science and technology of the Korean nation.
Koryo ceramics are divided into celadon, white, black, brown and crimson according to their colours while they are classified into embossed design, engraved design, perforated design, scratched design, inlaid design, disguised design, powdered gold design, etc. in terms of ornamental techniques. The most produced and excellent of all these were celadon ceramics among which inlaid-design celadon ceramics reached the acme of ceramic craftsmanship, attracting admirations from people all over the world.
Koryo ceramics were made in almost every part of the country except northern mountainous areas. The most typical areas were Kaesong and its vicinity, capital of Koryo Feudal State, Kangso in South Phyongan Province, Phyongsan in North Hwanghae Province, Songhwa, Ongjin and Haeju in South Hwanghae Province, Ryoju, Ansong, Koyang, Kwangju and Kanghwa in Kyonggi Province, Kongju in South Chungchong Province, Taedok District in Taejon City, Puan and Jonan in North Jolla Province, Kangjin and Mua in South Jolla Province, Koryo and Kyongju in North Kyongsang Province, etc.
One of the excellent characteristics of Koryo ceramics is, first of all, their unique colours.
The most beautiful and famous of all those various and harmonious colours is jade. Jade green, which looks like green shining against a white pebble in the clear water, reflects the sentiments of life of the Korean people, who are in favour of cheerful, honest, gentle and graceful manner. The discovery of colours, especially jade green that is obtained from reducing flames of iron contained in clay is attributable to a long period of practice and the high level of development of science and technology. Ceramics in this colour was called jade ceramics (celadon ceramics) and became a synonym for Koryo ceramics among the world people. Jade ceramics were first made in the first half of the 10th century.
Another superior characteristic of Koryo ceramics is the variety of their original shapes.
Koryo ceramics are of a variety of types ― glass, brass bowl, bottle, bowl, plate, kettle, jug, flower pot, censer, fire pot, make-up box, container for inkstone water, inkstone, brush holder, etc. and they are in different shapes. In particular, object-shaped ceramics that imitated animals, plants and humans are charming and novel. The objects include humans like civil officials in official outfits, children, etc., animals such as lions, giraffes, fish, turtles, dragons, phoenixes, rabbits, tigers, monkeys, mandarin ducks, ducks, pigeons, etc., and plants including melons, pomegranates, bamboo shoots, lotus flowers, bottle gourds, etc. With softly curved outlines, they look cheerful, slim and harmonious as a whole.
Yet another feature of Koryo ceramics is their diverse and outstanding designs. What makes Koryo ceramics even more famous is their inlaid designs along with other decorative designs by a pictorial technique by brush and sculptural techniques like engraving, embossing, perforating, scratching, stamping, etc. Such elegant looks of elaborately inlaid designs that show faintly through transparent coating of clay are found only on Koryo ceramics.
With the organic combination of all these distinguished colours and designs and original shapes, Koryo ceramics are well-known to the world for their elegance.
In those days, Koryo ceramics were widely exported, thus achieving world-wide fame. They exerted a great influence upon the development of ceramic workmanship of both our country and the neighbouring countries in the later years. In this sense they deserve to be called treasures of all mankind.
Indeed, Koryo ceramics, which are regarded as treasures by the world people for their pre-eminently beautiful colours, designs and shapes and show the extraordinary talents and beautiful and noble sentiments of the Korean people, are outstanding creations of the Korean nation and great treasures of the country.
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Jo Jul 1, 2022
The Korean nation established glorious traditions in the field of science and culture over the long period from ancient times to the feudal Joson dynasty, during which they developed the science and technology onto a high stage on the basis of numerous scientific and technological achievements gained, thus exalting to the world their fame as a talented and resourceful nation.
Among those achievements is the rain gauge which was made by the Korean nation for the first time in the world.
A rain gauge, an instrument to measure the rainfall, was first invented in the world in the period of feudal Joson dynasty in 1441. The first rain gauge which was made of iron looked like a cylinder and it was 2 ja (about 40cm) in height and 8 chi (about 16cm) in diameter. In 1442 a copper rain gauge which was similar in shape to the first one was made and it was 1 ja 5 chi (about 30cm) in height and 7 chi (about 14cm) in diameter. Several rain gauges were made subsequently.
