Folding Screen: Painting of Chongseok Pavilion (Baeknapbyeongpung: Chongseokjeongdo)
Gyeomjae Jeong Seon / 18th century / Ink and light watercolor on paper and silk / Korea University Museum

Drawn by Gyeomjae Jeong Seon, an eight-panel folding screen with 23 small pieces and images, one of which is Chongseokjeongdo (a painting of Chongseok Pavilion and its surroundings). The pavilion is located on the beach in Chongseok-ri, Gojeo-eup, Tongcheon-gun, Gangwon-do (currently part of North Korea). It was widely used as a theme of paintings during the Joseon Dynasty. “Chongseok Pavilion” means a pavilion built on densely packed stone pillars overlooking the sea. The pavilion was built on columnar joints made of solidified lava flows sculpted by rain, wind and waves over a long period of time, which formed a cluster of hexagonal or octagonal pillars.

Painting Album of Bukwan Yujeok 1 (Bukwan Yujeok Docheop 1: Yayeonsajundo)
Yayeonsajundo is a painting depicting an anecdote about Kim Jong-seo from the reign of King Sejong of the Joseon Dynasty, who defeated the Yeojin tribes from the north and expanded the kingdom’s northernmost borders. The painting is based on a story of Kim not being frightened when an arrow hits a wine barrel at an evening banquet, which shows Kim’s bravery and composure.

Painting Album of Bukwan Yujeok 2 (Bukwan Yujeok Docheop 2: Suchaekgeojeokdo)
Artist unknown / Ink and watercolor on paper / 41.2×31cm / Korea University Museum

Suchaekgeojeokdo is a painting depicting an anecdote about Yi Sun-sin (1545-1598) prior to the outbreak of the Imjin War. In 1587 (the 20th year of King Seonjjo’s reign), Jeong Eon-shin (1527-1591) established a dunjeon in Nokdundo, in other words land cultivated to provide food for the troops stationed nearby, the management of which was overseen by Yi. The painting depicts Yi protecting the farmers and defending the farmland against foreign intruders who sought to loot the harvest in the Fall.

Porcelain Jars from Haeju
Korea University Museum

Porcelain jars produced in Haeju, Hwanghae Province. After the Japanese forcibly dismantled Bunwon during the period of colonial rule, a number of kilns were produced throughout the Korean peninsula modeled on the official court kilns of the Joseon Dynasty, where porcelain items imitating those that had been produced at Bunwon were produced. Haeju had been known for pottery production, as it has abundant resources such as high-quality white clay, and a long history of trading with China. In particular, large earthenware jars were produced in Haeju kilns, which were larger than the official court kilns and those of the southern regions. Although undervalued compared to white porcelain, utilitarian porcelain jars from Haeju, with bright and bold cobalt patterns, were a means of demonstrating the wealth of members of the upper class who owned them.

Map of Korea: Hamgyeong Province (Dongguke Yeodo: Hamgyeongdo)
Korea University Museum

A collection of maps of the Korean peninsula produced in the first half of the 19th century, comprising seven volumes. Each volume includes a Jeondo (a map of the entire Korean peninsula) and maps of counties and prefectures within each province. The above image is of a district (Gyeongheungbu) in Hamgyeong Province.

Map of the Korean Peninsula Depicted as a Tiger (Geunyeokgangsan Maenghogisangdo)
Artist unknown / Watercolor on paper / 46×80.3cm / Korea University Museum

This map of the Korean peninsula exudes the spirit of a tiger roaring at the continent. The Japanese imperialists depicted the Korean peninsula as a rabbit standing on two legs and jumping towards China. Traditionally, the geography of a country was never compared to an animal. However, in response to the overt disparagement and degradation on the part of the Japanese imperialists in Joseon, Yukdang Choi Nam-seon portrayed Korea as a brave tiger roaring in his book Questions and Answers on the General Knowledge of Joseon (Joseon Sangsik Mundap), which is reflected in the map of the Korean peninsula depicted as a tiger. This map has come to symbolize the strong national spirit of the Korean people.