Culture/PeriodThree kingdoms-Unified Silla 5th-8th century
MaterialsStoneware
Dimensions
Assigned No.
Description
As earlier Korean architecture had been mainly wooden structures with tiled roves, many roof tiles and bricks have been excavated from architectural sites. These tiles and bricks were decorated with lotus and monster designs, which represent good luck. Though they had different stylistic characteristics, these decorations remained as a tradition until the Joseon Dynasty. For example, the lotus petal of Goguryeo roof-end tiles is expressed with volume and have sharp ends, which gives a stronger impression, and the Baekje lotus petals are elegant and graceful. Silla interestingly show a combination of these two styles. In the early period of Unified Silla (8th-9th century) when the three kingdoms’ cultures began to show a certain unity, the Silla lotus developed double, triple layers of petals and other designs began to be rendered in a more realistic and meticulous manner. These examples reflect the close cultural relationship between Silla and northern Asia, and also show the magnificence of the architecture of the time.
