Main content
Course: Art of Asia > Unit 3
Lesson 7: Joseon dynasty (1392–1897)- The Joseon dynasty (1392–1910)
- Inheritance Document of Yi Seonggye, founder of the Joseon Dynasty
- Album of Poems on “Eight Views of the Xiao and Xiang Rivers”
- Bongsa Joseon Changhwa Sigwon: Poems Exchanged by Joseon Officials and Ming Envoys
- Portrait of Sin Sukju
- Four Preaching Buddhas
- Sajeongjeon Edition of The Annotated Zizhi Tongjian
- White porcelain moon jars
- Moon jar
- Buncheong Jar with cloud and dragon design
- Blue-and-white Porcelain Jar with Plum, Bamboo, and Bird Design
- Yun Baek-ha, a calligraphic handscroll
- Kim Hongdo, album of genre paintings
- Yi Che-gwan, Portrait of a Confucian scholar
- Yun Du-seo, Portrait of Sim Deukgyeong
- Portrait of Kang Sehwang
- Yi Myeonggi and Kim Hongdo, Portrait of Seo Jiksu
- Portrait of Yi Chae
- Kim Jeonghui’s calligraphy of Kim Yugeun’s Autobiography of Mukso
- Chaekgeori-type screen
- Portrait of Yi Haeung, Regent Heungseon Daewongun
- Jar with tiger and magpie
- Gujangbok, a ceremonial robe symbolizing the king’s prestige
- Jeogui: the most formal ceremonial robe of the Joseon queens
- Jeong Sanggi, Dongguk Daejido (“Complete Map of the Eastern Country”)
- Cheonggu Gwanhaebang Chongdo, or “Map for the National Defense of Korea”
- Kim Jeongho, woodblocks of Daedongnyeojido (“Territorial Map of the Great East”)
- Royal palaces of Seoul
- Confucian scholar's house
- Nine Cloud Dream
- Conservation: Korean lacquer
- Dhratarastra, Guardian King of the East
© 2024 Khan AcademyTerms of usePrivacy PolicyCookie Notice
Yun Baek-ha, a calligraphic handscroll
by The British Museum
Calligraphy has always been regarded as one of the highest forms of art in East Asia. Poetry, calligraphy and painting were known as the 'Three Treasures' and upheld as virtuous activities for the scholar.
During the eighteenth century, calligraphy was dominated by Yun Sun (1680–1741) and his pupil Yi Kwang-sa. They both worked mostly in the style of the Chinese calligrapher Wang Xizhi (321 B.C.E.–79 C.E.). The calligraphy on this handscroll is a Buddhist sūtra. The fact that a scholar wrote out a Buddhist sūtra reflects the fact that Buddhism had survived despite the official disapproval of Buddhism by orthodox Confucians throughout the Choson/Joseon period (1392–1910).
At the end of the scroll, on the left-hand side, is a in smaller calligraphy written by the foremost calligrapher of the nineteenth century, Sin Wi (1768–1845). Sin Wi was a statesman who served as Vice-Minister of Board of Rites and was an accomplished exponent of the 'Three Treasures'.
This handscroll is an extremely valuable example of Korean calligraphy; there is even evidence that it belonged to the Choson royal family, in the partially-obliterated seal at the top right corner.
Additional resources:
J. Portal, Korea - art and archaeology (London, The British Museum Press, 2000)
© The Trustees of the British Museum