Virtually explore the National Museum of Korea with Smarthistory as your guide
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The National Museum of Korea's website
Celadon Melon-shaped Bottle
This vase exemplifies the Goryeo royal court’s exceptional taste for fine celadon.
An Junggeun, Calligraphy work of his final message
An wrote this calligraphy work in March 1910, shortly before his death—and added his distinctive handprint.
Stone casket and funerary urn of the Unified Silla period
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
Celadon dragon-shaped ewer and celadon turtle-shaped ewer
Coated in luminous jade-colored glaze, these sanghyeong celadon vessels combine the beauty of artworks for appreciation with the function of household implements
Gold crown and gold belt from the north mound of Hwangnamdaechong Tomb
Hwangnamdaechong Tomb contained an impressive array of personal ornaments, rare imported items, and grave goods, including a queen's embellished gold crown and belt
Portrait of Yi Chae
Yi Chae stares straight out from the canvas, depicted in attire of a Neo-Confucian literati
Yi Myeonggi, Portrait of Kang Sehwang
With his proper attire and solemn posture, Kang Sehwang is the model of a dignified Joseon official.
Gold Earrings from the Double Burial in Bomun-dong, Gyeongju
Even after being buried for around 1500 years, the gold earrings still elicit gasps of amazement for their lustrous sheen and splendid decoration.
Cheonggu Gwanhaebang Chongdo, or “Map for the National Defense of Korea”
Cheonggu Gwanhaebang Chongdo, or “Map for National Defense of Korea,” records the locations of military bases throughout the Joseon Dynasty
Baekje stone Buddha and gilt-bronze bodhisattva from the temple site of Gunsu-ri, Buyeo
The Buddhist sculptures excavated at the temple site of Gunsu-ri are crucial for studying the early stages of Korean Buddhist sculpture.
Official Register from the late Goryeo period
The practice of collecting different information from a person depending on his social status carried over from the official registers of the late Goryeo period to those of the Joseon period
Celadon incense burner with lion cover and celadon incense burner with open work geometric design
The sheer variety of Goryeo celadon incense burners demonstrates how widespread the culture of incense burning was during the period.
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