The rain gauge was placed on a stand to catch the rainwater in it for the measurement of its amount. Such gauges were installed in the yards of government offices in the capital and other provinces. In the capital they were made of copper and in other provinces they were made of porcelain or clay. In every county the time when it started and stopped raining was recorded and the amount of rain in that time was measured, which was reported to the provinces. Then the provinces reported the collected data to Soungwan (an institute for astronomical and meteorological observations in feudal society, also called Kwansanggam), where all the data were recorded. It was made a system at that time.
The scientific measurement of the rainfall by rain gauge and the system of collecting measurement data were found in our country for the very first time in the world.
In Italy it was not until 1639 when the depth of rainwater was measured with a gauge. In addition, many years after it rain gauges were installed all over the country and the system of collecting the data of rainfall by the central institute was established. This explains that the rain gauge devised and used in Joson was about 200 years earlier than in Europe.
The rain gauge is a typical meteorological heritage that made a significant contribution to the development of astronomical and meteorological observation technology of our country and at the same time it is part of the priceless cultural heritage that is permeated with creative talents of the Korean nation.
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Jo Jun 13, 2022
Mausoleum of King Kogukwon is a tomb with mural paintings for King Kogukwon, 21st king of Koguryo, situated in Oguk-ri, Anak County, South Hwanghae Province. It dates back to mid-4th century and it is also called Anak Tomb No. 3.
The mausoleum, precious heritage of our national culture, is by far the number one of all Koguryo tombs ever known in terms of scale and richness of content of mural paintings. As a world-famous relic representative of the eastern culture in 4th century that gives an impression of an underground palace, it fully demonstrates the high level of might and culture of Koguryo.
It has a side chamber with figure and genre paintings. It is colossal in size ― about 33 metres from north to south, about 30 metres from east to west and 6 metres high. Located on the mountain and merged with it into one, it looks really magnificent like a huge mountain. It consists of a doorway, a front chamber, two side chambers in the east and west of the front chamber, inside chamber, a corridor, etc. that are built of stone semi-underground on the mountaintop cut downward flat.
The entrance facing the south of the doorway is blocked by a standing plain rock. The doorway is 2.17 metres long from east to west, 2.12 metres wide from north to south and about 3.48 metres high. Two stone doors are attached between the doorway and the front chamber. The front chamber is 4.88 metres long from east to west, 2.73 metres wide from north to south and 3.47 metres high. Between the front chamber and the inside chamber stand 3 octagonal pillars and between the two side chambers and the entrance to the corridor stand 2 square pillars, on the tops of which crenelles (layers of "cow's-tongue" ornamentation) or caps are placed.
The inside chamber is 3.8 metres long from east to west, 3.32 metres wide from north to south and 2.8 metres high. The eastern and the northern sides of the inner chamber are connected by an L-shaped corridor. The corridor is 10.13 metres in length, 0.69~0.87 metres in width and 2.5 metres in height. The ceiling of the corridor is supported by double parallel stays.
The murals are painted on bare stone walls. On the walls of the doorway are painted warriors guarding the king buried in this tomb and in the front chamber are found paintings of guards of honour, subakhui (Korean style of martial art using only the hands), singing and dancing. In the west side chamber are seen the scenes where the king, the main character, wearing “Paekragwan” (crown worn by Koguryo kings) and colourful silk robes is conducting state affairs together with civil and military officers, and the queen is being waited by the court ladies. In the east side chamber there are murals of kitchen, meat storage, well, mill, stable, cowshed, coach house, etc. The corridor is decorated with the mural of the main character wearing “Paekragwan” on an oxcart followed by the grand procession advancing majestically under the guard of warriors, civil and military officers, instrumental march music band, ceremonial flags such as “Songsangbon”, “Ttukki”, “Jongjol”, etc. owned only by the Koguryo kings. Each mural is different in painting technique.
