Since time immemorial, Korea has developed an outstanding craft culture. Its superior quality can be seen in everything from the beautiful and elaborate golden crowns of the Three Kingdoms era (57 B.C.–A.D. 668) to the astonishing scientific technology of the Unified Silla era’s Seokguram Grotto. Even China, the birthplace of celadon, was bewitched by the magical jade greens found in the celadon of Goryeo. Simple yet sophisticated handicrafts handed down from the Joseon era continue to enjoy great popularity today among Koreans and people around the world.
This book was written as an introduction to Korean handicrafts and the manner in which they have captured Korea’s unique culture and way of life over the millennia. Its chapters examine the characteristics of these works as well as their history—the most representative pieces handed down from the past, along with the lives of the people who make them.