Exhibition
Treasures from Korea
Arts and Culture of the Joseon Dynasty, 1392-1910
Sun, Moon, and Five Peaks 19th century Korea Eight-fold screen; colors on paper Overall 82 11/16 x 217 7/16 inches (210 x 552.3 cm) Private Collection
When
Mar 2, 2014 – May 26, 2014
Tickets
A sweeping panorama, Treasures from Korea celebrates the artistic achievements of the Joseon dynasty, a line of twenty-seven monarchs that ruled the Korean peninsula for more than five hundred years and left a substantial legacy for modern Korea. A variety of objects—including painted screens, scrolls, calligraphy, furnishings, costumes, accessories, and ritual wares used in ancestral rites and Buddhist worship—explore the roles of king and court, the distinct spheres of men and women in society, and religious beliefs, all underpinned by the ideals of Confucianism. This is the first full-scale American exhibition to be devoted to art of the Joseon dynasty.
Exhibition Trailer
Comprised of more than 150 works drawn primarily from the National Museum of Korea's collection and supplemented by objects from public and private collections, Treasures from Korea presents American audiences with a rare opportunity to see some of Korea's artistic masterpieces, including a number designated as national treasures. The exhibition includes interactive displays of select objects, a free audio tour, and a family guide. In addition, a broad range of programs such as film screenings, family celebrations, performances, lectures, and dining events are offered throughout the run of the exhibition.
Themes
Symbols
Featured in the screen below are ten longevity symbols that express the universal wish for a long, healthy life. These symbols appear in many kinds of Korean art, including ceramics, furniture, embroidery, and metalworks. According to historical documents, Korean kings and their courtiers exchanged pictures of these auspicious symbols at the beginning of each new year. Such folding screens were placed behind the seat of the royal family during important ceremonies and banquets, serving as both an auspicious emblem and a lavish decoration. This particular screen was most likely produced for ceremonial use in the court.
Pine Tree
The pine tree is one of the most common symbols of longevity in East Asia. Because it remains green even in the harshest winters, it stands for resilience, endurance, and strength against adversity. Its gnarled bark was thought to resemble an old man's skin. A fourth-century Daoist text suggests that drinking the resin of a thousand-year-old pine will enable one to "live as long as the sun and the moon." The pine tree, bamboo, and plum tree are known as the Three Friends of Winter because they are evergreens.
Sun
The sun is identified with longevity because it rises in the sky each day, without fail. The sun and moon represent the complementary yet opposing forces of yang and yin, which animate the cosmos in East Asian philosophy. The sun is pure yang, the male principle of the universe that is light and active and generates life.
Crane
Cranes live a long time, some species as long as eighty years. In some Asian folktales they are said to live as long as five hundred years. Cranes mate for life, and therefore symbolize harmony, a wish for a long marriage, and respect for one's parents and ancestors. Cranes also signify promotion at court, as they appear in the rank badge of Joseon civil officials. In Daoism the crane symbolizes transcendence and serves as a means of transport to heaven.
Water
An almost universal symbol of life, fruitfulness, and abundance, water is linked to longevity across time. In Daoist philosophy, water is one of the five eternal elements—together with earth, fire, metal, and wood—that make up the cosmos. A section of the important Daoist text Dao De Jing reads, "Nothing under heaven is softer or more yielding than water; but when it attacks things hard and resistant there is not one of them that can prevail."
Cloud
As producers of rain, clouds sustain long life. In their swirling forms they contain the Daoist qi (chee), or breath of life. When their vapors gather around the mountaintops, they represent the uniting of yin and yang, soft and hard, changeability and permanence. The shape of clouds in some Joseon dynasty paintings, like this screen, resembles the form of the mushroom of immortality, reinforcing their connection to longevity.
Mountain
Mountains and rocks keep their shape forever. The breathing of mountains is believed to activate the universe. They are the abode of Eight Daoist Immortals and on them are said to grow the mushrooms of immortality. In Korea and China, important state rituals were conducted in the mountains, and the dominant mountain peak became the emblem of the emperor.
Deer
Nibbling as they do on forest vegetation, deer are believed to have a special talent for sniffing out the elusive mushroom of immortality that grows high in the mountains. They are frequently shown as the companion of Shou Lao, the Daoist god of longevity. Ground horn of deer has long been used for medicinal purposes in East Asia and is believed to promote health and long life. White Deer Lake on JeJu Island in Korea was said to be the place where immortals came "to bathe and drink in the milk of the white deer."
Mushroom
The sacred, cloud-shaped lingzhi mushroom grants immortality to those who eat it. This mushroom springs from the roots of trees that grow high in the mountains where the Daoist immortals live. According to legend, it can be found only by a deer, crane, or phoenix.
