Uploaded November 2023 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
“This practice of writing multiple page biographies on clay tablets is something you really only find in Korea,” says curator Joan Cummins.
These glazed ceramics from the Joseon dynasty, called epitaph plaques, are part of a Korean tradition wherein a close friend or family member of someone who died would memorialize their loved one by recording the details of their life including: their most well-known accomplishments, family lineage, and even their personality traits.
Explore more from our Arts of Asia and the Islamic World on the second floor of the Museum.
The Object Deep Dive series was made possible with support from the Freeman Foundation.
“This practice of writing multiple page biographies on clay tablets is something you really only find in Korea,” says curator Joan Cummins.
These glazed ceramics from the Joseon dynasty, called epitaph plaques, are part of a Korean tradition wherein a close friend or family member of someone who died would memorialize their loved one by recording the details of their life including: their most well-known accomplishments, family lineage, and even their personality traits.
Explore more from our Arts of Asia and the Islamic World on the second floor of the Museum.
The Object Deep Dive series was made possible with support from the Freeman Foundation.
