Iuchi collection sheds light on returned cultural properties
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Roof tiles and bricks from Goguryeo Kingdom (B.C. 37-A.D. 668) / Courtesy of YooGeum Museum
By Kwon Mee-yoo
Japanese physician Isao Iuchi (1911-1992) was an enthusiastic collector of artifacts from ancient cultures, especially roof tiles. He was one of the biggest collectors of Korean roof tiles, which included thousands, along with bricks and initiated research on the subject.
Iuchi is an important figure in the study of Korean roof tiles. There is the Isao Iuchi Room at the Donations Gallery on the second floor of the National Museum of Korea and a special exhibition of the collection opened at YooGeum Museum, a museum dedicated to Korean roof tiles in central Seoul, Tuesday.
The Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation published "Korean Roof Tiles and Bricks in Iuchi Collection," This is the third book in the foundation's Returned Cultural Property series, which details the process of redemption and the significance of the collection. It also celebrates the 50th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between Korea and Japan.
The previous parts of the series focused on the paintings of Jeong Seon (1676-1795), returned to the St. Benedict Waegwan Abbey from St. Ottilien Arch-Abbey in Germany and the Terauchi Library, a collection of letters and paintings from the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910) once owned by the first Japanese Governor-General of Korea Masatake Terauchi.
"I felt sorry that these redeemed cultural properties are easily forgotten once they are returned to Korea. The series aims to shed light on the returned assets and express gratitude to those who returned them," Ahn Hwi-joon, chairman of the foundation said. "The return of the Iuchi Collection is a model case of cultural property redemption, thanks to donations made in good faith and private efforts."
The book highlights some 300 pieces _ 150 each from the National Museum's collection and YooGeum Museum's collection _ among 2,380 items in the collection, ranging from the Three-Kingdom Era of Korea (B.C. 57- A.D. 668) to modern days. Among the collection, are rare roof tiles and bricks from Goguryeo (B.C. 37-A.D. 668), territory now located in North Korea.
In 1964, he purchased a collection of Korean roof tiles from another collector Ito Shobei and began studying those with his son Kiyoshi. He published a catalogue of some 2,229 Korean roof tiles and bricks, presenting the best from among his collection, in 1981. Iuchi donated half of his collection to the National Museum of Korea in 1987 for the amity of Korea and Japan, which are now on display at the Donations Gallery.
Yoo Chang-jong, 70, a lawyer and ancient roof tile collector, bought 1,296 items from the rest of the Iuchi's collection in 2005 from the collector's son and established the YooGeum Museum.
The foundation found that the some 2,700 items from Iuchi's collection, excluded from the 1981 catalogue, currently belong to the Museum of Tezukayama University in Nara, Japan, while collecting data for the book, and included a discussion on that part as well.
The Iuchi Collection will be on display through July 16, 2016. For more information, visit www.yoogeum.org or call 02-394-3451.