'Baekja Donghwa Maegukmun Bottle' National Treasure Status Revoked: "Chinese Work... No Rarity"

Yuan Dynasty Porcelain 'Yurihong' Resembles... "Does Not Meet National Treasure Designation Criteria"

White Porcelain Vase with Copper-painted Plum and Chrysanthemum Design

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jong-gil] The designation of the ‘Baekja Donghwa Maegukmun (銅畵梅菊文) Bottle’ at the National Museum of Korea as a National Treasure is set to be canceled. This is due to repeated assessments that it is not an early Joseon white porcelain. On the 29th, the Cultural Heritage Administration announced that it will announce the cancellation of the National Treasure designation for the Baekja Donghwa Maegukmun bottle, which has been continuously questioned for its value as a National Treasure.

This artifact, purchased for 300 yen from Japanese antique dealer Amatsu Motaro (天池茂太郞), was designated a National Treasure on July 4, 1974. It was praised for its rare and splendid patterns and stable form among early Joseon works using cinnabar (辰砂), a red pigment. However, it is said that there are no examples of early Joseon white porcelain using donghwa (銅畵, a technique of decorating patterns with copper-based pigments). Donghwa patterns are found in some late Goryeo artifacts from the 13th to 14th centuries but disappeared for a while before reappearing in white porcelain from the 18th to 20th centuries.

Accordingly, the Cultural Heritage Administration formed an investigation team composed of Chinese and Korean ceramics experts to conduct research. As a result, it was concluded that the shape, size, technique, and patterns of the Baekja Donghwa Maegukmun bottle closely resemble the Chinese Yuan Dynasty ceramics called ‘Youlihong (釉裏紅).’ This means the ceramic was made in 14th-century China, not 15th-century Joseon.

White Porcelain Vase with Copper-painted Plum and Chrysanthemum Design

Even if it is Chinese ceramics, works that had a significant influence on Korean cultural history can be designated as National Treasures. However, the Baekja Donghwa Maegukmun bottle showed no clear connection to Korea in terms of excavation site and provenance. It was confirmed that many similar ceramics exist in China, so its rarity and value were also judged to be low.

The Cultural Heritage Administration, after discussions with the Cultural Heritage Committee, deemed the cancellation appropriate. An official stated, “It was recognized that it does not meet the criteria for National Treasure designation, which require great value from a human cultural perspective and rarity.” Opinions from various sectors will be collected for a month, and the final decision on cancellation will be made after review by the Cultural Heritage Committee.

Yurihong Bottle from the Yuan Dynasty White Porcelain

This will be the third time a National Treasure designation has been canceled. Previously disqualified artifacts include the ‘Gwiham Byeolhwangjajongtong,’ a firearm mounted on the Turtle Ship that was proven to be fake, and the third-class merit certificate ‘Ihyeong Jwamyeongwonjonggongshin Nokgwon and Box (Treasure No. 1657)’ issued by King Taejong to Ihyeong.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.