How did the Japanese invasions of 1592 affect Korean pottery?
The Japanese invasions of Korea in 1592, led by the military leader Toyotomi Hideyoshi, had a profound and disruptive impact on the Korean pottery industry.
During these conflicts, many skilled Korean potters were forcibly taken to Japan. Once in Japan, these potters were instrumental in establishing and advancing the Japanese porcelain industry and producing wares for the tea ceremony, which had previously been imported.12
The invasion effectively halted significant ceramic production within Korea itself. Specifically, it brought a definitive end to the production of traditional punch’ŏng (or mishima) pottery, which had evolved from earlier inlaid celadon techniques. While the influence of Korean potters on Japanese ceramic styles—such as those seen in Karatsu and Raku wares—became highly significant during this period, the forced relocation of these artisans left the domestic Korean industry severely diminished.132