Hanji (Korean Mulberry Paper) Tray with Colored Leaves

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This rectangular hanji tray exhibits the inner bottom decorated with various naturally colored leaves. The beauty of the colorful leaves is wonderfully harmonized with the beauty of the hanji. Even though this tray is made of paper, the user is able to wash it with water, due to the four-times repeated application of bean and perilla oil.

Round Bamboo Lacquered Paper Fan with Yin Yang Design

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This magnificent fan, made of highest-quality Korean mulberry paper, exhibits a beautiful arc created by the fan's outline and the exquisite radiated lines of the bamboo ribs arranged delicately. The beauty of yin yang design is creatively adapted onto the paper. The paper coated with natural lacquer gives this fan further durability and an elegant luster.

Korean Character Art Design White Long Sleeve T-shirt

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- Genuine screen print of calligraphic Korean alphabet characters of a famous Korean poem titled "San Yu Hwa" which means "Wild Flowers of the Mountains."

- Wonderful calligraphy expressing the beauty of Korean alphabet by calligrapher Jo Sung-ju.

- Invented in 1443 by King Sejong the Great and a selected group of Joseon scholars under his reign, the Korean writing system called Hangeul ('Korean Writing') is the only alphabet system in human history whose authors and date of invention are clearly known. Records say that the 14 consonants and 10 vowels of the system were created from the basis of the Korean philosophy that the universe consists of heaven, earth and humankind, as well as the shapes of the organs that make sound. Its scientific system is regarded by international linguists as the world's greatest alphabet system as it can express all sounds with its 14 consonants and 10 vowels. This is one of the reasons why Hangeul is regarded as the most scientific writing system in mankind has ever known.

3-Link Jade Necklace

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Links that symbolize eternity are carved from a single jade block as one piece, exhibiting the superb aesthetic value of jade art. The highly ornate chain is made of 18k white gold set with some 100 diamond pieces, adding an elegant splendor to the work. Wearing a natural jade, known to hold the energy of both heaven and earth, ornament near one's heart expresses the sophistication and style of the wearer while positively affecting human energy.

Workmen at a Forge - 18th Century Korean Painting by Kim Hong-Do

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This unique hanging scroll exhibits a perfect reproduction of masterpiece of Kim Hong-Do better known as Danwon (1745-1805?), a great court painter of Joseon dynasty. He is known as the first Korean painter to extensively portray Korean daily life, especially the life of the lower classes in a manner analogous to the Dutch Masters. His painting focuses on people and their activities, with the background barely illustrated. Because of this, his paintings today are valued almost as much for the insight they shed on daily life in Joseon dynasty as for their inherent aesthetic value.

Celadon Pottery Vase with Openwork Head and Chrysanthemum Body

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This celadon pottery vase features a long, sturdy neck whose upper part is lavishly embellished with an openwork design, of which each arc is adorned with red-copper painted flowers. The voluminous body is decorated with fully-bloomed chrysanthemums inlaid with white and black slips as well as red-copper paint. One of the "four noble beings" (sagunja) symbolizing fidelity and loyalty, the chrysanthemum has been one of the most favorite subjects used for adorning craftworks as it blooms until late autumn, thus overcoming the frost.


Korean celadon pottery is renowned the world over since Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392) for its exquisite inlaid designs, voluminous form, elegantly-curved lines and mysterious color, the color of the sky after a rainstorm during an autumn afternoon.

Celadon Prunus Vase inlaid with Crane and Cloud Pattern

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The voluminous form of this wonderful piece, a reproduction of the great 12th century Goryeo porcelain, came from the Maebyeong (Prunus Vase) style from the Sung Dynasty in China. By the time this vase was made, however, Goryeo (918-1392) had already established its own style characterized by a more expansive form and elegantly-curved lines. An increasingly-important achievement of Goryeo porcelain ware in the world's ceramics history is the introduction of the inlaying technique to the art of pottery. In this porcelain vase, whose form, size and luxuriousness make it one of the greatest masterpieces of its kind, the pattern of white cranes and clouds is exquisitely inlaid into the surface of the jade-blue body.

Korean celadon pottery is renowned the world over for its exquisite inlaid designs, voluminous form, elegantly-curved lines and mysterious color, the color of the sky after a rainstorm during an autumn afternoon.

Celadon Porcelain Vase with Tri-leaf Design

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This exquisite celadon porcelain vase exhibits a simple, tubular body whose surface is decorated with an inlaid black tri-leaf plant applied in the zen painting style. The contrast between jade blue and black as well as the simple minimalist form of the vessel is expected to satisfy modern taste.

