7th century
Roof Tile with a Lotus Blossom
Artist/maker unknownImage 1 of 21 / 2
The majority of extant Korean roof tiles are either flat (female) or curved (male). These two shapes were joined together to create large, overhanging eaves that often extended several feet beyond the walls of a structure. To finish the roof, decorative tiles, such as this piece with a lotus blossom, were affixed to the eave endings. Upon the introduction of Buddhism to the Korean peninsula in the fourth century, the lotus, a symbol of purity in Buddhism, became the most popular decorative motif.
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