The best-painted ones of all the murals are those with main characters in them. Although they have the limitation of the period when the portraits of the main characters were painted differently in size according to their social standings, they are invaluable ones that ascertain the very beginning of portrait painting in our country. The procession of several columns overlapping each other is portrayed skillfully by the technique of a bird’s-eye view. Demonstrating that its technique of picture painting was contemporarily of the highest level, this mural, in terms of the number of characters of over 250, the size and the complicated and colourful scenes, ranks first of all the murals in our country and it is a leading masterpiece that holds an important position in the history of the world fine arts.
At first there was a huge amount of valuable objects made of gold, silver, copper, iron, jade, etc. in the mausoleum, but at the time when it was discovered, only earthenware like plates, small bowls, pots, etc. was found due to grave robbery a long time ago.
The mausoleum is a precious cultural heritage that vividly shows the history, custom, architecture, art, music, dance, weapons, armament, etc. through the structure of chambers and the murals in them.
The architecture of bolsters and the murals in the mausoleum are the precious national cultural heritage that clearly shows the wisdom and resourcefulness of the Korean nation as well as the high level of its cultural development and world-famous relics representative of the contemporary eastern culture.
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Jo Jun 7, 2022
Koguryo, first feudal state in our country, lasted for nearly a thousand years from 277 B.C. to 668 A.D., holding the central position and playing a leading role in the development of history of our country.
The founder is Sejo, King Tongmyong (Ko Ju Mong). When he became the lawful successor to the king of Kuryo, he formed a new feudal system in 277 B.C. and named it Koguryo. He had its capital Jolbon Castle (castle on the mountain) built within a few years and merged several neighbouring countries in ten years’ time, enlarging Koguryo into a fairly big country that stretched 2 000 ri (1 ri = about 393m) from east to west.
The capital moved from Jolbon Castle to Kuknae Castle (Jipanhyon) in 3 A.D., to Pyongyang Castle (Mt. Taesong area) in 427, to new Pyongyang Castle (Jangan Castle) in 586. Hwando Castle 2 (North Pyongyang Castle, Ponghwang Castle) and South Pyongyang Castle (Mt. Jangsu area, later Han Castle) became the second capitals between the late 4th century and the early 5th century, forming a system of 5 capitals.
With rapid progress in several fields of politics, military affairs, economy and culture after the establishment, Koguryo emerged as one of the most developed countries in Asia in those days and demonstrated its prominently advanced culture out to the whole world.
For some centuries B.C. and A.D., feudal relationship was consolidated and developed and the whole well-regulated feudal system was established in Koguryo, which became the main framework of the state and social systems of subsequent several feudal states in our country as well as Paekje and Silla.
From the end of the 2nd century B.C. Koguryo people loaded with a high sense of patriotism and military spirit played the role as a fort and a shield to defend the entire land and fellow countrymen by repulsing foreign forces of aggression.
Koguryo set territorial unification as its important policy and put a lot of effort to realize it. As a result, in the west it merged several small countries in the southeast of Ryodong Peninsula by the 70s in the first century, in the southwest the northern part of Raknangguk, and in the east and the south Kaema, Kuda, Jona, Juna, East Okjo and other 7 small countries. In the north it defeated Ancient Puyo at the end of the 3rd century B.C. and took several small countries subject to Puyo under its control. After the establishment of Later Puyo feudal state in the early 2nd century B.C., it took control of the southern part of Jilin area and merged Kalsaguk.
The struggle of Koguryo for territorial unification was carried out along with anti-aggressive struggles. In 529 Koguryo extended its territory to the faraway bounds of Asan Bay, which brought unification of Three Kingdoms to the verge of completion in the first half of the 6th century.
Moreover, Koguryo developed various fields of its economy and culture, exerting a great influence upon the development of economy and culture of the neighbouring countries of the same blood and spreading its advanced culture even abroad.
In summary, Koguryo was a strong country with vast territory and advanced culture, which is a great pride of Korean nation possessed of a time-honoured history, ardent patriotism, strong national self-respect and unexcelled resourcefulness and wisdom.
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Jo Jun 2, 2022
Here is Kyongru-dong like a beautiful gem true to the meaning of its name in the centre of Pyongyang, capital of the DPRK.
