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Which pottery-making techniques spread from the Han colony of Nangnang?
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Korean art
Dragon jar, porcelain with iron-painted decoration under clear glaze, Korea, mid-17th century; in the Brooklyn Museum, New York. 31.4 × 37.1 cm. Diameter at mouth 12 cm. Diameter at base 9.5 cm.
The establishment of the Han dynasty colony of Nangnang in northwestern Korea served as a significant center for the transmission of Chinese culture and technology to the Korean peninsula.12
From this cultural hub, advanced pottery-making techniques spread across the region, most notably:
- Use of the potter’s wheel: This allowed for more efficient and precise shaping of ceramic vessels compared to earlier hand-building methods.2
- Use of the closed kiln: This technological advancement enabled better control over firing temperatures and atmospheric conditions, leading to the production of higher-quality wares.2
These innovations, alongside the introduction of iron smelting, helped strengthen native communities in the surrounding areas. While these Chinese influences were significant, they were integrated into a broader history of Korean art, which evolved from earlier Neolithic traditions—such as comb-pattern pottery—into the distinct styles seen in later periods like the Silla and Koryŏ dynasties.1234