Jeontongjagidogong (Baekja Master Artisan)

Jeontongjagidogong (Baekja Master Artisan) denotes a person, or the technique, who makes porcelain by traditional methods. Korea had made and used earthenware from the Neolithic period on, and in the early 10th century it adopted ceramic techniques from China's Tang dynasty to produce inlaid celadon. Celadon production later declined owing to the Mongol invasions, and in the early Joseon period the production of buncheong ware and Joseon white porcelain flourished. However, during the Japanese invasions beginning in 1592, kilns were destroyed and many potters were taken to Japan, so that ceramic skills went into decline; fortunately the royal kiln at Gwangju survived as the sole remaining kiln, and it became the mainstream centre carrying on the tradition of Joseon white porcelain. The process of making traditional porcelain runs through clay preparation, shaping, carving, glazing and firing. In the clay-preparation stage, stone is crushed to powder, mixed with dissolved clay, refined through a levigation process to remove impurities, and the resulting base clay is then kneaded. The kneaded clay is placed on a potter's wheel and shaped; once shaping is finished it is dried and patterns are carved into it with a knife. It is then bisque-fired, coated with glaze, and given a final firing to complete the piece. Tools used include the potter's wheel, a wooden mallet, a shaping paddle, a turning device, a wet-leather scraper, iron and wooden ribs for shaping, and a carving knife. Jeontongjagidogong was designated a Provincial Intangible Heritage in order to protect and hand down this traditional craft technique, which expresses the beauty of Korean ceramics. Jang Song-mo of Gangwon Province, who trained in traditional ceramic-making techniques, is carrying the tradition forward through his founding of the Gangwon Ceramic Culture Research Association.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Hoengseong, Gangwon

Designation

Provincial Intangible Heritage · 시도무형유산