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Why are Silla tombs important sources of knowledge about ancient Korean art?
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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.
Silla tombs are essential sources of knowledge about ancient Korean art because they have preserved a wealth of secular artifacts that are otherwise largely missing from the historical record. Unlike the tombs of the Koguryŏ kingdom, which were frequently looted due to their accessibility, many Silla tombs remained intact, protecting their contents for centuries.1
These burial sites are particularly important for the following reasons:
- Regalia and Jewelry: Intact Silla tombs have provided the best surviving examples of Three Kingdoms-period metalwork, including elaborate gold crowns, diadems, earrings, and necklaces made of gold, silver, bronze, jade, and glass. These items offer critical insight into the status, fashion, and craftsmanship of the era’s elite.2
- Pottery: The tombs have yielded significant quantities of hard, grayish, unglazed stoneware, which is the most representative pottery type of the Three Kingdoms period. These finds include mounted cups, jars, and various human and animal figurines that provide evidence of artistic styles and daily life.2
- Cultural Context: The discovery of these treasures—often referred to as "Eye-Brightening Silla"—highlights the kingdom's immense wealth and its sophisticated artistic connections to other regions of Asia.12