Onggi

Onggi
Korean name
Hangul
옹기
Hanja
Revised Romanizationonggi
McCune–Reischaueronggi

Onggi (Korean: 옹기) is earthenware extensively used as tableware and storage containers in Korea. The term includes both unglazed earthenware, fired near 600 to 700°C, and pottery with a dark brown glaze fired at over 1100 °C.[1] Onggi have been used continuously from prehistoric Korean states to the modern day; however, they primarily see use as traditional storage and ornaments today.

The earliest known painted representations of onggi ware from 1781, in a scene on the panel of A Pictorial Biography of Hong Yi-san, exhibited at the National Museum of Korea.[2]

The origin of onggi dates to around 4000 to 5000 BCE.[3] The types of earthenware include patternless, mumun, and a red and black variety. The patternless earthenware is made with lumps of clay and fine sand. The predecessor of Goryeo celadon and Joseon white porcelain, the black/red earthenware excludes any sand in its creation process. The earthenware's color is determined by both the iron content of the clay and the method used to fire it. The modern onggi shape dates back from the Joseon era.

  1. ^ 이, 종호 (2004-07-09). "숨쉬는 그릇 옹기" [A breathing vessel, Onggi]. Naver News.
  2. ^ Sayers 1987, p. 18.
  3. ^ Moon & Oh 2004, pp. 74–91.