Books

Pathways to Korean Culture (Hardback)

Pathways to Korean Culture

Paintings of the Joseon Dynasty, 1392–1910

Burglind Jungmann

Art

1 November 2014

9781780233673

250 mm x 190 mm | 304 pages

135 illustrations, 125 in colour

Hardback | £47

World Rights: Reaktion

BUY BUY - N. AMERICA

Pathways to Korean Culture explores the various social, cultural and political perspectives of the Joseon era (1392–1910), uncovering the fascinating history of more than 500 years of Korean art and visual culture.

In this book Burglind Jungmann investigates select clusters of objects to shed light on the multiple layers of personal, intellectual, aesthetic, religious, sociopolitical and economic contexts in which they are embedded. From palace decorations to established artworks, this book takes a sweeping, comprehensive look at Korean culture and history, exploring its engagement with the West, its political affiliations with China and its unique range of artists.

Introducing the major works and currents of Joseon painting, Pathways to Korean Culture explores the various social, cultural and political perspectives of this dynamic, dynastic era (1392–1910), uncovering the fascinating history of more than 500 years of Korean art and visual culture.

In this book Burglind Jungmann examines an array of themes and aspects of the art world of the Joseon dynasty, from the ink painting tradition of the literati elite to the role of women as both patrons and artists. She looks at the various roles of paintings in Joseon Korea, where they were as important for foreign exchange as they were as a means of escapism, and explores the dynasty’s overarching Confucian ideology, which was constantly at odds with the culture’s Buddhist projects.

The book investigates select clusters of objects to shed light on the multiple layers of personal, intellectual, aesthetic, religious, sociopolitical and economic contexts in which they are embedded. From palace decorations to established artworks, this book takes a sweeping, comprehensive look at Korean culture and history, exploring its engagement with the West, its political affiliations with China and its unique range of artists.

  • '

    This is a valuable, original and accessible overview of a rich and multi-layered artistic tradition that is not well understood outside Korea.

    '

    Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies

  • '

    Professor Jungman has done a marvelous job. I believe [the book] will certainly be a great contribution to the field of East Asian studies.

    '

    Hongnam Kim, Professor Emeritus, Department of Art History, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, and former Director of the National Museum of Korea

  • '

    [This book] is of great importance in enhancing our understanding of Joseon painting and of Korean painting as a whole.

    '

    Chin-Sung Chang, Associate Professor, Department of Archaeology and Art History, Seoul National University

Introduction

PART I

THE EARLY JOSEON DYNASTY: NEO-CONFUCIAN

IDEALS AND STRATEGIES OF RECLUSION

One   Chinese Antiquity as an Ideal of Paradise

Two   Court Traditions and Literati Styles

Three  Women as Artists and Patrons

Four   Strategies of Reclusion

Five   Escapism and Diplomatic Exchange: Kim Myeongguk and Han Sigak

PART II

NATIVE THEMES VERSUS FOREIGN STYLE

Six  e Korean Reception of the ‘Southern School of Painting’

Seven   Between Old and New: Yun Duseo and Jo Yeongseok

Eight   e Question of ‘True Scenery’

Nine   Facets of Literati Art: Sim Sajeong and Gang Sehwang

Ten   Individualist and Eccentric: Yi Insang and Choe Buk

Eleven   Orthodoxy and Revival: From Kim Jeonghui to An Jungsik

PART III

DOCUMENTATION, DECORATION AND DISPLAY:

FROM COURT PAINTING TO FOLK ART

Twelve   Painting Production at Court

Thirteen   e Case of Kim Hongdo

Fourteen   Court Painting and Minhwa

References

Bibliography

Index of Characters

Index of Painters

Acknowledgements

Photo Acknowledgements

Index

6

Burglind Jungmann is Professor of Korean Art History in the Department of Art History, UCLA. She has organized many exhibitions and written numerous publications on East Asian art, including Painters as Envyos: Korean Inspiration in Eighteenth Century Japanese Nanga (2004).