Buncheong Art Pottery Vase with Iron-painted Fish

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A fine reproduction of the 15th century work listed as Treasure 767, this porcelain jar exhibits nearly the entire range of design techniques used for buncheong ware, including inlaying, impression, sgraffito, incision, gwiyal brushing and iron underglazing. The wanja (Buddhist swastiaka) design around the neck and the lotus band above the foot are inlaid whereas the body of the fish is decorated with impressed design and its head and fins with sgraffito and incision designs. The details of the motifs, including lotus and arabesque patterns, are painted with oxidized iron.

Celadon Pottery Jar with Inlaid Cracks Pattern

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This celadon porcelain jar with a delightful oval body with round mouth is decorated with a stylish crack pattern. The repetition of irregular lines through the traditional technique of black and white slip inlaying has created a pleasing modern work.

Blue and White Porcelain Bottle with Bamboo and Chrysanthemum Design

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This white porcelain bottle displays an elegant octagonal body, sleek neck and a charming lip gently curled out. Its delightfully-simple form, slightly bluish-white color, and refined chrysanthemum and bamboo design painted in restrained blue makes this a wonderful example of Korean blue and white porcelain ware. With its charmingly-small size, unassuming color combination, and serene form, this bottle is widely regarded as a masterpiece of its kind.

Celadon Ceramic Bottle Inlaid with Ten Creatures of Longevity Design

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One of the most favored designs for Korean art traditionally has been sipjangsaeng, 10 creatures that ancient Koreans, influenced by the Taoist philosophy, believed were created to enjoy eternal youth: sun, stone, water, cloud, pine tree, deer, bulnocho ('herb of eternal youth'), turtle, crane, and mountain. Inspired by the belief in a Taoist utopian world resided by Taoist elders who had found the secret of eternal life, ancient Koreans revealed their dreams of such a world through the 10 creatures. These symbols significantly impacted the lives and thoughts of the Korean people, from royalty down to common folks, and appeared in numerous objects and places including walls, paintings, poetry, proverbs, furniture, personal belongings and ornaments. In this ceramic bottle, the design of 10 creatures is exquisitely inlaid into the surface of the jade-blue body.

Korean celadon pottery is renowned the world over since Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392) for its exquisite inlaid designs, voluminous form, elegantly-curved lines and mysterious color, the color of the sky after a rainstorm during an autumn afternoon.

Celadon Porcelain Tea Bowl with Floral and Arabesque

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A reproduction of the 12th century tea bowl listed as Korea's National Treasure 115, this celadon porcelain tea bowl exhibits a fantastic form characterized by the line linking the wide lip with the narrow foot. The inner surface of the bowl is lavishly decorated with floral and arabesque designs made by the "inverse inlaying" technique.

Buncheong Ido Porcelain Tea Bowl

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The deep color of loquat, the dignified body that never loses balance, the potter's fingerprint at its waist, the coarsely-wrought foot with mottled cream and the freely-flowing lines define the unique aestheticism of the Ido porcelain tea bowl (Ido Chawan), in which perfect harmony is achieved from its disharmonious parts.

Buncheong Gyeryongsan Iron Painted Pottery Tea Bowl

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This type of porcelain, named after the Gyeryongsan Mountain area in which it is produced, features brisk brush strokes in iron pigment, powerful color contrasts, and a gracefully simple form, giving it an aloof dignity that differentiates it from Chinese and Japanese tea bowls. The traditional arabesque design here takes a more abstract whirling form.

Celadon Porcelain Incense Burner with Openwork Chilbo Lid

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This celadon porcelain incense burner is a reproduction of the great 12th century incense burner listed as Korea's National Treasure 95. The work exhibits an openwork global lid and the body of chrysanthemum petals laid upon a circular base supported by three rabbits, The lid, an openwork globe embellished with the chilbo ("seven treasures") pattern and designed to let incense smoke out, is in perfect harmony and stability with the base of six petals supported by three rabbits.
Korean celadon pottery is renowned the world over for its exquisite inlaid designs, voluminous form, elegantly-curved lines and mysterious color, the color of the sky after a rainstorm during an autumn afternoon.

