The Scholars of Circle of Northern Learning's Perception on Qing Porcelain and the Changes in Joseon's Porcelain Consumption

Abstract

This paper examines the Joseon scholars' perception on Qing porcelains based on the transformed relationship between Joseon and Qing in the 17th-18th century, mainly through the record of royal court such as 『Diaries of the Royal Secretariat』, 『Dongmunhwigo Bopyun』, 『Records of Daily Reflection』, 『Records of the Border Defense Council』, 『Veritable Records of the Joseon Dynasty』 and the scholars' collection of works such as “Bukhakeu” written by Park, Jae-Ga and “Seolsuwaesa” written by Lee, Hee-Kyung. After Joseon experienced the 1627･1636 Manchu Invasions, Joseon had negative perceptions toward Qing. Nevertheless, Joseon continued visiting Qing, while maintaining the tributary relationship due to the practical reasons such political and military power. Through the frequent visits to Qing, some Joseon scholars started to realize the real situation in Qing and their idea about Qing started changing. Additionally, those of whom visited Qing as ambassadors even insisted to actively accept Qing's advanced culture and commodities. In the 18th century, as the circle of Northern Learning scholars came to the fore, their idea to adopt Qing's culture along with Joseon's social and economic changes seemed to be influenced on Joseon porcelains. As Joseon's economy and political situations stabilized, the luxurious trend was created through the influx of expensive Chinese porcelains. This Joseon's circumstances increased the consumption of Qing's high-quality porcelains. Later, when the increased porcelain consumption could not meet the demand only through importing Qing porcelains, the Bunwon had to be responsible for the unfulfilled demand. The growth of expensive blue-and-white porcelains' consumption caused the negative effects in Bunwon. Eventually, the Joseon kings commanded to forbid producing and using the expensive porcelains such as Gabki and blue-and-white porcelains.