Korea's Neolithic and Bronze Age art reveals a fascinating evolution of culture and technology. From the intricate comb-pattern pottery to the plain Mumun ware, these ceramics reflect changing lifestyles and agricultural practices.
Impressive funerary monuments like dolmens and Goguryo-style tombs showcase ancient Koreans' beliefs about the afterlife. Bronze artifacts, including mirrors and daggers, highlight their metalworking skills and growing social complexity.
Neolithic Pottery in Korea
Comb-Pattern Pottery and Jeulmun Period
- Comb-pattern pottery developed during the early Neolithic Jeulmun period (8000-1500 BCE) in Korea
- Created by pressing or dragging a comb-like tool into the surface of the wet clay before firing
- Resulted in distinctive parallel lines and geometric patterns on the pottery surface
- Jeulmun period pottery is characterized by its deep bowls with pointed bottoms and wide mouths
- Pottery was used for cooking, storage, and serving food (fish, shellfish, nuts, and wild plants)
Mumun Pottery Development
- Mumun pottery emerged during the late Neolithic period (1500-300 BCE) in Korea
- Named after the lack of surface decoration compared to earlier comb-pattern pottery ("mumun" means "no pattern" in Korean)
- Characterized by plain, undecorated surfaces and more diverse shapes (jars, cups, and bowls)
- Reflects a shift in subsistence patterns from hunting and gathering to agriculture
- Coincided with the introduction of rice cultivation and the establishment of settled farming communities
Funerary Monuments and Tombs
Dolmen Structures
- Dolmens are megalithic tomb structures built during the Neolithic and Bronze Age periods in Korea
- Consist of two or more large stone slabs supporting a flat capstone to create a chamber
- Used for collective burials and often contained grave goods (pottery, stone tools, and jewelry)
- Dolmens are found throughout the Korean Peninsula, with concentrations in the western and southern regions
- Reflect the emergence of social hierarchy and the importance of ancestor worship in ancient Korean society
Goguryo-Style Tombs
- Goguryo-style tombs developed during the Three Kingdoms period (57 BCE-668 CE) in Korea, particularly in the Goguryo kingdom
- Characterized by their large, mounded earth structures with stone chambers and corridors
- Tombs were built for the elite class, including kings, nobles, and high-ranking officials
- Interior walls of the tombs were often decorated with colorful murals depicting daily life, mythological scenes, and the afterlife
- Famous examples include the Anak Tomb No. 3 and the Gangseo Daemyo Tomb, which showcase the artistic and architectural achievements of the Goguryo period
Bronze Age Artifacts
Bronze Mirrors and Their Significance
- Bronze mirrors were popular luxury items during the Korean Bronze Age (1000-300 BCE)
- Consisted of a polished bronze disc with a handle or knob on the back for holding
- Often decorated with intricate geometric patterns, animal motifs, and mythological scenes
- Mirrors were believed to have religious and symbolic significance, possibly used in shamanic rituals or as status symbols
- Reflects the advanced metalworking techniques and artistic skills of ancient Korean craftsmen
- Mandolin-shaped daggers, named after their resemblance to the musical instrument, were a distinctive type of bronze weapon in ancient Korea
- Characterized by their broad, leaf-shaped blades and short, circular pommels
- Liaoning-style daggers, named after the Liaoning region in northeastern China, were another type of bronze weapon found in Korea
- Distinguished by their slender, triangular blades and animal-shaped pommels (birds, horses, or dragons)
- Both types of daggers were used as weapons and ceremonial objects, reflecting the increasing social stratification and military power of the Korean Bronze Age societies