Korea (Room 67)

The Korea Foundation Gallery

5000 BC - AD 1900

The unique culture of Korea combines a strong sense of national identity with influences from other parts of the Far East. Korean religion, language, geography and everyday life were directly affected by the country’s geographic position, resulting in a rich mix of art and artefacts.

Objects on display in Room 67 date from prehistory to the present day and include ceramics, metalwork, sculpture, painting, screen-printed books and illuminated manuscripts. A reconstruction of a traditional sarangbang, or scholar’s study, is also on display and was built by contemporary Korean craftsmen.

Image captions (clockwise from top left):

Dhratarastra, Guardian King of the East, a painting on hemp cloth late 18th - early 19th century AD

White porcelain 'moon jar' 17-18th century AD

Frontispiece to an illuminated manuscript of the Amitabha Sutra AD 1341

Lacquer sutra box, Koryo Dynasty 13th century AD