Celadon Porcelain Green Pottery Ceramic Duck Figurine

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This exquisite celadon pottery vessel is inspired from a duck with a lotus spray in her mouth. The spout from which water is dropped onto an inkstone is at the cut end of the lotus stalk while the hole from which it is filled with water is at the back decorated with lotus buds and leaves. The attractive curve of the breast and the delightful soaring line from the tail to the bill help create a form that is both dynamic and static.

Korean celadon pottery is renowned the world over since Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392) for its exquisite inlaid designs, voluminous form, elegantly-curved lines and mysterious color, the color of the sky after a rainstorm during an autumn afternoon.

Blue and White Porcelain Plate with Floral and Arabesque Design

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This magnificent plate is a reproduction of the blue and white porcelain plate sold at a record 3.08 million US dollars at the Christie auction house in New York in April, 1994. The plate is characterized by six bosanghwa blossoms (the imaginary Buddhist flower) in full bloom surrounded by vines and a wave band along the rim. The lavish ornamentation might lead one to compare the plate with Chinese blue and white porcelain ware, but the serene brush strokes reveal that it is a work from the tradition of Joseon (1392-1910) ceramic art.

Celadon Ceramic Tea Pot in a Peach Shape

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This celadon ceramic tea pot exhibits the peach branches and leaves design carved in relief with the attractive jade blue glaze that bestowed Koryeo celadon with a worldwide reputation. The scent, color and taste of any tea treated by this tea set will be enhanced. In the Eastern world since ancient times, the peach has been thought of as the fruit of paradise, a symbol of long life, and a fruit with magical power that drives out devils and diseases.

Set of 2 Celadon Ceramic Coffee Cups and Saucers

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A fantastic floral motif exhibiting attractive curved lines is used to decorate these celadon porcelain coffee cups and saucers. The items are further embellished with chrysanthemum designs created by the traditional inlaying technique as well as with dragon heads forming the handle. One of the "four noble beings" (sagunja) symbolizing fidelity and loyalty, the chrysanthemum has been one of the most favorite subjects used for adorning craftworks as it blooms until late autumn, thus overcoming the frost.

Celadon Porcelain Table Lamp with Inlaid Black Peony

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The elegant beauty of a Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392) celadon porcelain prunus vase has been successfully revived here as the base for a table lamp. On this delightful porcelain vase, the black inlaid peony design covers the surface wholly (instead of partly, which is the traditional method), leaving the original celadon background color to peak through the pattern. The jade blue body decorated with a design of black slip inlaying helps create a romantic atmosphere.

Paper Table Lamp Shade with Five Windflower Buds

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This table lamp consists of five lights covered with hanji shades in the shape of windflower buds. Each lamp is connected to a power source with a flexible cord that can be bent according to the user's need and desire. The frame and base of the lamp is also made of hanji and is dyed with a natural pigment giving it a wooden color. There is a button under the lamp so that the user can choose from three levels of brightness.

Produced after an arduous, time-consuming manufacturing process made only by hand, hanji, Korean mulberry paper, is an amazingly durable and versatile material for all kinds of arts and crafts. When used for a lampshade, hanji helps produce a beautiful, long-lasting lighting accessory for the home, radiating soft and comforting natural light to soothe the body and mind, tired from busy urban life.

Bamboo Blind with Red Threads and Tortoise Motif

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This exquisite traditional Korean bamboo blind is made with fine bamboo strips less than 1mm thick, often called 'bamboo threads,' which require extraordinary skill to produce. A normal-size blind entails a number of amazing figures: 2,500 bamboo strips; corresponding to approximately 100 bamboo canes; more than 300,000 hand movements; and about three or four months in order to complete one single blind.

The tortoise motif is exquisitely woven with red threads into the blind. The fine bamboo strips and delicate thread weaving are unique features of Korean bamboo blinds.

By using this Korean bamboo screen, a material so magnificently woven that it is often described as bamboo silk, one can delight in the incredibly unique and serene ambiance of the dim outside view seen through the blind, the cool shade inside the house provided by the blind and the beautiful rhythmic movements of the tassel pendants that gently move in the breeze.

Folding Paper Bamboo Fan with Geumgangsan Mountain Painting

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Geumgangsan, or 'Diamond Mountain,' is one of the most famous mountains in Korea, known for its fascinating rocky peaks and valleys. The painting on the paper of this fan exhibits a peaceful autumnal scene and serene mood of a temple surrounded by rocks, pine forests and a stream flowing through a valley. The intricate pyrography bat design engraved on the bamboo ribs create a wonderful harmony with the beautiful lines made by the wide breadth of the unfolded fan's outline and the attractive three-dimensional creases of the paper arranged neatly.

