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Why did Korean artists often value natural materials and imperfect forms?

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Korean dragon jar — 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.

Korean artists have traditionally valued natural materials and imperfect forms because of a deep-seated aesthetic philosophy that emphasizes simplicity, spontaneity, and a harmonious relationship with nature.1

Rather than striving for mechanical perfection in their surfaces, curves, or shapes, Korean potters and artisans focused on bringing out the inherent, natural characteristics of their materials. This approach reflects a traditional attitude of accepting nature as it is, leading to a high appreciation for the simple and unadorned, such as the natural patterns found in wood grains.1

This aesthetic is characterized by:
* Restraint: The intervention of the human hand is kept to a minimum, allowing the material's natural beauty to remain the focus.1
* Avoidance of Extremes: Korean art generally avoids sharp angles, strong lines, and garish colors, favoring instead gentle, mellow, and fluent forms that evoke a quiet inner harmony.1
* Spontaneity: Particularly during the Chosŏn dynasty, artisans relied on an indigenous sense of beauty that favored a more spontaneous, unselfconscious style over sophisticated, rigid elegance.2