Evolution and Change of Identity of Porcelain of Munkyeong Area in the Second Half of the 20th Century

This study analyzes in which social and culture circumstance porcelains of Mungyeong area formed new identity. In Mungyeong area, there were many artisans who made traditional porcelain, especially containers for a long time.After the Korean war, artisans felt difficulty in making money because of the influx of the alternative containers. although they earned the living by making flower pots, chamber pots and traditional black glazed celadon, artisans reached the limit and traditional craft of porcelain was in danger of disappearing entirely.Porcelains of Mungyeong area met turning point by influx of Japanese aficionados and art dealers. Bowls made by Joseon artisans were called ‘Korea tea bowl’ in Japan, made works designated for national treasure. To meet the increasing demands, Japanese aficionados asked Mungyeong’s artisans to represent their ideal tea bowl. Artisans applied traditional craft or learned new technology to grant the request from them, and made new sort of porcelain.The following facts can be found through changes in the type and identity of porcelains in the Mungyeong area. First, traditional technology holders responded independently to survive in modern society. Second, they did not just follow the skills of the past learned from their father or teacher, but applied them as necessary to lay the foundation for various models as they are today. Third, it is true that there was an external intervention such as a Japanese aficionado until porcelains in Mungyeong had the same complex identity as they do now, but the efforts of fraudsters also played a major role. Thanks to the struggle of Kim Jeong-ok and Cheon Han-bong, who wanted to protect the family business by producing chamber pot and potted plants instead of disappearing into the back of history, models made in Mungyeong area were diversified, which led to a change in identity. The multifaceted identity of porcelains in the Mungyeong area cannot be reduced to one factor, and it is created by complex interaction of several elements. If you pay attention to this fact, you can understand how the two elements, the preservation of traditional technology and the ‘invented’ traditional product, coexist to form a multifaceted identity.