Turtle
Turtles are noted for their long life span. In addition, with their dome-shaped upper shell, flat lower shell, and legs in the four corners of their bodies, they were early emblems of the universe and the cardinal directions. In Korean mythology, the turtle is a messenger of good news in water, its counterpart being the tiger, the messenger in the mountains. In this screen, streams of breath emanate from the turtles' mouths, perhaps delivering their sacred messages.
Bamboo
Bamboo is one of the most versatile and abundant materials in East Asia, eaten by both humans and animals and used to make everything from houses to paper. It remains green throughout the four seasons and therefore symbolizes long life. Because it bends rather than breaks, bamboo also represents resilience, and its simple shape, humility. According to Confucian ideology, bamboo possesses the qualities of a great scholar: humility, uprightness, flexibility of mind, and grace.
The King and His Court
A line of twenty-seven kings ruled the Joseon dynasty during its 518-year history. Guided by Confucian philosophy, which emphasized personal virtue, a highly ordered system of social rank, and strict adherence to ritual practices, the Joseon court commissioned many works of art for ceremonial and commemorative purposes. Lavish screen paintings formed a backdrop for court rituals and formal occasions. Elaborately illustrated books known as royal protocols documented royal events in great detail. Ranging from imposing works of calligraphy by King Jeongjo (ruled 1776–1800) to the finest ceramics and costumes, the objects on view in this gallery demonstrate the functions and essential characteristics of the art of the Joseon court, as well as the court's role in shaping Korean art and culture.
Joseon Society
Joseon society was organized according to the strict social hierarchies prescribed by Confucian ideals. The four broad social classes included the nobility, both civilian and military; the middle class, composed of court painters, physicians, and other skilled professionals; commoners (mostly farmers); and the lower class, which included butchers, potters, and slaves. This societal structure contributed to a diverse visual culture, as artists and craftsmen responded to the needs and tastes of different patrons. The strict segregation of men and women of the middle and upper classes also contributed to artistic diversity. Men and women occupied separate sections of the residential complex and focused on different tasks: men pursued diligent study as a pathway to government office, and women ran the household and raised children. The design and function of furniture, crafts, and utilitarian objects used in men's and women's quarters highlight this distinction.
Ancestral Rituals and Confucian Values
Filial piety, respect for one's parents and ancestors, was an important aspect of Joseon Confucianism. Of the three most important relationships recognized by Confucianism (ruler and subject, parent and child, husband and wife), filial piety resonated most widely, in all levels of society. Ceremonies honoring the long line of deceased Joseon rulers dominated events of state. In private, families worshiped ancestors in their homes and at tomb sites. The successful performance of these rites was thought to ensure an ethically sound society and a secure home. The distinctive ceramic and metal wares produced for these rituals exhibit the simple and austere aesthetic appropriate for solemn occasions. Ritual furnishings and burial goods to be placed in tombs offer further evidence of the importance of devotion to ancestral spirits.
Buddhism in the Joseon Dynasty
Although Confucianism was the official state religion of the Joseon dynasty, Buddhism had existed on the Korean peninsula for nearly a millennium when the Joseon dynasty was established, and Buddhist practices continued under Joseon rule, albeit unofficially. Commoners and royals alike performed rituals at certain Buddhist temples and a considerable number of Buddhist sculptures and paintings were either commissioned by the royals or produced in homage to them. The paintings, sculptures, reliquaries, and ritual implements in this gallery attest to the vibrant traditions of Korean Buddhism that survived during the Joseon dynasty. A rare and monumental Buddhist banner hangs just outside this exhibition in the Museum's Great Stair Hall. For more than 350 years, it has served as the central object of worship during outdoor celebrations of the Buddha's birthday or the Yeongsanjae ritual (prayers offered for the deceased on the forty-ninth day after death).
The End of a Dynasty
Although the Joseon court exercised a policy of isolation from the outside world, Western ideas filtered into Korea through diplomatic contact with China and other channels. Elements of Western artistic styles, including single-point perspective, were reflected in Korean paintings as early as the 1700s. After the Joseon regime ratified a treaty with the United States in 1882, visitors from the West began to arrive, mostly diplomats and Protestant missionaries. The Joseon court also promoted its presence internationally by participating in World Expositions. This cultural exchange is evident in the objects in this gallery, from hyperrealistic portraits spurred by the introduction of photography to Western-style tableware and official dress implemented by Emperor Gojong (ruled 1863–1907), who proclaimed the start of the Korean Empire in 1897. The Joseon dynasty officially ended in 1910 with the Japanese occupation of Korea, but many of the cultural values and societal practices developed during the dynasty continue to influence Korean culture today.
Organizers
The exhibition is organized by the National Museum of Korea, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.