Gwangju National Museum

This gallery is dedicated to presenting Korean ceramics within the broader context of the development of Asian ceramics culture and also provides a showcase for relics recovered from the Sinan shipwreck. The first section introduces the development of Korean ceramics from celadon to buncheong and white porcelain in conjunction with the social and cultural history of the related times. Objects are displayed according to their use under the sub-themes of “Tea Culture,” “Literati Culture,” “Ritual Culture,” and “Auspiciousness Culture.” The second section features Sinan relics, including trade commodities such as ceramics (the greatest proportion of the shipwreck findings), metalware, and red sandalwood that was carried on the vessel. It also features objects presumed to have been used by the people on board. The third section introduces ceramics from China, Vietnam, and Japan to help highlight and explain the characteristics unique to each nation as well as the similarities and differences with Korean examples. The fourth and final section, “Science in Ceramics,” presents the results of an experiment on producing buncheong vessels using clay obtained on the mountain behind the museum, offering explanations of the differences in the composition and properties of diverse ceramic materials.