GyeongGi-Do ::

Gwangju Bunwon Royal Porcelain Museum_Korea Gyeonggi-do

I want a Moon-jar which does not catch the eye or fit in anywhere.

In the Joseon period, there was a type of white porcelain which had the spirit of Joseon, similar to celadon porcelain in the Goryeo Period. You can feel a scholarly spirit in the simple and graceful white porcelain. Ceramics show that things can resemble humans. It makes me greedy.

Passing by children swinging besides a poplar, enter the forest following the milestone to the Bunwon Royal Porcelain Museum. Established on the site of the last royal kilns of the Joseon Period, the Bunwon Royal Porcelain Museum is an information resource center on white porcelain following the Bunwon-ri royal kiln excavation in 2001 and 2002. In order to preserve the relics that remain underground, the old school building that stood on this site was remodeled and opened as the Bunwon Royal Porcelain Museum. The Bunwon Royal Porcelain Museum will help you understand the history of the Bunwon kilns and reflect on the meaning and value of Joseon white porcelain.

The Bunwon Royal Porcelain Museum is a cultural place in which you can aquaint yourself with the Joseon period spirit through the ceramics of that time. We call all the places making ceramics for the Joseon Dynasty, Bunwon. These were places with excellent soil, plentiful pine trees and good transportation via waterways. When entering the Bunwon Royal Porcelain Museum, exhibits of soil from throughout the centuries overwhelm visitors. Soil from the time of the 13th king of Joseon Dynasty, Yeongjo, to 1923, is exhibited showing the layers of time and history. Below that, pieces of white porcelain are scattered in the ground.

Broken porcelain pieces were often discovered in the elementary school playground.

In order to preserve the relics that remain underground, the old school building that stood on this site was remodeled and opened as the Bunwon Royal Porcelain Museum. While building Paldangdam, a kiln in which Royal Porcelain was made was discovered by accident. In front of the Bunwon Royal Porcelain Museum, a straight and tall tree welcomes you, intimating how old the school is. A simple and practical pavilion covered with cotton conveys the simplicity of white porcelain.

Bunwon is a kiln in which royal porcelain is made with techniques passed down from the Joseon Dynasty. The whole of the Gwangju-si Bunwon-ri area used to be used for kilns.

The most famous and popular white porcelain in Bunwon-ri is blue-and-white porcelain.

After the Imjin War, cobalt was imported into Korea. After the 19th king of the Josen Dynasty, Sukjong, much more blue-and-white porcelain was made compared to Joseon white porcelain. Kilns were frequently moved as the firewood in an area was exhausted. Then they moved to where new sources of firewood were available. The primary reasons for this area becoming famous for white porcelain were: a waterway, pine trees for firewood, kilns and the soil. The method of manufacturing royal porcelain differs to other types of porcelain. A model of the process of making white porcelain is exhibited so that you can compare it with the Japanese and Chinese methods. The traditional Korean porcelain was made in accordance with a complicated process. During the process of baking, the porcelain shrinks to about 30 percent of its original size.

The graceful and beautiful pattern of white porcelain engenders in people a feelng for the hands of the artisan. Some 15 th century white porcelain sold for 4 billion KRW while other white porcelain brought a bid of about 10 billion KRW at Christie's in 1994.

Bunwon Village, full of things to eat, see, and enjoy

In Gwangju, you can enjoy the day in various ways. Drive to Yangpyeong along Paldang Lake; Enjoy steamed crucian carp at the Steamed Crucian Carp Festival in May (20% discount price during the festival); See the Bunwon Royal Porcelain Museum, The Museum of Face, the Historic Site of Dasan Jeong Yakyong near Paldang Lake. In Yangpyeong see the Dr. Park Gallery which is run by the present doctor, the Batanggol Art Museum which has many activities or Hill House where you can relax watching the Namhan River etc.