이화여자대학교박물관

(English)  Jar with the Inscription “the 4th Year of Sunwha”
(Korean) 청자 '순화4년'명 호
(Chinese Character) 靑瓷'淳化四年'銘壺 

This celadon jar with the inscription “the 4th Year of Sunwha” is one of the most concrete artifacts as a chronological record from the early Goryeo dynasty, the period when celadon was first created in the country. Under the foot of the jar, there is an engraved inscription that implies this was one of the grave goods produced for the first room of the ancestral shrine of Goryeo’s first king Taejo and Choi Gil-hoe was the master artisan, or supervisor, who took charge of producing ritual vessels for national ancestral rites. The 4th year of Sunwha was the 12th year of Goryeo King Seongjong’s reign (993). This jar is the oldest known celadon among intact artifacts with inscriptions. From the findings of the excavation investigation conducted between 1989 and 1990 by the Archaeological Research Institute of North Korea Social Science Academy, it is assumed that this jar was produced around Wonsan-ri, Baecheon, Southern Hwanghae Province.