Jeju Pottery Shows Wisdom of Islanders
By Chung Ah-young
Staff Reporter
Jeju Island has many folk cultures well preserved from mainland influences.
The islanders have developed a unique style of pottery to overcome harsh geographic conditions.
To trace the lives of Jeju natives, the National Folk Museum of Korea and Jeju Special Self-Governing Province are jointly holding an exhibition titled ``Heobeok and Jeju's Pottery.''
The exhibition, which will run until Aug. 15, is designed to raise awareness of the resort island, which retains abundant natural beauty and folk culture.
Under the banner of ``Year of Jeju Folk Culture,'' part of the museum's mandate is to protect the folk culture of the island from urban development.
The exhibition features a total of 220 pieces of unglazed earthenware including ``heobeok,'' and 90 photos detailing the folk culture.
Heobeok are the island's traditional water delivery jars, which have long represented the wisdom of ancient Jeju natives who had to survive the tough coastal areas.
Although the island experiences heavy rainfall, it suffered a shortage of drinking water because the soil could not retain rainwater. The islanders, usually women, had to carry water from springs in the coastal areas to their homes.
Heobeok, the only jar used to carry the water, is designed to endure long bumpy distances with a flat bottom and concave body. The mouth is narrow to prevent overflow.
The pot is usually paired with a rectangular bamboo carrier called ``mulgudeok,'' designed to carry a heobeok over the shoulders.
The exhibit features a variety of heobeok and provides an opportunity for visitors to see how a heobeok is made.
There are various sizes of the pot designed for adults, teens and children, who all had to carry drinking water.
As the use of heobeok began sharply declining in the late 1960s, it became difficult to find the pot and their craftsmen. There are only few heobeok craftsmen practicing the trade as modern technology has led to advances in supplying drinking water efficiently, according to the museum.
During the exhibition, the museum is showing a video of Shin Chang-hyun making a heobeok. Shin is designated as Important Intangible Cultural Property No. 14 of Jeju for heobeok making.
To draw attention to the island's rich indigenous culture, the museum plans to hold various events throughout the year _ a Jeju folk culture festival, a joint exhibition of Jeju museums, a Jeju photo exhibition, a special exhibition about heobeok and onggi (antique ceramic ware) and an international symposium on Jeju culture.
For more information, call (02) 3704-3155.
