Enshrined by Yi Seonggye, founder of the Joseon dynasty, this sarira reliquary set bridges the art of the late Goryeo and early Joseon periods
The National Museum of Korea
These gold crown ornaments are among the 4,600 artifacts recovered during the excavation of King Muryeong's Tomb
Crown ornaments from the Tomb of King ...
In the Silla period, individuals with the highest status were buried wearing gold crowns adorned with dangling pendants
Dangling pendants for gold crowns
Decorated with pheasants and flower motifs, the jeogui was worn by Joseon queens on the most formal occasions
Jeogui, the most formal ceremonial robe of ...
The metallic sheen of the official hat, the harmony between the bright red and navy blue colors, and the ornate straw mats convey a degree of extravagance in the Portrait of Yi Haeung
Portrait of Yi Haeung, Regent Heungseon Daewongun
Even after more than 500 years, this document resonates with Yi Seonggye’s deep love and concern for his daughter
Inheritance Document of Yi Seonggye, founder of ...
This scroll marked the beginning of the tradition of “Hwanghwajip,” the practice of compiling and publishing poems that had been exchanged between Joseon officials and Ming envoys
Bongsa Joseon Changhwa Sigwon: Poems Exchanged by ...
This dazzling necklace is made from openwork gold beads, each consisting of fused gold rings with attached gold spangles, with a large curved jade as the main pendant.
Gold necklace from Noseo-ri 215 Beonji Tomb, ...
These two exceptional sarira reliquary sets each include a crystal sarira bottle, a gilt-bronze outer container, and an inner container shaped like a small palace
Sarira reliquaries from east and west stone ...
This seated bodhisattva statue was once displayed in Hansongsa Temple, located in a significant area for the legendary Silla military unit known as the Hwarang.
Stone bodhisattva from the site of Hansongsa ...
Embellished with garnet, glass, and intricate filigree design, this scabbard is believed to have been produced in Iran or Central Asia
Dagger and gold scabbard from Gyerim-ro Tomb ...
Album of Poems on “Eight Views of the Xiao and Xiang Rivers” exemplifies the unity of the three arts—painting, poetry, and calligraphy—in the early Joseon Dynasty.
Album of Poems on “Eight Views of ...
Why does this portrait depict Joseon official Choe Ikhyeon wearing a thick winter robe and a fur hat?
Portrait of Choe Ikhyeon
The Annotated Zizhi Tongjian came to be known as the definitive “textbook for government,” guiding Joseon kings on how to rule properly
Sajeongjeon Edition of The Annotated Zizhi Tongjian
With long, even proportions and meticulously placed stones, the pagodas from Galhangsa Temple exemplify the stylistic trends of the Unified Silla period
East and west stone pagodas from the ...
This vase exemplifies the Goryeo royal court’s exceptional taste for fine celadon.
Celadon Melon-shaped Bottle
An wrote this calligraphy work in March 1910, shortly before his death—and added his distinctive handprint.
An Junggeun, Calligraphy work of his final ...
Stored inside a granite casket, this urn is elaborately decorated with a stamped pattern of flowers and covered with an even coating of green glaze
Stone casket and funerary urn of the ...
Coated in luminous jade-colored glaze, these sanghyeong celadon vessels combine the beauty of artworks for appreciation with the function of household implements
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