Korean Celadon: Pottery of the Royals

Korean celadon is well known for its beauty and its artistic tradition.

The word celadon usually means green but it has been widely accepted as the term used for Korean pottery. Korean pottery is known as Korean celadon or Cheong-ja. Korean celadon is an art form that is rich in history. To distinguish it from the other types of pottery, they actually name it after the color of the pottery. Cheong-ja is of course the jade green pottery, it is called either celadon or green celadon. Bun-cheong is brown or light brown pottery and is sometimes called brown celadon. Baek-ja is white porcelain and is sometimes called white celadon just.

In the past, the color of the pottery was used exclusively by people of certain class. Cheong-ja was used by royalty, aristocrats and Buddhist monks during the Goryeo Dynasty. Bun-Cheong or brown porcelain emerged during the middle of the 15th century and was used by all classes of society. Needless to say, because it was used by almost everybody, it did not possess the delicate beauty nor the elegance that was associated with the Cheong-ja. The Baek-Ja or white porcelain appeared during the early part of the 16th century, and, like the Bun-Cheong, it was also used by the common people.

Korean pottery as an art was almost lost during the Japanese colonial period. Yes, pottery was still produced but it was of lower quality and was only meant for daily use and not as an art as it was known during the earlier days. During the Japanese colonial period, it was said that the Korean artisans were forcibly moved to Japan. These relocated artisans were partly responsible for the development of the art form in Japan. It was only during the mid-1950’s that the lost art of the Goryeo celadon was rediscovered by a group of Korean artisans.

Korean celadon will always remain as one of the best pottery or maybe the best in the world. Thanks to the revival of this once lost art, the world can still enjoy the beauty and magnificent craftsmanship and artistic designs enjoyed by the royals in history.

Grand Palaces in Seoul

More than six centuries ago, Seoul was made Korea’s capital by King Taejo, the founder of the Joseon Dynasty. Becoming the capital meant being transformed into the country’s hub for politics, economy and culture. In short, Seoul became the soul of Korea, a role it still retains to this day. With the passing of time, Seoul has undergone so much development and transformation attributed to the success of its economy. But amidst the glitter of its skyscrapers, high tech and modern structures, the legacy of its previous era has been well preserved. Numerous mega buildings towering above elegant and opulent Korean architecture of palaces and temples are a testament to the perfect blend of the old and new that makes the city enthralling.

The palaces in Seoul are incomparable; nothing comes close to their majestic and magnificent designs. Steeped in history these grand palaces namely, Changdeokgung; Changgyeonggung; Deoksugung; Gyeongbokgung; and Gyeonghuigung, were all built during the Joseon Dynasty. These palaces were built as monuments of the greatness of the various kings during their reign. Although some have been rebuilt and undergone a few renovations, the unique charm and beauty of Korean architecture as well as its rich heritage is still very much evident in these structures.

Changdeokgung
Changdeokgung or Changdeok Palace (gung in Korean means palace) which literally means “Palace of Prospering Virtue”, covers an area of 58 hectares and is the largest of the five royal palaces. It is also referred to as the East Palace because it lies east of another main palace, Gyeongbok Palace. Considered as the most Korean among the palaces, this is the only palace that preserves the architectural style of the Joseon Dynasty. A distinctive feature of Changdeokgung is that it was built to harmonize with nature as completely as possible and with minimum effect on the natural environment. Built in 1405 and was completed in 1412, the palace was burned down during the Japanese invasions and was partly rebuilt in 1611. Changdeokgung was inscribed in the Unesco World Heritage List 1997.

Changgyeonggung
Changgyeonggung or Changgyeong Palace was originally the Summer residence of the Goryeo Emperor and later included as one of the Grand Palaces of the Joseon Dynasty. Originally built as a “Suganggung” by King Sejong for his father Taejong, it was renovated in 1483 by King Seongjong, and was also renamed Changgyeonggung, a name it carried from then on. During the Japanese colonial period, the once royal palace was demoted to a mere garden and became part of a zoo. Moreover, the Japanese also decorated the ridge’s roof of the Injeongjeon (the royal audience chamber) with flower patterns; a very unusual pattern which they say was included by the Japanese to disgrace the royal family. The palace underwent renovation in 1987 to remove any traces of the Japanese colonial rule and to restore the old glory of the palace.

Deoksugung
Also known as Gyeonggungung, Deoksugung, or Deoksu Palace, was originally the residence of Prince Wolsan and became a royal residence during the Seven Year War, when the Japanese burnt all the other palaces to the ground in 1592. Deoksugung is a compound of palaces and is famous for its elegant stone-wall road. Its name, Deoksugung, literally means “The Palace of Virtuous Long Life”.

Gyeongbokgung


Gyeongbokgung or Gyeongbok Palace was first constructed in 1394, and served as the primary residence of the royal family. It is the largest of the Five Grand Palaces of the Joseon Dynasty. Also referred to as the Northern Palace because it is located in the northern part of the city, its name, Gyeongbokgung, literally means “Palace Greatly Blessed by Heaven”. Because all of the palaces were burnt to the ground during the Japanese invasion at the end of the 16th century, Gyeongbok was left neglected for the next 250 years and was only rebuilt in 1867, only to be destroyed again by the next Japanese invasion, of the 330 original buildings, only 10 were left intact. Since 1990, efforts to fully restore Gyeongbok to its former beauty and glory have been on-going.

