East Asian Art Kaos Made in Korea, Asia2001 Yoon Kwang-cho, Korean, born 1946 Glazed stoneware with white slip and inlaid decoration Currently not on view 2003-134-1 Gift of the artist, 2003 |
LabelThis piece pays tribute to the Korean language Han'gùl. The artist's inlaid inscription is a quote from the Hunmin chòngùm (Proper Sounds to Instruct the People), the edict issued in 1446 by King Sejong (ruled 1418-1450) in which he presented a Korean alphabet that would provide an easy means of expressing thoughts in writing. Until then, no written system of the Korean language existed (the educated elite had been using Chinese characters to write). |
