Korean Dragon Jar

Sweeping through the sky, this playful dragon bends its curving serpent body up and down and back and forth around the jar on which it is whimsically painted. Korea has long been influenced by China, its large and powerful neighbor to the west. Yet this small peninsular country has kept its own artistic character. Follow the dragon to find out what makes this ceramic vessel uniquely Korean. Korea, Choson dynasty Dragon Jar, 18th century Porcelain with underglaze iron decor Gift of Louis W. Hill, Jr.

Adopted and Adapted Chosen for the Choson A Delightful Dragon

Art Collector: Use the Art Collector feature of ArtsConnectEd to see more ceramics from Korea. Try reorganizing them by date, dynasty, shape, or decoration. Add to the collection by finding similar works of art from other countries in Asia. How might these pieces have influenced (or been influenced by) Korean ceramics? Click here to access the collection. Click here to learn more about Art Collector.

Symbols of Power and Luck: To Koreans, dragons symbolize power and good fortune. What creatures do people in other parts of the world associate with these desires? Make a list and draw a picture of your favorite. Include details and features that connect that creature with power and luck.

The Art of Korea: Visit the Minneapolis Institute of Arts online resource The Art of Asia to see more Korean art and learn about Korean history. Click here to download a PDF map of Korea from The Art of Asia site.

World Ceramics: Learn about ceramics around the world through the Minneapolis Institute of Arts online resource World Ceramics.

Suggested Reading: Carpenter, Frances. Tales of a Korean Grandmother: 32 Traditional Tales from Korea. 1947. North Clarendon, Vt.: Tuttle Publishing, 1989. Carus, Marianne. Fire and Wings: Dragon Tales from the East and West. Chicago: Cricket Books, 2002. Han, Heung-Gi. Let's Visit Korea. Elizabeth, N.J.: Hollym International Corporation, 2006. Hill, Valerie. Korea. Ask about Asia series. Broomall, Pa.: Mason Crest Publishers, 2002. McClure, Gillian. The Land of the Dragon King and Other Korean Stories. London: Frances Lincoln, 2008.

January 2010