Abstract

Fish and Seaweed(Yuzao) is a representative motifs adorning blue-and-white porcelains made in the early Joseon Dynasty. This study is aimed to identify the characteristics and the stylistic basis of the blue-and-white porcelains decorated with fish and seaweed motifs in the early Joseon Dynasty in connection with the specific implications carried by the subject.<BR> Examination of extant artifacts revealed that fish and seaweed motifs in the early Joseon Dynasty were used to decorate wine utensils such as tall jars, flasks, cups and predominantly painted on the flat-rimmed plates. Furthermore, most of these motifs depicted carps, using a simple composition that comprises only fish and seaweed without additional elements such as lotus ponds or duckweed. In particular, the fish are emphasized and drawn meticulously with shading to add realism. By contrast, much less weight is attached to the seaweed, which are drawn in a very abbreviated manner.<BR> The overall style of fish and seaweed design decorated on blue-and-white porcelains of the early Joseon Dynasty bears a greater resemblance to fish and seaweed paintings of the Yuan Dynasty, given that they accord specific preference to carps, and the fish are prominently depicted in the center of the scene while the seaweeds are drawn around them briefly.<BR> The subject of Fish and Seaweed was based on the Classic of Poetry, was perceived as symbolizing “the harmony and joy between monarch and his subjects[君臣和樂]” or “the shared joy of monarch and his subjects[君臣同樂]”. It is certain that these specific implications of the Fish and Seaweed(Yuzao ) also applied to fish and seaweed design. Therefore, it can be inferred that the blue-and-white porcelains decorated with fish and seaweed motifs in the early Joseon Dynasty were probably used as special wine vessels in banquets held for together with ruler and his subjects.

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