This dissertation, A Cross-Cultural Study on Korean–Chinese Lacquer Art Exchange,investigates the historical development and contemporary dynamics of lacquer art in Chinaand Korea. Taking lacquer craftsmanship as a central component of the East Asia...
This dissertation, A Cross-Cultural Study on Korean–Chinese Lacquer Art Exchange,investigates the historical development and contemporary dynamics of lacquer art in Chinaand Korea. Taking lacquer craftsmanship as a central component of the East Asian craftculture system, the study examines how political institutions, ritual traditions, and aestheticideologies have shaped the mechanisms of cross-cultural transmission, adaptation, andreconstruction across different historical periods. The research aims to elucidate theformation and contemporary significance of the “East Asian Lacquer Cultural Sphere” byintegrating diachronic and synchronic perspectives
Methodologically, this study employs literature analysis, comparative research, fieldinvestigation, and case studies. Through archaeological materials and textual sources fromthe Han to the Tang–Song periods, the dissertation analyzes the earliest dissemination ofChinese lacquer techniques—including multilayer coating, gilding, luodian (mother-of-pearlinlay), and pingtuo (flat inlay)—to the Korean Peninsula. It further illustrates how thesetechniques were localized and transformed within the artistic practices of the Goryeo andJoseon dynasties. The stylistic development of Goryeo dancheol luodian and thestandardized ritual lacquer vessels of Joseon demonstrates the interactive relationshipbetween technology, ritual functions, and aesthetic formation in early Sino–Korean lacquerexchange.
The study also examines the impact of modernization on lacquer art during the twentiethcentury. In China, lacquer evolved from traditional craft to an academic discipline,reinforced by the establishment of a modern educational system centered on the CentralAcademy of Arts and Crafts (now Qsinghua University). Korea, shaped by colonial-erapolicies and postwar reconstruction, developed a dual system combining living crafts andtraditional restoration. Comparative analysis of curricular structures and pedagogical modelsreveals both institutional distinctions and complementary educational values. Collaborativeinitiatives between the Korea Lacquer Artists Association and the China Lacquer PaintingArt Committee further demonstrate the role of academic and exhibition-based cooperationin promoting the internationalization of lacquer art.
In the contemporary era, the dissertation analyzes artistic exchange through jointexhibitions, academic forums, and collaborative creation, including the Korea–ChinaLacquer Art Academic Exchange Exhibition, the Busan–Qsinghua Collaborative Exhibition,and the Tongyeong School programs. These cases illustrate how shared materialvocabularies and aesthetic languages foster new forms of cross-cultural artistic synthesisand reinforce lacquer art as a medium of regional cultural identity.
Finally, the study addresses current issues of heritage preservation, digital documentation,and cultural-creative development. Through comparison of China’s intangible culturalheritage (ICH) framework and digital archive initiatives with Korea’s Intangible CulturalProperty Holder System, the research identifies differing models for integrating heritageprotection with contemporary design innovation.
This dissertation concludes that Sino–Korean lacquer art exchange represents not only aprocess of technological transmission but also a profound cultural interaction shaped bysymbolism, identity, and evolving regional aesthetics. The findings provide theoreticalinsights and practical implications for the modernization of traditional crafts, digital heritagepreservation, and the advancement of international cultural communication.