The History of Korea and the Moon Jar (3)

A Name That Defied Suppression

During the Japanese colonial era (1910–1945), Koreans were forced to use Japanese for everything from names to daily speech. These white porcelain jars had to be called ‘Marutsubo’ (丸壺). After liberation, the ‘Movement to Restore Our Language (1945–1948)’ sparked a powerful effort to bring the Korean language back into daily life.

A black-and-white historical photograph titled "A MARKET SCENE IN THE CITY OF SEOUL" from around 1910. The scene captures a bustling marketplace filled with people dressed in traditional white Hanbok (Korean attire). Many men are seen wearing traditional Korean hats, such as the Gat (a black brimmed hat made of horsehair) and Paerangi (a bamboo hat). In the background, traditional tiled-roof wooden shops line the street, while merchants and customers gather around goods placed on the ground. The image reflects the lively daily atmosphere of Seoul during the early 20th century. (Source: Seoul Museum of History)
Market in Seoul. Most people in white.(1910) ⓒ Seoul Museum of History

But the joy was fleeting. In 1950, the Korean War broke out. People lost their homes and were thrust into a poverty even more devastating than that of the colonial period. The hope for “better days” turned into a terrifying fear that the nation itself might vanish.

In those desperate times, Korean intellectuals focused even more on their own national identity. It was then that the large white porcelain jar became uniquely beloved.

A Poetic Communion Where Intellectuals Found the Moon

  • “On moonlit nights, I wonder how a jar can resemble the moon so closely. It feels as if the moon from billions of light-years away has come down to sit in my garden.” — WhanKi Kim, Painter
  • “Gazing at this white jar, the world’s impurities seem to wash away.” — ByungHwa Cho, Poet
  • “How can I not buy this jar when the very soul of our ancestors dwells within it?” — JongHwa Park, Novelist
  • “Looking at the jar in my room, it feels as if the moonlight itself has pooled inside it.” — CheonMyeong No, Poet

This lyrical bond between the moon and a familiar object comforted weary hearts. Through this poetic communion, the boundary between the moon and the jar blurred, thereby establishing a singular aesthetic symbol. It was in this context that Choi Sun-u, a prominent art historian and a member of that intellectual circle, used the term ‘Moon Jar’ for the first time in 1963.

“To a casual glance, it is merely a white jar. But if you gaze at it intently, it feels as if all the anxieties of the world melt away within its generous embrace.”

Ultimately, the ‘Korean pet name’ shared affectionately by those who endured oppression and war was immortalized as a symbol of eternal beauty.

A high-resolution photograph of a National Treasure White Porcelain Moon Jar from the late 17th to early 18th century. It features a voluminous, slightly asymmetrical round body with a soft, milky white glaze. Unique yellowish-brown oil stains are naturally distributed across the surface, resulting from its historical use as an oil storage vessel. These stains create an organic, cloud-like pattern that tells the story of its practical past. (Source: National Heritage Portal)
Korean National Treasure Moon Jar.
A white porcelain jar featuring natural oil stains from its historical use, showcasing the functional beauty of the Joseon era(17th–18th C.)
© National Heritage Administration, Republic of Korea.

The Aesthetics of Imperfection and Naturalness

In the late 1990s, ‘Moon Jar’ was officially registered in the Korean dictionary. It is a name born from a specific social background, spreading from artists and intellectuals to the heart of society.

In the Neo-Confucian era, people highly valued the natural beauty of these jars for their imperfect and unadorned forms. They felt no need to force them into perfect symmetry. Instead, this very naturalness defined their true identity. Even today, many artists still use traditional techniques to recreate Moon Jars, where the potter’s strength and the kiln’s heat transform the clay.

A photo of three different-sized mini Moon Jars displayed for sale in a Korean dollar store. The ivory-colored porcelain jars are arranged on a woven mat with pinecones, creating a cozy and modern interior vibe. This image illustrates how the iconic Moon Jar design has become a popular, accessible home decor item for the general public in Korea.
The Moon Jar is now a popular home decor item in Korea,
even available at local dollar stores as a beloved cultural icon. © Daiso

A Modern Symbol of Abundance and Peace

Recently, the Moon Jar has seen a resurgence in popularity. In Korea’s modern history, after passing through times of extreme poverty, a kitchen filled with food was a symbol of wealth to be envied. Therefore, people today see the Moon Jar as a symbol of prosperity and abundance, making it a popular piece for the home.

Thumbnail for Artist Bohwa Kim's 2021 painting 'The Moon and lotus'
The Moon and Lotuses (2021)

I do not paint Moon Jars, but I paint the full moon. My work may not represent the material wealth associated with the jar today, but I seek to convey the same sublimity and warmth found in both the moon and the jar. I look forward to seeing how my own ‘moon’ will continue to evolve.

The Moon Jar Series: History and Identity

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Early of April, 2026 —