Gyeonghuigung
Gyeonghui Palace or the “Palace of Serene Harmony”, is situated on the west side of Seoul, thus it was called Seogwol (a palace of the west) and served as the secondary palace for the king. A secondary palace usually serves as the King’s residence in troubled times or in time of emergency. Like many of the palaces in the past, Gyeonghui was also destroyed during the Japanese invasion and was rebuilt in the early 1990s.

Palaces may just be a boring structure for some, but, for most, just having the chance to experience and have a glimpse of the glorious past of the country is reason enough to trek to these places.

So, if you have the chance to go to Korea, aside from visiting the must see sites, why not include a stop-over to these palaces and be overwhelmed by the charm that bestows this Sparkling City, truly... Limitless Possibilities... that's Infinitely yours, SEOUL!!!

Happy Suwon

Located about 30 kilometers south of Seoul is Suwon, the provincial capital of Gyeonggi province. It is also the largest city in the province and is home to more than a million people, making it one of the most populated cities outside of Seoul.

Home to one of Korea’s leading brands, Samsung Electronics, Suwon is also the hometown of Manchester United’s Park Ji Sung, Korea’s most popular footballer. They actually named a street after him. One of only two athletes worldwide who I can remember of being given the distinction of having a street named after them while they are still alive, the other athlete is Michael Schumacher, who has a street named after him in his hometown in Germany.

Suwon is also known for its Galbi. It is said that the best Korean galbi is served in Suwon.

But most of all, Suwon is well known for its Hwaseong Fortress, its most notable attraction. You can see the fortress in almost all promotional materials of Suwon. Whether it be in print, TV or in the internet, it is almost impossible not to see Hwaseong. Hwaseong Fortress is a fortified wall which used to encircle the entire city. It was built by Joseon emperor Jeongjo to honor his deceased father, Sado Seja, in 1794. It has four gates Paldalnum Gate; Hwaseomun Gate; Janganmun Gate and Changnyongmun Gate.

Paldalnum Gate is positioned in the southern part of the fortress. The existing Paldalnum Gate is just a reconstruction of the original gate which was burnt down during the Korean War. On the right wall of the gate is a nameplate bearing all the names of the people who were associated in building the gate. Of the four gates, Paldalnum is the only gate located in the middle of the busy streets of Suwon. Hwaseomun Gate on the other hand is located at the western side of the fortress. Janganmun Gate is on the north side while Changnyongmun is located on the east side.

Hwaseong Fortress was declared Historical Site Number 3 by the Korean government and was inscribed in the Unesco World Heritage List in 1997.

Another must not to be missed site in Suwon is the Haenggung Palace within Hwaesong Fortress. Haenggung was a temporary retreat place for the kings, way back then. It was considered the king’s R & R (rest and recreation) area. The largest shelter built in all the palaces, it is located at the foot of the Hwaseong fortress.

Hope you have a great time in Suwon. As they say…. Happy Suwon!!!

Kimchi

Talk of Korean food and I’m pretty sure that the first thing that will come to your mind is kimchi. Kimchi is the most popular food associated with Korea. Kimchi is a fermented vegetable dish which comes in different varieties, more than 160 varieties to be exact, and is prepared differently depending on the ingredients used, the time of year it was made, and, what region it came from. It is a regular mainstay in every Korean meal and is the most common pancham or side dish. However, kimchi is more than a side dish as it is combined with other ingredients to make other popular Korean dishes, such as kimchi jjigae, kimchi pancakes and kimchi fried rice.

Accordingly, the name kimchi is believed to have evolved from the word ji, which then became chimchae, literally meaning soaked vegetables, then dimchae, timchae, jimchi, and finally kimchi.

During the ancient times, kimchi was made of only cabbage and beef stock, a far cry from what it has evolved into these days, it was only during the 12th century that people begun adding several spices and seasoning. And in the 18th century, the red chili pepper finally became a major ingredient in kimchi.

A lot of vegetable can be made into kimchi, but the most popular variety is that made of cabbage or what they call baechu. Standard seasoning for kimchi include brine, scallions and seasonings. Other seasonings such as ginger, onions, fish sauce and fresh seafood are the most commonly used.

Although kimchi can be found in the entire Korean peninsula, its taste and appearance differs from region to region. Kimchi from the northern part tends to have less salt, less red chilli and usually no brined seafood for seasoning, and its consistency is more watery as compared to that of the other regions. While kimchi from the southern part is usually the opposite of how they prepare it in the north, it uses more salt, chili peppers and brined seafood (it may be brined anchovy or brined shrimp which is allowed to ferment).

Chungcheong is said to have the greatest varieties of kimchi while the saltiest and spiciest kimchi comes from Gyeongsan.

During the early parts of winter, Koreans celebrate what they call Gimjang, an age-old tradition of making kimchi for the coldest winter months. Usually done during the latter part of October or early November, it is considered a big event that close relatives, several neighbor housewives, and men help in this activity.

A Kimchi Festival is also held annually in Gwangju. Started in 1994, the festival highlights Korea’s kimchi culture and is usually conducted every October or November. During the festival, which lasts for several days, visitors are given the opportunity to make, taste, and buy kimchi products. Cultural presentations are also part of this festival.

Due to its health benefits, the popularity of kimchi has been steadily growing worldwide. Since it is made of various vegetables, kimchi is low in calorie yet rich in dietary fiber. It is also rich in Vitamins A, B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), C, calcium and iron, and also contains lactic acid.

Kimchi, definitely a Korean dish.