Everything here including the bus stops, underground crossings, street lamps, etc. blends well with the Pothong riverside and the terraced residential district, which gives us an impression of being on the fairyland.
Walking up the exquisite stone steps, we could notice the plate bearing Block No. 12 in big fonts attached on the front door, which led us into the house of Merited Scientist, Candidate Academician, Prof. PhD. Ri Mu Chol, a section head at the Bioengineering Institute.
He and his son PhD. Ri Hwi Song, a researcher at the Faculty of Biology and Medicine Engineering, welcomed us, saying that they still could hardly believe this dreamlike reality.
The living room, study, kitchen, storeroom, …
Every element in the dwelling including the arrangement and colour of all the furnishings and lighting was on the highest level in the aspects of practicability, aesthetics and environment.
We could enjoy the beauty of the Pothong River flowing placidly in front of the spacious balcony where some fresh and green young pine trees were growing like a piece of painting.
Indeed, it was like a dream that ordinary working people are living in such luxurious dwellings in Kyongru-dong with fine scenery and good living conditions.
This is not a dream, but the reality in the DPRK.
We were totally absorbed in looking round the rooms when Ri Mu Chol told us as follows.
“It is really unbelievable that I am honoured to live here. I couldn’t believe that this is my own house even when I was handed over the entrance certificate and even when I was looking round it after the completion ceremony. But it turned out to be the reality, not a dream. Ordinary educators, scientists, workers, writers and artists like me became the owners of these new dwellings.”
This is not the remark from his heart alone.
It is from the hearts of all educators and scientists including Ri Tong Ju, a section head at the Faculty of Mechanical Science and Technology, O Su Yong, a section head at the Faculty of Heat Engineering, Kwon Chang Dok, a section head at the Faculty of Mining Engineering, Ri Mu Chol, a section head at the Bioengineering Institute, Son Ryong Chol, a section head at the Faculty of Materials Science and Technology, Jong Kwang Chon, a researcher at the Faculty of Materials Science and Technology, Min Chol U, a researcher at the Robotics Institute, Kim Chol Ryong, dean of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, etc. It is from the hearts of all the people across the country.
It is not a dream, but reality.
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Jo May 6, 2022
Ssirum (Korean wrestling), part of the superior national heritage created and developed by the Korean people from ancient times, is a traditional sporting event where two people who grasp each other’s thigh bands compete to bring down the opponents onto the ground using their hands, legs and bodies.
Korean ssirum, registered as part of the intangible heritage of the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO, has a long history and tradition.
Korean Ssirum is said to have made a start in Ancient Korea and have been perfected in Koguryo.
Although several nations and countries including Mongolia and Japan did have similar strength events called ssirum, Koguryo ssirum had some unique features ― wrestlers wearing heavy cloth bands around either thighs and no garments on their upper bodies competed in strength with their chins tucked on the opponents’ shoulders in bare feet; ssirum was well organized according to strict rules; wrestlers were trained to be professional.
Unlike Koguryo ssirum, however, Mongolian ssirum allowed wrestlers to wear shoes and upper garments similar to leather waistcoats.
Meanwhile, influenced by Korean ssirum, the Japanese did ssirum with thigh bands, bare upper body and bare feet. This explains Japanese ssirum originated from Korean ssirum.
This assertion is also supported by the figures discovered in Inbe Hachimanyama Tomb (around 6th century) situated on the basin of the Ginogawa River in Wakayama Prefecture, Japan.
Figure 10 of strong man erected in the east of the group of tombs bears a close resemblance to Koguryo ssirum wrestlers.
It proves that Japanese ssirum was not invented and developed in Japan itself, but introduced from Koguryo.
Such information is also found in “Japanese History” and other Japanese historical records.
In a word, Korean ssirum, which was developed in Ancient Korea and perfected in Koguryo, was disseminated through the neighbouring countries of the same blood Paekje, Silla and Kaya to the Japanese archipelago, exerting a significant influence upon the cultural development of the island country.
Indeed, the time-honoured and superior culture and tradition created by the Korean nation from olden times was introduced into other countries, thus leaving an indelible mark in their history of cultural development.
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