The main material of hapjukseon, bamboo that has grown for three to four years without any flaw on its skin, is prepared by harvesting it during the winter. The two edge ribs of a fan should be made by using thicker bamboo strips with close joints. A fine hapjukseon fits beautifully in the hand and the flexibility of the bamboo ribs creates a wonderfully pleasant breeze, neither too strong nor too weak. In fact, the secret is hidden in the glue used to apply the mulberry paper onto the bamboo ribs. Made from the air bladder of a type of fish called a croaker, this unique fish glue is the same adhesive used for many traditional craftworks of Korea, including mother-of-pearl objects, furniture and bows and arrows. Only when this fish glue is used, a hapsukseon can attain the optimum pliability and strength that it needs.

Korean mulberry paper called hanji is extremely light and strong, and maintains its original color and shape even after a millennium. Featuring glossiness, softness, and a high capacity for upholding warmth and ventilation, the paper has been considered as the ideal material for windows, doors and walls.

Cloisonne Enamel Fine Silver Vase with Long Life Emblems Design

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This unique silver vase is brilliantly decorated with fine cloisonne 10 creatures of longevity (sipjangsaeng) design whose details outlined in silver wires. Each design is nicely created by delicately inlaying translucent enamels into the silver wire designs on the attractively embossed silver ground. The unique form of this vase is conceived from one of the greatest masterpieces of Koryo (918-1392) celadon prunus vase which is renowned the world over for its exquisite inlaid designs, voluminous form, elegantly-curved lines and mysterious color.

The sipjangsaeng, 10 creatures that ancient Koreans, influenced by the Taoist philosophy, believed were created to enjoy eternal youth: sun, stone, water, cloud, pine tree, deer, bulnocho ('herb of eternal youth'), turtle, crane, and peach. In the Eastern world since ancient times, the peach has been thought of as the fruit of paradise, a symbol of long life, and a fruit with magical power that drives out devils and diseases.

Macrame Wall Hanging Tassels with Fine Silver Cloisonne

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This unique decorative hanging exhibits the beauty of Korean macrame and cloisonne. The central piece of this hanging is a beautifully cloisonne enameled fine silver butterfly, a symbol of free love and happiness that has been used to decorate ladies' fashion or home accessories.

Unlike macrame, the Western knotting art that makes two-dimensional works, Korean macrame (maedeup) creates an enigmatic elegance of balance with finely wrought three-dimensional patterns made from a single string. Korean macrame is characterized by the beauty achieved by the trinitarian union of string (kkeunmok), knotting (maedeup) and tassel (sul). The main part of a maedeup piece knotted with two strands into various organic symmetrical patterns and shapes; and a tassel at the end freely hanging down creates the final touch to highlight the colors and patterns of the entire work.

The distinctive and elaborate feature of Korean tassel making, is weaving the design of auspicious Chinese characters, such as Su ('Long Life') and Bok ('Fortune'), into the head with chords. The bottom end of each chord freely hanging down also displays a special finishing touch: all the chords' ends are twisted, rather than cut, so that they are round, thus, embodying additional volume and beauty. The trinity of this work establishes perfect harmony with a delightful cloisonne silver ornament. This kind of macrame works called Norigae with a cloisonne ornament or various jewels has been used as a customary fashion item worn on the breast tie or the waist of hanbok, the traditional Korean dress.

Wall Hanging Scroll Korean Folk Dragon Painting

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This unique hanging scroll exhibits a perfect reproduction of Joseon dynasty (1392-1910) folk painting called Minhwa. This particular work depicts an imaginary scene of a dragon in the depths of the clouds rising from the sea’s surface. The forceful movements of the animal are captured so vividly that he looks as if he will break out of this hanging scroll.

The dragon is an imaginary animal believed to rule the sky and the sea, controlling rain, clouds, lightening and water. Also used as a symbol of kingship, the dragon is revered in many Asian countries as a sacred animal that brings fortune and expels evil forces.
The most remarkable characteristics of Korean folk paintings are their dynamic composition, the use of bold colors and simplified patterns, and the energetic and whimsical visualization of their forms, without much concern for reality. Because of these unique features Minhwa is both studied and cherished around the world.

