This study aimed at examining the characteristics and actual state of Yanggak(embossed carving) white porcelain in the late Joseon dynasty by looking into manufacturing techniques and production background of the porcelain which newly appeared in the ...
This study aimed at examining the characteristics and actual state of Yanggak(embossed carving) white porcelain in the late Joseon dynasty by looking into manufacturing techniques and production background of the porcelain which newly appeared in the late Joseon dynasty and investigating all its aspects through the analysis of every kind of it and patterns on it.
To begin with, embossment techniques were divided into four categories by manufacturing techniques for patterns which is now called Yanggak: Jogak Yanggak(彫刻陽刻) in which the background of patterns is removed; Apchul Yanggak(壓出陽刻) in which the shapes and patterns of the porcelain are printed at the same time using the clay mold; Cheophwa Yanggak(貼花陽刻) to which separately produced patterns are attached; Toehwa Yanggak(堆花陽刻) in which patterns are employed like drawing pictures using mud(白泥) which is less dense than soil. Furthermore, Toehwa Yanggak(堆花陽刻) can be divided into Yanggak by using a brush and Yanggak by using tube by the kind of tools employed. Precedents in China and Japan involving the techniques were examined as well.
How Yanggak white porcelain began to be produced in the late Joseon dynasty can be explained in three stages. In the recognition stage, envoys in Yeonheng-sa(燕行使) or Tongshin-sa(通信使) recognized China's and Japan's Yanggak techniques and imported Yanggak white porcelains to Joseon via a variety of channels. Then in the acquirement stage, the porcelain was sought and acquired by high class people. In the expanding production stage, and Chungchae(靑彩) and Gapbeon(匣燔) Prohibition announced in the 19th year of King Jeongjo(正祖)'s reign offered an opportunity to expand production of Yanggak white porcelain which had been produced in small quantity. Especially, concerning the informal inflow channels, the study made a new suggestion that Yanggak white porcelain in southern China, China was imported into Joseon. The suggestion is based on the fact that Yanggak white porcelains produced in klins of Dehwa(德化窯) and zhangzhou(章州窯), Fujian(福建省), China have something in common with the ones produced in the Joseon dynasty and that lots of merchants from Fujian drifted into Joseon and merchant ships passed though Joseon. Moreover, among Chungchae(靑彩) and Gapbeon(匣燔) Prohibitions announced during King Jeongjo(正祖)'s reign, severe admonition in 1795 offered an opportunity to expand the production of Yanggak white porcelain which had been produced in small quantity. In the study, Yanggak white porcelains were categorized into tableware, dishes used in religious services, stationery, and other porcelain items and then the aspects of each kind, shape and pattern were examined. The examination found Yanggak white porcelains were used in various areas and each kind had peculiar characteristics. Yanggak white porcelains were largely used as bottles in tableware and dishes for religious services, as Chinese ink water containers in stationery, and as jars in other porcelain items. Concerning the shape and pattern of Yanggak white porcelain, the similarities and differences with the porcelain made of different materials and white porcelain with blue underglaze decoration were discussed. In addition, an analysis of the relationships among Chinese, Korean and Japanese Yanggak white porcelains was performed through the comparison of the shapes and patterns of the three nations' porcelains of the same period. In the analysis of Yanggak patterns, the patterns were categorized by subject matters, and then investigation was conducted to examine how the same subject matters of patterns can be expressed differently according to the shape of the porcelain. Moreover, the study attempted to deal with cultural aspects of the subject matters of patterns as they were considered to have gone through conscious and unconscious selection process based on cultural taste.
Lastly, considering everything above, the study presented the characteristics and the changes in style of Yanggak white porcelain. The changes in style were divided into three periods according to decoration taste of the porcelain in the late Joseon dynasty. During the first period, certain shapes and patterns of porcelains imported from China were selected and copied in small quantity. Later in 1795 Prohibition by King Jeongjo offered an opportunity to expand the production of Yanggak white porcelain. During the second period, the shapes and pattern materials of Yanggak white porcelain became diversified and the porcelain began to be produced actively to meet the demand of high class people at home. In addition, with respect to Yanggak techniques, Cheophwa Yanggak(貼花陽刻) and Toehwa Yanggak(堆花陽刻)as well as the existing Jogak Yanggak(彫刻陽刻) and Apchul Yanggak(壓出陽刻) were aggressively utilized. When it comes to the kind of the porcelain, tableware, dishes for religious services such as bottles, cups and incense burners, and stationery were largely used. With regard to the shape of the porcelain, new shapes like Gyeyeongbae(戒盈杯) appeared in great numbers. As for the patterns, new patterns like animal pattern were introduced as the existing patterns of plum blossom, bamboo, ten symbols of longevity and characters were being used widely. Given that Yanggak white porcelain considered to have been produced in the second period shows good quality, it is presumed that the consumers of Yanggak white porcelain in the second period were still confined to high class people. During the third period, while porcelains with the existing shapes and pattern continued to be produced, the demand expanded to include lower class people, producing both high quality porcelains and low quality porcelains. The porcelains for ordinary people copied the shapes and patterns of the existing high quality Yanggak white porcelains. Whereas, the ones for high class people showed new shapes and patterns, while maintaining the existing style. In addition, literary men also participated in the production of the porcelain directly or indirectly through their literary works.
In conclusion, this study attempted to understand Yanggak white porcelain in detail by examining it in terms of manufacturing techniques, style, Korea' relation with neighboring nations and culture.