Page 42 - Korean Buncheong Ceramics, Samsung Museum Collection (great book)

KIlnS: the maKIng of Buncheong

distribution of Kiln sites
A large number of buncheong kiln sites throughout the country have come to light, and more
continue to be discovered. The total tally of buncheong kilns, however, will have to await further
kiln-site excavations and comparative studies against historical documents. As noted above,
buncheong kilns were concentrated in central and south Korea, that is, in Gyeonggi, Chungcheong,
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Jeolla, Gyeongsang, and Gangwon provinces; relatively few kilns operated in the north. More
specifically, buncheong kilns were found in the following areas: Gapyeong, Ganghwa, Gwangju,
Anseong, Yangju, Yeoju, Yeoncheon, and Yongin in Gyeonggi Province; Goesan, Boeun, Yeongdong,
Okcheon, Jincheon, and Chungju in north Chungcheong Province; Gongju, Daedeok, Daejeon,
Boryeong, Buyeo, Seosan, Asan, Yesan, Yeongi, Cheonan, and Cheongyang in south Chungcheong
Province; Gochang, Gimje, Buan, Wanju, Imsil, and Jinan in north Jeolla Province; Gangjin, Goheung,
Gwangsan, Gwangju, Gokseong, Naju, Damyang, Muan, Yeonggwang, Yeongam, Jangseong, Jang-
heung, Hampyeong, Hwasun, and Haenam in south Jeolla Province; Gyeongsan, Gyeongju, Goryeong,
Mungyeong, Sangju, Yecheon, Uiseong, Cheongdo, and Chilgok in north Gyeongsang Province;
Gwangsan, Gimhae, Miryang, Busan, Sancheong, Yangsan, Ulsan, Ulju, Jinju, Jinhae, Tongyeong,
and Hadong in south Gyeongsang Province; and Gangneung, Cheorwon, and Hwengseong in
Gangwon Province. 27
Sejong sillok jiriji (compiled between 1424 and 1432) also indicates that the buncheong kilns
were mostly concentrated in the central and southern regions. Its survey reports 34 kilns in Gyeonggi
Province, 61 kilns in Chungcheong Province, 71 kilns in Jeolla Province, 71 kilns in Gyeongsang Prov-
ince, 14 kilns in Gangwon Province, 29 kilns in Hwanghae Province, 24 kilns in Pyeongan Province,
and 20 kilns in Hamgil Province, numbers that parallel the distribution of kiln sites found today. The
exact reasons behind the concentration of kilns in the central and southern regions are unknown
but likely had to do with environmental conditions and availability of raw materials rather than
government policy per se. The central and southern regions have an abundance of clay, while the
warmer climate favors the growth of the trees necessary for fuel. Another significant factor may have
been accessibility to the capital, Hanyang (present-day Seoul), and to other major cities where
demand for buncheong ware was highest.

exCavations of Kiln sites

The relatively few buncheong kiln sites that have been excavated have yielded important information.
The earliest excavations took place in 1927, during the Japanese colonial period, with the kilns in
Gongju, Chungcheong Province; however, these unsystematic, amateur explorations resulted more

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