With Mind and Music by DAMSA

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This is DAMSA's first release in 2007. This album presents original pieces of music played with Korean traditional instruments perfectly harmonized with electric piano, synthesizer, handsonic and various world percussion instruments including djembe. The pieces include the sound of Daegeum (Korean bamboo flute) and an electric piano joined by the thick timbre of a flute creating a dreamy melody, a cantilena melody of Sogeum (small Korean bamboo flute), a simple loop of harmony and rhythm improvised by seven members.

Seodo Minyo - Korea's Northwestern Area Folk Songs

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This album presents the most famous Seodo Minyo pieces by Kim Gwang-Sook's consummate performance. Minyo, Korean folk songs, is broadly classified into three types according to region, namely, Gyeonggi, Namdo and Seodo Minyo. Gyeonggi Minyo is traditionally popular in the central area around Seoul, while Namdo Minyo in the southern area around Jeolla-do and Seodo Minyo in the northwestern area (present-day North Korea) situated around Pyeongan-do and Hwanghae do.

Gyeonggi minyo is generally characterized by a lilting tempo and cheerful mood. As the music progresses, one feels happy and uplifted. Namdo Minyo has a relatively slow tempo and a crude, dark timbre. It's sharply alternating melody gives one the sense of deep, inward pathos. The Seodo Minyo is characterized by high clear nasal tones and fine vibrato, which combine to produce not only intense feeling of lament and sorrow, but also carry the power to express the joy and happiness in everyday life. In contrast with Gyeonggi Minyo, it has a slow tempo and pure, tranquil feeling reminiscent of a cool autumn sky.

Pansori (Korean Opera) Choonhyang-ga by Kim So-Hee

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This album leads to the wonderful world of Pansori, a traditional Korean art form combining storytelling and music, through the magnificent performance of legendary Pansori singer Kim So-Hee. She particularly presents Choonhyang-ga (the love story between Choonhyang, the daughter of a kisaeng entertainer, and Yi Mong-Ryong, the son of a magistrate), one of five extant Pansoris.

Among the extant Pansori classics Choonhyang-ga is not only known for its outstanding artistic qualities, it is also performed most frequently. If we were to connect the musical and dramatic structure and examine the entire piece, the four distinct portions are discernable. Choonhyang's falling in love, the lover's separation, and her trials, and rescue. Despite the fact that Choonhyang does have a "happy ending," each school of this particular Pansori shares in common tragic portions of musical intensity. The tragic elements begin with the separation of the lovers and come to a climax in Choonhyang's imprisonment. However, Choonhyang's separation from her lover is generally considered to be the most detailed and sophisticated musical passage in the entire piece.

According to Kim Myong-Hwan (outstanding drummer whose talent merited the designation as an Intangible Cultural Asset), Myongchang (prominent singers), in order to sing these tragic passage, would bolster their strength by surreptitiously tightening the bands that served as belts for their clothing. After they finished these portions, they would loosen their bands. They understood the importance of these passages with the purpose being to give additional support to their stomach muscles so that they could put their entire might into the presentation.


There was another reason that Pansori master put so much emphasis on the tragedy in their performances. From the end of the 19th century on, audiences have exhibited a marked preference for tragedy over comedy. This phenomenon also appears to be true in western opera. One may surmise that human beings share this interest in the aesthetics of tragedy in common.

Pansori is one genre of traditional Korean performing arts. In Pansori, one singer, accompanied by a drummer, presents a long story in the form of a dramatic narrative generally sung with spoken commentary interspersed. The stories do not lack for dramatic climaxes. In fact these "high points" serve to give the stories their dramatic structure and to maintain audience interest.

The audience can enjoy the combinations of rhythm, beat, and phrasing and intonation of vocal in Pansori. Although the ways of arrangement are basically established in Pansori performance, they feel a kind of spontaneity or improvisation.

Of the 12 lyric dramas, currently there are only five Pansoris still being performed which include Sugung-ga (the journey of the rabbit and turtle to the underwater kingdom), Simcheong-ga (the story of Simcheong and her blind father), Jeokbyeok-ga (the story of the big battle at Red Cliff), Choonhyang-ga (the love story between Chunhyang, the daughter of a kisaeng entertainer, and Yi Mongryong, the son of a magistrate), and Heungbo-ga (the story of two brothers, Heungbo and Nolbo). "Ga" means a "song." Even the shortest one lasts 4 hours and the longest one lasts as long as 8 hours. The singer continues to perform without intermission.


The singer must portray the personalities of all the characters in the story through Chang (song), Aniri (spoken song), and Ballim (gesture). And the drummer joins in with Chuimsae which is decorative vocal adorations and sounds of encouragement given to the singer.